Emily Santi LMHC, NCC

(North Liberty)

Emily is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and a Nationally CertifiedCounselor (NCC). Emily started at Life Connections in the summer of 2011. She provides clinical assessments, individual therapy, and couples and family counseling. She is available Monday evenings and Saturdays at the North Liberty location.

A former middle school teacher, Emily decided to go back to school at the Universityof Northern Iowa to receive her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. In 2008, she started her career at the Assistant Director of the Dual Diagnosis Program at the Abbe Center for Community Care in Marion, IA. She quickly moved into the position of director and managed the program for 2 years. During her time at the Abbe Center, Emily worked primarily with individuals and groups who struggled with mental illness and addiction concerns. She developed specific programming to cover topics such as codependency, relapse prevention, anxiety and stress management, relationship skills and assertiveness training, and understanding and managing depression.

She currently works at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for the department of Neurology as a Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Counselor. Emily specializes in wellness, sleep medicine, and the treatment of anxiety and depression. She works with individuals, couples and families that are affected by a variety of neurologic injury or illness such traumatic brain injuries, MS, seizure disorders, pain disorders and migraines, sleep disorders, and cognitive decline.

Emily is trained in a variety of therapeutic approaches. Her general person-centered approach allows her to be flexible with her clients in order to find the approach that fits best with the individual. Emily’s experience and training allows her to cover a wide-range of services including: mal-adaptive behaviors (eating disorders, concerns with substance abuse, and personality disorders), adjustment and phase of life transitions, mild to serious mental health concerns, stress and anxiety management, mental health symptoms associated with medical or pain concerns, insomnia and hypersomnolence, and overall wellness.

 

Judy Knobbe, LISW, CADC

(Cedar Rapids, North Liberty)

Judy came to Life Connections in January 2011, providing assessments and outpatient therapy. In March2011, Judy became the CEO for Life Connections, but still maintains a few therapy clients in the CedarRapids, North Liberty, and West Liberty offices.

Judy has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, IA and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Iowa. Judy is a Licensed Independent Social Worker(LISW) and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC).

Judy started her career as an Activity and Recreation Director for the Greene County Sheltered Workshop in Jefferson, IA, working with persons with mental disabilities, developmental disabilities, severe mental illness, substance abuse, brain injury, and other physical and mental disabilities, reaching out to people in rural Iowa. While there Judy was invol

ved in many area organizations and committees including Chairperson for the Area Twelve Developmental Disabilities Council, Chairperson for the ARC, Board member of the Area Brain Injury Association, founder of the Fun Unlimited Club (a self- advocacy organization for persons with disabilities), and State Advisor for People First (a State and National self-advocacy organization). Judy also started a specialized program for persons living in the rural areas who had experienced a brain injury. While working at the Sheltered Workshop, Judy became involved in Special Olympics Iowa where she has served as a local and international coach and area coordinator, and has been the Tournament Director for the State Mid-Winter Tournament for the past 23 years. She worked at the Sheltered Workshop for twelve and a half years before moving to Iowa City, where she took a job working at in the Community Support Program at the Mid-Eastern Iowa Community Mental Health Center, working with persons with severe mental illness and person with brain injury. While working at the Mental Health Center, Judy became involved in the Iowa City Mental Health Task Force, was a committee member of the MH/DD/MR/BI county advisory committee, was involved in the Area Brain Injury Task Force, a Board Member of the Eastern Iowa Brain Injury Association, a member of NAMI, and completed her Master’s Degree in Social Work. While in Graduate school, Judy did an internship for a year at the Veteran’s Affairs Hospital in Iowa City, working in the medical COPD unit and the psychiatric unit. She started a Caregiver Support Group while working at the VA. After seven years in this position, Judy moved on to Hillcrest Family Services, where she provided Outpatient Therapy to children and adults in their Outpatient program in Cedar Rapids. A year and a half later, Judy accepted a position as the Director of Heart of Iowa at the Area Substance Abuse Council. When Judy came into this position, the Heart of Iowa was a three month long Primary Residential substance abuse treatment program for pregnant women and women with children. During her twelve years as Director, this program expanded to include 24 apartments for Primary Residential, 12 apartments for HalfwayHouse, 24 apartments for Transitional Housing, and an Outpatient program specifically for women. Also, during these twelve years, Judy worked part-time as a therapist for Alternative Services, which later became Horizons, A Family Service Alliance. In 2007, Judy left the Heart of Iowa and accepted a full-time position with Horizons, as Director of Remedial Services and after four months added on Directorof Residential Services. A year and a half later, Judy moved into the position of Director of Mental Health and Community Based Services, where she was responsible for the day to day operations of twelve programs.

Since coming to Life Connections, Judy has provided direct service to clients and moved into a leadership position. Judy’s therapy experience covers a large range of service provision including: children, adolescents, adults, couples, persons with disabilities, persons with severe mental health issues, persons with brain injury, and families. Judy is trained in Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Reality Therapy, Rational Emotive Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Brief Therapy. Judy also has training working with veterans and their families.

 

Valerie Marsh, LMFT

(Cedar Rapids)

Valerie Marsh joined Life Connections in June 2011 as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  She had been working at another mental health clinic in Cedar Rapids since her move here from Rochester, Minnesota in March of 2009.

She has her Masters of Science Degree from Winona State University in Counseling Psychology, and her post-graduate certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy from St. Mary’s University in Minneapolis. She also has been a clinical member of the AAMFT since 2003. She was the Clinical Director of the YRC, a non-profit counseling agency for 8 years, and was on staff there for 10 years.  She then went to Zumbro Valley Mental Health as a clinical therapist as well as the administrator of all adolescent groups that were created specifically for adolescents involved with the Olmsted County Corrections Department as well as continuing to do therapy with children, adolescents, couples and families.

She also developed and facilitated domestic violence programming for women in Olmsted County for 11 years, known as Empowering Women.  She also worked as a victim’s advocate for Victim’s Services of Olmsted County.  She was one of the original founders of the Family Violence Coordinating Council of Olmsted County and was a board member for Voices for Children for many years.  She was an adjunct faculty member for St. Mary’s University Counseling and Psychological Services Department and taught graduate school courses for the last three years before her move to Cedar Rapids.  When she moved to Cedar Rapids, she was an adjunct for Kirkwood Community College teaching psychology courses.

In her counseling practice, she utilizes cognitive-behavioral therapy, positive psychology, as well as solution focused therapy, and has her certificate as a skills trainer in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Therapy.  Her specialty areas, besides her family and couple’s work, include individual therapy dealing with women’s issues, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, relationship issues, anger management and dual diagnosis.  She is trained in experiential play therapy with children and works with 5 year olds on up, as well as with parents seeking parenting skills training and parents dealing with blended family issues.

 

Debra Wiethorn, LMSW

(Cedar Rapids)

Debra Wiethorn received her BA in Psychology at Loras College in 1999. During her time at Loras, she worked as a Program Director at the Boys and Girls Club in Dubuque. Debra also volunteered at the domestic violence shelter as a child advocate for child who had witnessed domestic violence and also as a support staff for the domestic violence crisis line. She moved to Cedar Rapids in 1999 and began working at another human service agency. She worked for four years in a PMIC residential setting with children who had severe emotional/behavioral issues.

From there she began working with children who were in foster care or at risk of out of home placements. She provided support to foster and biological families while also providing skills training to the children. During this time she began working on her Master’s degree in Social Work. Debra earned her MSW from the University of Iowa in 2005. After receiving her MSW, she began working as a child protection worker in Linn County. She worked in child protection for almost four years. In December 2009, she received her LMSW and joined Life Connections.

Currently she is providing individual therapy, family therapy, and conducts clinical assessments for individuals who have Title 19 insurance. She also provides in home family therapy for children who qualify for the Child Mental Health Waiver. Debra is certified in Trauma Focused – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, providing therapy for children who have experienced a significant trauma in their life and are showing symptoms of PTSD. In January 2012 she plans to sit for her LISW exam.

 

Marcie Nithang, LMHC

(Davenport)