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LISW

Nicole Randel, LISW

  • Experience6 years
  • LocationIowa
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, LGBT, and Intimacy-related issues
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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About Nicole

Nicole Randel is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) practicing in Iowa who aims to support people navigating stress, anxiety, depression, eating and intimacy-related concerns, and LGBTQ-related issues.

Background and approach

She brings six years of clinical experience and centers her work on respectful, client-led collaboration that helps people explore attachment patterns, family of origin dynamics, body image, and other personal challenges. Nicole blends evidence-informed methods with a warm, nonjudgmental stance to help clients examine how internal parts, beliefs, and behaviors interact.

Her practice attends to a broad set of concerns including abandonment, codependency, communication problems, chronic illness and pain, caregiver stress, and relationship commitment questions. She also has experience with autism and alternative sexual cultures such as BDSM and kink, and she works thoughtfully with eating and food-related issues.

Sessions are offered in formats that accommodate different needs and schedules, and Nicole seeks to create a relaxed, authentic space where curiosity and healing can unfold. Prospective clients in Iowa who prefer English are welcome to learn more about working together and whether her approach fits their goals.

Using different therapeutic approaches in online care

Nicole often integrates Internal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as part of an online practice. Internal Family Systems (IFS) helps people notice and dialog with internal parts - the protective or wounded aspects of oneself - to reduce internal conflict and build self-leadership; it can be useful for issues rooted in attachment, abandonment feelings, and persistent emotional patterns. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values, increasing psychological flexibility, and using mindfulness and committed action to address anxiety, depression, and avoidance-based patterns.

Finding the best approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with clients to explore goals, preferences, and how different methods feel in practice, adapting techniques from client-centered, cognitive behavioral, or dialectical skills as needed to fit individual needs.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility and accessibility for varied schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care, try different therapeutic exercises between meetings, and access support from home or work when in-person visits are not practical.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?
Nicole works with stress, anxiety, depression, eating and intimacy-related issues, and LGBT concerns, along with related areas such as attachment, abandonment, body image, chronic illness and caregiver stress.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is client-centered and trauma-informed, blending collaborative exploration with practical strategies drawn from several evidence-based approaches.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has six years of experience as a licensed social worker providing mental health support and working with a variety of presenting concerns.
What credentials and location apply to her practice?
Nicole holds the LISW credential with licence IA LISW 091022 and is based in Iowa.
Does she work with non-English speakers or international clients?
Sessions are conducted in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available?
Clients can meet via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on their preference and scheduling needs.
How are fees and subscriptions handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session based on the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyLGBTIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersDepression

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsDivorce and separationEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSex addictionSexual dysfunctionSexualityWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

6+ years

Licensed

Iowa

Languages

English