Meet Rita Burley, LISW,  a mental health therapist serving clients in person in Fort Dodge and Carroll, IA and throughout the state of Iowa via telehealth. With more than two decades of experience, Rita has a special interest in working with farmers,  farming families, and rural communities.  

Location:  Fort Dodge and Carroll, Iowa

Email:  [email protected]

Office/Scheduling: 563-359-0696

What is your role at Lutheran Family Service?

I am a Licensed Independent Social Worker, and I provide therapy services at our Carroll and Fort Dodge offices and can also see individuals located anywhere in the state of Iowa via telehealth. I provide support, guidance, and treatment to individuals facing emotional, psychological, and or behavioral challenges. My goal is to foster personal growth, resilience, and recovery, ultimately helping clients to lead healthier and more fulfilling lives.

What drew you to the mental health counseling field?

I have always been drawn to helping others. The values I learned growing up on a farm in rural Iowa strongly influenced my decision to study Psychology at Iowa State University. There, I took a course in social work, volunteered at a women’s and children’s shelter, and discovered my calling. I went on to the University of Northern Iowa and received my Master of Social Work degree, and I have been providing therapy services in rural Iowa ever since.

Tell us a bit about your background and how that contributes to your work at Lutheran Family Service.

I have been providing therapy services for the past 23 years, primarily in community mental health and hospital settings. I have worked with all ages and provided individual, couples, family and group therapy services for those struggles with life transitions, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic mental illness. I enjoy helping to instill hope, knowledge, and resilience in my clients, helping them to feel heard, understood, valued, and empowered for personal growth.

Do you have a specialty? 

I am certified in EMDR for the treatment of trauma and have specialized training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Couples Counseling, and most recently CBT-I, which is a cognitive behavioral therapy treatment for Insomnia. I primarily see adults and couples and have a special interest in working with farmers and farm families.

How does your faith inform your therapy practice?

My Christian faith enriches my therapy practice by fostering a compassionate, holistic approach focused on hope, community, and personal values. It informs my understanding of human suffering and resilience, allowing me to walk alongside my clients as they navigate their journeys towards healing.

How might someone know when counseling would be a good thing to pursue?

I often find that people are curious about therapy treatment and spend a considerable amount of time contemplating the idea before they make that first phone call to schedule an appointment. If people are noticing a significant change in their mood, lack of interest in activities they once enjoyed, persistent worry, sleeping too much or not enough, or struggling to complete day-to-day tasks and responsibilities they are encouraged to give us a call. We can work with them to help determine the best course of treatment and walk with them through the process. It is also important for me to share that people tend to convey a great sense of relief at the end of their first appointment and express a wish that they had called sooner. So don’t put off making that call!

Why is the work you do important?

Because therapy can be life changing. Providing people with space to express their feelings and discover new strategies to help them cope can be powerful and foster a deeper connection with themselves and loved ones along their journey through life.

How will you live out the mission of LFS, to walk with people as God has been there for us, in your daily work?

Therapy can be hard work, but it is a collaborative treatment, and I will be here to walk beside you through this journey.

Anything else you’d like us to know?

I enjoy spending time with my family, working on the family farm, and playing pickleball in my free time.

Rita sees clients via telehealth throughout Iowa and in person in Fort Dodge and Carroll, Iowa. Reach out today.

[email protected] | 563-359-0696 | lutheranfamilyservice.org/contact