Network Community ​Counseling Services

Group Counseling

Group counseling is an effective way to work on most ​mental health and relationship concerns that cause ​people to seek help. Although people can feel hesitant ​to join a group, most people find the group setting to ​be supportive, engaging, and ultimately quite helpful.


Our counseling groups are not theme-based, meaning ​we bring people together with different problems and ​backgrounds. People dealing with anxiety, loneliness, ​isolation, grief, depression, lack of assertiveness, and ​other other mental pain have all benefitted from our ​groups.


In addition, we spend time looking at the interactions ​among the members of the group. We call this the ​group “process” and have found that understanding ​what goes on in the group is a great way to learn how ​we relate to others outside the group as well.

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Individual Counseling

Our primary focus and mode of ​treatment is group counseling, but we ​also have some availability for individual ​counseling sessions. Individual ​counselors work with clients on their ​specific concerns and may make ​referrals to group if that is deemed ​appropriate for the specific client.


Who We Serve

People Seeking Counseling

Our first priority is to provide counseling for those ​in need. Any adults dealing with a mental, ​emotional, or relational concern are potentially ​appropriate for our services. This includes (but is ​not limited to) concerns such as depression, grief, ​anxiety, separation/divorce, substance abuse, life ​adjustments (such as job loss), and relationship ​problems.

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People Seeking Training

Network also serves those who are interested in ​learning more about counseling. The program is ​a primary training site for doctoral students in ​counseling psychology at Iowa State University ​and also conducts continuing education for ​licensed mental health practitioners.

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Our Mission

To provide affordable ​counseling services to ​adults with a variety of ​mental health concerns ​while training the next ​generation of mental ​health providers.

The intake process

Meet individually with one of ​our intake counselors. This ​meeting is designed to assess ​whether our services would be ​beneficial to you and to allow ​you to ask any questions you ​might have before beginning.

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Pre-group screening

Prior to joining a group, you ​would meet individually with ​the co-leaders in a pre-group ​screening session. They would ​provide information about the ​specific group, and answer ​questions you might have.

Joining a group

We have found that coming ​to the group for the first time ​can be the single hardest step.

After the initial session, ​however, most people look ​forward to coming and miss ​very few sessions. We suspect ​that you will as well.

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Counseling Fees

Initial Consultation and ​Individual* Sessions


Group Counseling

Session


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$10 (ISU Students)

$20 (All Others)


$5 (ISU Students)

$10 (All Others)


Fees are expected at the time of service. We accept cash and checks, but not credit/debit cards.

*Individual counseling sessions are not always available. Please contact us to check availability.


Insurance: We do not accept insurance reimbursement.


Meet Our Team

Nathaniel Wade, PhD (He/Him)​

Director and Clinical Supervisor​

Nathaniel is a licensed psychologist in Iowa (#01000) and a Health ​Service Provider in Psychology. He is also a Professor of Psychology at ​Iowa State University. Nathaniel has been leading counseling groups for ​over 25 years. He uses an interpersonal approach in counseling. He is ​also the primary supervisor for the clinic, providing support to the other ​staff at Network.

Corrine Schwarting, MS (She/Her)

Associate Director, Tuesday Group Leader

Corrine (she/her) has a love for the outdoors, breathwork, and person-​centered care. She is a fifth year Counseling Psychology doctoral student. Her ​clinical interests center around three pillars: equitable and accessible care, ​fostering meaningful relationships, and treatment for substance use through ​non-pathologizing and harm reduction ways. Corrine is a current co-​facilitator of the Tuesday group, which uses an interpersonal process lens.

Elijah Schaeffer, MS (He/Him)

Staff Counselor, Tuesday Group Leader

Elijah is a 3rd year doctoral student in counseling psychology at Iowa State ​University. He received an MA in clinical psychology from the University of ​Northern Iowa. His clinical interests center around attachment theory, and ​mental health stigma in religious communities. His approach to counseling ​blends emotion-focused therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and existential ​therapy from an attachment theory lens.

Rachel Block, MS (She/her)

Staff Counselor

Rachel (She/Her) received a MS in Psychology at Iowa State University. She is ​a third-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program.

Julia Slocum, MS (She/They)

Staff Counselor

Julia earned a BA in International Studies and Spanish Language from the ​University of Iowa, and a MS in Counseling Psychology from Iowa State. ​She is a third-year doctoral student at ISU where her clinical interests ​include grief and loss, and life and relationship transitions using an ​existential-humanistic, interpersonal approach. Julia’s clinical and ​research interests center around incorporating movement and outdoor, ​natural spaces into therapy.

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Administrative Assistants

We also have several part-time administrative assistants who help with ​answering phones, scheduling, and other administrative duties. These ​are undergraduate psychology students at Iowa State who are trained ​and supervised by Network staff. They understand the importance of ​confidentiality and work hard to make the counseling experience safe ​and comfortable for our clients.

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Network is located on Iowa State University campus.


On the basement floor of Science Hall I, the clinic is in Room 56.

Clinic Address:

Science Hall I

Room 56

Iowa State University

Contact Us

Mailing Address:

901 Stange Road

Department of Psychology

Ames, IA 50011


(515) 294 - 1898

groups@iastate.edu