For more than a century, Lutheran Family Service has been there for people in their time of need. Operating primarily out of offices in the Quad Cities, Des Moines, Sioux City and Fort Dodge, LFS also serves many rural areas throughout Iowa, providing a variety of services including pregnancy, marriage and mental health counseling and adoption services. Lutheran Family Services offers a number of congregational outreach programs designed to equip people with what they need to successfully manage life challenges before they become a crisis.
You May Also Consider (sponsored)
Quick Start Online Therapy: Tell Us a Little About Yourself and Get Matched With a Therapist Right for You
Take a simple guided quiz and let us know your preferences. Get matched to an online therapist right for you. Convenient and affordable online therapy from your phone, tablet or computer.
Have you been in therapy before?
Services Offered
Lutheran Family Service offers professional mental health counseling from master's prepared and licensed therapists. As we meet with you in a private, confidential and relaxed office setting, you can begin to explore your thoughts and feelings in a nonjudgmental, safe environment.
Our counselors are prepared to treat a variety of mental health concerns, including but not limited to: * Depression and suicidal thoughts * Anxiety and worry * Trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) * Personality disorders * Grief and loss * Parenting concerns * Life transitions * Work and career concerns * Abuse survivors * Chronic mental illness
Lutheran Family Service also provides help for struggling couples. Our counselors approach marriage counseling with a sense of hope. We believe that things can get better and that you can have the marriage you desire, even though you may be tempted to believe this is not possible. LFS marriage counselors are available to help couples throughout Iowa. Marriage counseling is a service of LFS but it is not necessary to be Lutheran or even Christian to use our services.
Fees and Payment
LFS accepts a variety of insurance plans. We can help you determine what your insurance benefits are before you start, and we submit the billing for you. If you aren't able to access insurance, you can use our sliding fee scale.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual Faith-Based
Payment: Sliding Scale Medicare Medicaid
If You Call, Please Let Us Know How it Went:
Were You Able to Make an Appointment?
One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.