Works with
- Anger
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
How Barbara works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LISW
- Licensed in
- Iowa
- Years in practice
- 12
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Barbara
Barbara "Barb" Kroening offers a calm, down-to-earth presence for people who are feeling overwhelmed. She welcomes honest conversation and helps clients talk through anger, stress, anxiety, loss, and other concerns without judgment. Barb is an LISW - Licensed Independent Social Worker - practicing in Iowa and brings 12 years of experience to sessions.
Barb approaches sessions in a practical, person-centered way. She focuses on what matters most to each individual and uses clear guidance to help them move forward.
Background and approach
Conversations are direct but kind, with attention to immediate needs and realistic next steps. Her background includes work with people coping with substance use, trauma, grief, parenting challenges, relationship strains, and anger concerns. She has professional experience with immigration-related issues and understands how those stresses can affect daily life.
Barb draws on client-centered therapy to listen and validate each person’s experience. She also uses mindfulness practices to help manage strong emotions and motivational interviewing to support change when people feel stuck. Sessions aim to build practical skills for handling tough moments, improving sleep, and rebuilding trust in oneself.
Barb believes steady, small changes add up, and she supports clients in setting achievable goals and trying new coping strategies. People who prefer straightforward, empathetic support often find her style useful. Barb encourages questions and works collaboratively to tailor the work to each person’s situation and goals.
What Barbara works with
Everything Barbara lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Barbara's practice.
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Intimacy-related issues
- Sleeping disorders
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Attachment issues
- Blended family issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Domestic violence
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hoarding
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Immigration issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches Barbara lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Approach and online options for practical change
Barbara uses client-centered therapy to put each person’s needs and goals first, offering attentive listening and tailored support to help people feel heard and understood. This approach works well for those facing anger, relationship strain, grief, or stress because it starts where the person is and builds from there.She also uses mindfulness techniques to help people notice and manage strong emotions. Simple breathing and grounding exercises can reduce reactivity and make it easier to respond rather than react. Motivational interviewing is another tool she employs to help people find their own reasons for change and set realistic next steps when they feel stuck.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Barb will talk with clients about goals, preferences, and what has helped in the past. Together they will try methods that fit the person’s life and adjust the plan based on what works best in practice.
Online therapy lets people access this kind of support in flexible ways. Video calls are useful for in-depth sessions that rely on face-to-face conversation. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is low or a quieter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging are helpful for short updates, brief coaching, or when someone prefers writing to speaking. These options make it easier to work on anger, stress, and other concerns around busy schedules and changing days.
Questions people ask about Barbara
What concerns does Barb help address?
She helps people with anger, anxiety, depression, grief, stress, addiction issues, relationship and intimacy-related worries, parenting strain, sleep problems, career or life-change stress, and trauma-related concerns.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is person-centered and practical, with clear, direct conversation. She uses mindfulness and motivational techniques to help manage emotions and support behavior change.
How long has she been practicing?
She has 12 years of professional experience working with varied concerns including substance use, trauma, grief, parenting, and anger.
What credentials does she hold and where is she based?
She is an LISW - Licensed Independent Social Worker - licensed in Iowa and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How are fees handled and how do I begin?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule based on available times.