YSS Family Counseling and Clinic

Youth & Shelter Services (YSS) Family Counseling Clinic offers integrated health and behavioral health services in Ames, Iowa. They offer mental health therapy, substance use counseling, psychiatric services, and behavioral health intervention services. YSS has other locations that offer residential drug rehab and youth shelters. They offer appointments in person or virtually via telehealth for Iowa residents.
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Substance use counselors, sometimes called addiction counselors, provide supportive, judgment-free emotional, mental and behavioral health services to help individuals overcome addiction. They help clients develop the resources, tools and skills they need to progress towards sobriety. They may use a range of treatment options such as play therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy and systems training for emotional predictability and problem solving.

Intake of new patients begins with a comprehensive evaluation to determine each patient’s health and the impact that substance abuse has had on them. The counselor will create a treatment plan. Counselors may also refer patients to community resources such as peer support groups or drug rehab programs.

Counselors will also help family members navigate their loved one’s illness and how to nurture the relationship that may have become fraught or strained as a result of substance abuse. They can offer education for family and friends and provide resources on how to best support their loved one during recovery. If needed, the counselor can set up family therapy sessions.

YSS counselors will help patients develop a relapse prevention plan. This may include building a support network, lifestyle changes, and understanding each person’s warning signs and how to manage them. They empower clients to achieve success and strengthen their resilience as they navigate the road to recovery.

YSS Family Counseling Clinic accepts many insurance providers such as ComPsych, Magellan Health, Kaiser Permanente, Bright Health, Wellmark, HCSC and TRICARE. Contact your insurance provider to confirm benefits as out of network coverage may vary.