I am licensed in Iowa and Illinois with 7 years of professional clinical work experience. I have a Masters of Science in Mental Health Counseling, a Masters of Divinity with 4 Units of Clinical Pastoral Education, and over 15 years of Ministerial/Pastoral Practice. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, & dementia caregiver stress. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.
Additional areas of focus: Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Intimacy-related issues, Anger management, Career difficulties, Coping with life changes, Compassion fatigue, Abandonment, Adoption and Foster Care, Aging and Geriatric Issues, Attachment issues, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain illness and disability, Codependency, Commitment Issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Coping with Natural or Human-Caused Disaster, Dependent Personality, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Divorce and separation, Domestic Violence, Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Eating and Food-Related Issues, Emptiness, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Fatherhood Issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Hospice and End of Life Counseling, Immigration Issues, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Military and Veterans Issues, Mood disorders , Multicultural Concerns, Obsessions, Compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Phobias, Postpartum Depression, Post-traumatic stress, Prejudice and Discrimination, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-love, Sex Addiction, Sexual Assault and Abuse, Social anxiety and phobia, Somatization, Traumatic Brain Injury, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young Adult Issues
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Existential Therapy, Jungian Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
IA LMHC 094835
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Rev. Sergio Ayala. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Trustworthy, reliable, time efficient help
Written on Mar 28, 2024 after therapy with Sergio for 2 months on issues concerning addictions, relationship issues, and adhd
Rev. Ayala is very good at what he does. He listens to me and guides me through my struggles
Written on Mar 04, 2024 after therapy with Sergio for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, parenting issues, self esteem, coaching, compassion fatigue, and adhd
Rev. Ayala is the best therapist who has EVER provided service to me. His insight helped to instill hope and confidence regarding my choices and suggestions in making the best choices for having a good quality of life. His therapy skills are a blessing.
Written on Feb 15, 2024 after therapy with Sergio for 1 year and 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, self esteem, and anger management
I truly believe that he’s one of the best therapists that I ever had. Confidence and trust is something that I found with him.
Written on Jan 27, 2024 after therapy with Sergio for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, self esteem, anger management, and adhd
Rev Ayala seems to actually care, is open to exploring topics and letting the conversation wonder, while steering it back to my needs. I would strongly recommend him.
Written on May 19, 2023 after therapy with Sergio for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, and coping with life changes
Hes fantastic
Written on Jan 30, 2023 after therapy with Sergio for 5 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, and self esteem