- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy
About Rodney
Rodney Black is a licensed clinical social worker with the credentials LCSW and LISW and 31 years of experience. He practices in Iowa and draws on long experience in community settings and military service. He works with addictions, trauma and abuse, LGBT concerns, anger, self-esteem, career questions, and coping with life changes.
His background includes growing up in the Midwest, living in several states, and serving in the U.S. military including a deployment to Afghanistan. Personal experience with family mental illness, recovery from addiction, and parenting a grown gay son inform his viewpoint. That life experience is part of how he connects with people who bring difficult pasts and current struggles.
Rodney leans on several therapeutic approaches when helping people. He uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy to look at feelings and attachment patterns. He also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address thoughts, actions, and values. Client-Centered and Attachment-Based ideas shape how he listens and responds in sessions.
Sessions are offered in English and he accepts international clients. He has worked for decades in community settings, and he frames therapy as a collaborative process where practical skills and honest conversation matter. People often come for help with relationship patterns, substance issues, shame and guilt, isolation, and questions about life purpose.
Rodney describes recovery as ongoing rather than a final state. He aims to combine real-world experience with therapeutic methods to help people notice patterns, name emotions, and try different ways of coping. To begin, clients are asked to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
How his approaches translate to online therapy
Rodney commonly uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy to help people notice and name hard-to-identify emotions and attachment patterns. EFT focuses on how feelings shape close relationships and helps people change interactional patterns by identifying core emotions.He also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to clarify values and encourage committed action toward those values. ACT helps when worries or painful thoughts get in the way of everyday goals. Attachment-Based Therapy is another influence; it looks at early relationship patterns and how they affect current connections.
Finding the best approach is collaborative. He will work with each person to choose which methods fit their goals and preferences. That decision is revisited as the work progresses so methods can be adjusted.
Confirm the session formats available before booking, since formats are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fold sessions into a regular week, support shorter check-ins when time is tight, or reduce travel time. Many people find remote sessions help maintain continuity when schedules or location change.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
31+ years
Listed in
Nebraska, Iowa, Oregon
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he help with?
He works with addictions, trauma and abuse, LGBT issues, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, and coping with life changes. Additional focuses include codependency, family of origin issues, and veteran concerns.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
He uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy alongside ACT, CBT, Client-Centered, and Attachment-Based ideas. The work combines listening, exploring emotions, and practicing new behaviors.
How much experience does he have?
He has 31 years of professional experience, with much of his career in community-based settings and prior military service.
What are his credentials and location?
He holds LCSW and LISW credentials and practices in Iowa.
Does he offer sessions in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with him?
Yes, he accepts international clients.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to start?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.