Supporting LGBTQIA+ Clients with Confidence and Personal Growth
At Daybreak Counseling, we provide compassionate, trauma-informed care for LGBTQIA+ individuals navigating challenges with self-esteem, personal identity, and overall mental health. Our team understands the unique experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community, including societal pressures, discrimination, and minority stress, and we create a safe, affirming space for exploration, growth, and empowerment.
Our counseling services for LGBTQIA+ clients focus on:
Building confidence and self-worth
Navigating gender identity and sexual orientation questions
Managing anxiety, depression, or internalized stigma
Strengthening relationships with family, friends, and partners
Coping with minority stress or discrimination
We meet each client where they are, providing guidance and strategies that honor their identity while supporting personal growth.
Daybreak clinicians draw from a wide range of evidence-based modalities, including CBT, DBT, ACT, Play Therapy, EMDR, and Brainspotting. By combining these approaches with our LGBTQIA+ affirming lens, we create individualized care plans that fit your life and unique identity—not a generic template.
All of our therapists and medication providers at Daybreak are knowledgeable and attuned to the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community, ensuring affirming care across the practice. For clients seeking specialized support, here are a few of our clinicians who focus specifically on self-esteem and identity navigation for LGBTQIA+ individuals:
These providers bring expertise, empathy, and a deep understanding of the unique mental health challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ clients.
MS, LMHC, SOTP-II, AASECT
Accepting Clients Ages 18 & Up
Rachel is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) who is a Sex Therapist certified by the American Association for Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) as well as a Sex Offender Treatment Provider (Level II) recognized by the Iowa Board for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (IBTSA). She holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kansas (2017) and has over eight years of experience supporting teens, adults, couples, and families. Rachel has worked in community mental health, residential adolescent care, private practice, and telehealth platforms, with extensive experience collaborating with juvenile court and HHS systems around sexual abuse. Her training includes Level 2 Gottman Couples Therapy as well as sex therapy training through The Buehler Institute and Modern Sex Therapy Institute. She is also a Clinical Member of the Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse (ATSA) and serves as Secretary on the Iowa Mental Health Counselors Association (IMHCA) board.
In a safe and supportive environment, Rachel works with individuals, couples, and families to explore and challenge difficult emotions, beliefs, and behaviors while building on their unique strengths. Her approach is collaborative, trauma-informed, and focused on empowering clients to lead healthier, more functional lives. As a sex therapist, she works with a diverse range of clients addressing topics such as sexual shame and trauma, sexual functioning, couples work, LGBTQ+ concerns, kink and BDSM, and sexual wellness, education, and development. Rachel is passionate about reducing the stigma surrounding mental and sexual health and creating space for meaningful growth and change.
Outside of work, Rachel enjoys traveling, rewatching Parks and Recreation, and spending quality time with her spicy cat, Poppy.
T-LMHC
Accepting Clients Ages 9 & Up
Alex Bitting is a passionate and dedicated Licensed Therapist (T-LMHC) with experience supporting individuals across the lifespan, including children, adolescents, and adults. As a transgender male, military veteran, adoptee, adoptive parent, and former mobile crisis first responder with the Des Moines Police Department, Alex brings a wealth of personal and professional experience to his counseling practice. His approach is trauma-informed, relational, and practical, providing care that is inclusive, affirming, and tailored to each client’s needs.
Alex works with a diverse range of clients, including queer youth and adults, trauma survivors, and military veterans, addressing issues such as identity exploration, trauma, self-harm, suicide prevention, relationship challenges, and life transitions. He is known for balancing deep empathy and compassion with direct, honest, and practical guidance, creating a space where clients feel affirmed, understood, and supported. Sessions are collaborative, flexible, and designed to provide real insight, clarity, and tools that clients can use in their everyday lives.
Outside of work, Alex enjoys spending time with his family, playing board games, exploring new foods, and embracing the excitement of everyday life. He also enjoys DIY projects, sports, concerts, traveling, and building lasting memories through a strong support system and regular self-care. Alex is excited to continue his journey as a counselor and looks forward to supporting his clients in their pursuit of healing and growth.
MSN, ARNP, PMHNP-BC
Accepting Clients Ages 18 & up
Hi! I am a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner licensed in Iowa, Texas, Wisconsin, and Maryland. Driven by the belief that mental health is just as vital as physical health, I have dedicated my career to advocating for accessible, compassionate, and stigma-free mental health care. I provide virtual appointments to adults struggling with anything related to depression, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, substance misuse, panic, bipolar, ADHD, and more.
I have a lot of personal and professional experience that I bring to my patients to provide thorough and compassionate care. Personally, I have seen first hand how mental health and substance abuse can impact a person, their relationships, and family. Professionally, I bring a diverse background in behavioral health nursing, including roles as an Intensive Care Unit RN, Psychiatric/Forensic RN, Child/Adolescent Psych RN, Acute Inpatient Adult/Geriatric Psych RN, and serving patients in various outpatient settings. These roles have deepened my understanding of trauma, mood, psychotic, depression, and anxiety disorders, and prepared me to meet patients with both clinical expertise and heartfelt compassion. It is my honor and passion to be working with adults from various backgrounds, experiences, and mental health symptoms.
As a PMHNP, I am proud to stand alongside those navigating mental health challenges, offering evidence-based care and unwavering support. I am firmly dedicated to a holistic approach to mental health, with additional focus on the evidence-based pharmacological treatment of Alcohol and Substance abuse disorder. I am also a member of the National Alliance for Mental Health (NAMI, Texas chapter), advocating for the children/adolescent age groups and the LGBTQ community, a reputable member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS, Minneapolis chapter), an active Suboxone certified (X-waivered) under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA), and uphold the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors’ (NAADAC) mission statement of guiding and empowering addiction-focused clinicians.
Outside of work, you will find me spending time with my husband, keeping up with my 3 adult kids (all in colleges in Texas), or diving into a good professional development book, fully embracing my nerdy side. I do love to find a good show on Netflix to Bingewatch, with my recent favorite being “Wednesday”. I also was a swimmer in college and still love to swim when I am able!
