- Person-focused care
- Practical steps
- Mindful approaches
About Barbara
Barbara "Barb" Kroening offers straightforward support for people feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or burned out. She understands asking for help is hard, and she aims to make the first steps easier. Barb creates a nonjudgmental space where people can talk honestly about stress, sleep problems, grief, addiction, or relationship strain.
Barb is a Licensed Independent Social Worker, LISW, practicing in Iowa with 12 years of experience. She meets people where they are and gives gentle encouragement toward their goals. Her work has included helping people who face trauma, substance issues, anger, parenting challenges, and grief.
Her approach is practical and person-focused. She listens first, then helps identify small changes that can make daily life easier. Techniques often draw on client-centered conversations, mindfulness skills, motivational interviewing, and focused solutions to move forward.
Many people bring concerns about sleep and rest, anxiety, or life transitions. Barb pays attention to how these problems affect day-to-day routines and supports steps that improve coping and restore manageable patterns. She also addresses attachment and caregiving stress when these come up.
Conversations with Barb tend to be direct and compassionate. She encourages honest talk about hopes and setbacks. People can expect clear options, gentle challenges, and practical next steps to try between sessions.
How her approaches translate to online care
Barb integrates client-centered conversations and mindfulness into her work. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening, reflecting, and following each person's priorities so they feel heard and understood. Mindfulness therapy teaches brief, practical ways to notice stress and settle the body and mind, which can help with sleep and anxiety.Motivational interviewing is another common approach she uses. It helps people clarify what matters and find their own reasons to try different behaviors, useful when facing substance issues, change, or motivation struggles. Together these approaches are collaborative and goal-oriented, aimed at small, realistic steps people can try between sessions.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. Barb works with each person to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. She adjusts pacing and techniques as progress and challenges appear so work stays relevant and manageable.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current session options before booking. In general, online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Talk with Barb about practical scheduling and how to shape sessions so they fit into daily routines.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
12+ years
Credentials
Iowa
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What issues does she commonly help with?
Barb helps people with stress, anxiety, sleep and rest problems, grief, addiction, relationship and intimacy-related issues, anger, and life changes among other concerns.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is client-centered and practical. She listens first, uses mindfulness and solution-focused techniques, and supports motivation to try manageable changes.
How much experience does she have?
Barb has 12 years of experience working with people facing trauma histories, substance issues, parenting challenges, grief, and related concerns.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She holds the LISW credential as an Iowa Licensed Independent Social Worker and practices in Iowa.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the US work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.