Healthcare support and advocacy for LGBTQ Iowans

Members of the LGBTQ community often encounter discrimination when seeking healthcare from providers who are not trained to care for their specific needs. One Iowa provides these resources to empower LGBTQ members to access empathetic healthcare.

One Iowa proudly provides a list of resources for LGBTQ Iowans and allies. Inclusion on our website does not warrant or imply any endorsement, recommendation, or outcome. You must fully vet each resource. If you’re unsure of what provider is a good fit for you, reach out to Program Director Max Mowitz at [email protected]

LGBTQ Inclusive Healthcare Providers

LGBTQ-Specific providers can provide services directly related to the LGBTQ community (gender-affirming services, PreP, and PeP. LGBTQ- Inclusive providers are providers that can see LGBTQ clients but aren’t necessarily trained in LGBTQ- Specific issues.

Primary Health Care
LGBTQ Specific and LGBTQ Inclusive Care
Contact: 515-248-1600

Planned Parenthood
LGBTQ Specific and LGBTQ Inclusive Care
Services provided:
Contact: 1-800-230-7526

Unity Point LGBTQ Clinics
LGBTQ Specific Care

UnityPoint Clinic LGBTQ – Methodist Plaza
Des Moines
UnityPoint Health desires to meet the specific health care needs of the LGBTQ community in Central Iowa by providing a safe and affirming environment and overcome the stigma and discrimination that persons in the LGBTQ community often face.

UnityPoint Clinic LGBTQ – Prairie Parkway
Cedar Falls
The staff at UnityPoint Clinic – LGBTQ – Prarie Parkway has undergone training through the Safe Zone Project to ensure you receive your care in a welcoming environment with a team who strives to deliver quality affirming care with dignity and sensitivity to all our patients.

UCS Healthcare
LGBTQ Specific and LGBTQ Inclusive Care
Contact: 515-280-3860

Downtown Dental
LGBTQ Inclusive Dental Care
Contact: 515-207-6093

University of Iowa LGBTQ Clinic – Iowa City
The University of Iowa LGBTQ clinic offers dedicated health services in a comfortable, caring environment to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, gender non-conforming, genderqueer, gender fluid, and anyone who identifies as part of the LGBTQ communities.

Central Iowa VA
Offering medical care, mental health services, and support for LGBTQ veterans, including PreP, hormone replacement therapy, speech therapy, wigs, padded bras, gaffs, binders, packers, STP devices, and more.

LGBTQ Veteran Care Coordinator
Drew O’Leary BSN, RN (he/him/his)
515-418-2440
3600 30th St, Des Moines, IA 50310

COVID Recovery Iowa
The State of Iowa has received federal funding from FEMA to offer free virtual counseling and assistance to those affected, in any way, by COVID-19. For more information, check out their website. If you have additional questions contact: Ash Roberts at [email protected]

Iowa Department of Public Health’s Care For Yourself Program
One Iowa partners with the Iowa Department of Public Health to connect eligible LGBTQ Iowans, particularly older queer women and transgender individuals, to their cancer screening program. The Care for Yourself program has local staff that can help you schedule: clinical breast exams, mammograms, pelvic exams, Pap tests, and tests to check your risk for heart disease. Through the program, eligible LGBTQ Iowans can qualify for free or low-cost healthcare services.

Love in The Face
Navigating the legal paperwork involved in transition can be an overwhelming task. Love in the Face provides a no-cost step-by-step coaching process that empowers you to complete your legal name and/or gender marker change. Contact Nia Chiaramonte today to schedule a 30-minute consultation to assess your objectives and get your process rolling. Nia will be available to you during your journey, encouraging you as you complete your legal gender-affirming process.

LGBTQ Inclusive Individual Providers

Dr. Matthew Abendroth
Family Medicine
515-265-4211

Dr. Amy Bingaman
OB/GYN, Broadlawns
515-282-2200

Dr. John Carstensen
Internal Medicine, Unity Point
515-241-8221

Dr. Wendi Harris
Pediatrics, Unity Point
515-241-4300

Dr. Angela Knoblauch
Internal Medicine, Unity Point
515-221-7800

Dr. Richard Robus
Pediatrics, Unity Point
515-241-4300

Dr. Matthew Molin
Primary Care/Family Medicine, Unity Point
515-279-6424

Dr. Kaaren Olesen
D.O., Broadlawns
515-282-2340

Becky Johnson
Becky Johnson, ARNP, AAHIVS HIV Clinical Director

Aaron Hahn
LGBTQ Inclusive Medical Care
Hearing, ear infections, testing hearing, hearing aids
All ages
Broadlawns Medical Center
515-282-7750

Dana Danley
LGBTQ Inclusive Medical Care
Family Medicine
All Ages
Broadlawns Medical Center
515-282-2334

Kelsey Randel
LGBTQ Inclusive Medical Care
Family Medicine, OBGYN focus
All Ages
Broadlawns Medical Center
515-282-2334

Kasi Schuppe
LGBTQ Inclusive Care
Orthopedics
Adults ages 30-55
Enhance PT
[email protected]
515-985-9038

Lindsey Christianson
LGBTQ Inclusive Medical Care Provider
Primary Care
All Ages
Broadlawns Medical Center
515-282-2273

Chantell Howard
LGBTQ Inclusive Electrolysis
Bare Beaute
[email protected]

LGBTQ Mental Health Care Individual Providers

LGBTQ-Specific providers can provide services directly related to the LGBTQ community (gender dysphoria, coming out, surgery/HRT notes and documentation, etc.) LGBTQ- Inclusive providers can see LGBTQ clients but aren’t necessarily trained in LGBTQ- Specific issues.

Des Moines

Ramona Wink
LGBTQ-Inclusive Counseling
515 Therapy & Counseling
[email protected]

Larissa Bustamante
Larissa Bustamante, MA, LMHC
Outpatient Mental Health Therapist
Ph: 515-991-2086
[email protected]com

Megan Runchey
LGBTQ Inclusive Counseling
New Beginnings Counseling
[email protected]

Samantha Tratchel LISW
LGBTQ-Specific Counseling
Trauma-Informed, EMDR, specialize in adolescents that have experienced abuse
Children and Families of Iowa
[email protected]
515-205-6176

Bridgette Hensley
LGBTQ-Specific Counseling
Anxiety disorders, trauma work, suicide preventing education and training, mood disorders, bipolar, depression, ADHD
Vida Psychotherapy
515-528-7892 ext 104

Katie Cabreriza
LGBTQ-Specific Counseling
Prairie Wellness

Jeffrey Kramer
LGBTQ-Specific Counseling
Relationship therapy/couples council, Kink community, adult therapy only
515-689-3071

Madi Musson
LGBTQ-Specific Counseling
Specialized training in working with relationships/families and children. Art therapy and expression-based modalities.
[email protected]

Amy Bonebrake
LGBTQ- Inclusive Counseling
Substance Abuse Counseling
Access Evaluations and Education
319-252-4631

Kelsey Taylor
LGBTQ-Specific Counseling
515-282-5695
Broadlawns

Lacey Combs LMSW
LGBTQ-Specific Counseling
EMDR, Play Therapy, Substance Abuse, and Survivors of Domestic Violence
EMDR and Beyond
[email protected]
712-577-2140

Samantha Kemp Carlin, LMHC
LGBTQ-Specific Counseling
Adolescent Therapy
LGBTQ+ Issues, Trauma, Dysregulation and Personality Disorders, Co-Occurring Disorders Motivational Enhancement Therapy/Cognitive Behavior Therapy (MET/CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Iowa Homeless Youth Centers Counseling
[email protected]
515-883-2379 ex. 8625

Sharaine Conner, LMSW
LGBTQ-Inclusive Counseling
Adult Therapy
Addition (Gambling, Gaming, Drugs and Alcohol, Sex), Anxiety, Depression, Sexual health and Human sexuality, Attachment issues, Relationship, and Premarital/marital issues
Thriving Families Counseling Services
[email protected]
515-375-1488

Nicole Holmberg, Ph.D
she/they
Adult individual therapy
LGBTQ-specific therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, process-based cognitive behavioral therapy. Click on the link below to learn more about me.
Prairie Wellness
[email protected]
515-207-1705

West Des Moines/Urbandale

Joby Holcomb
LGBTQ-Specific Therapy
Addiction, Anger Management, Anxiety, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, Codependency, Coping Skills, Depression, Divorce, Dual Diagnosis, HRT and Surgery Assessment and Preparation, Infidelity, Intersex, Non-binary, Gender Dysphoria, Marital and Premarital, Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD), Oppositional Defiance, Self Esteem, Self-Harming, Sexual Abuse, Substance Use, Suicidal Ideation, Transgender, Trauma, and PTSD
515-680-8054

Mandy Harris, LISW
LGBTQ-Inclusive Therapy
Children (Ages 12 +) and Adults
Trauma/Complex Trauma, Grief/Loss, Attachment, Sexual identity, Gender identity, Depression, Anxiety, Life Adjustment issues
Compass Clinical Associates
[email protected]
515-412-5112

Joe Nixon, LISW
LGBTQ-Specific Therapy
Ages 8+ and Families
LGBT+ related stress, LGBT+ relationships (extra), mood disorders, anxiety-related disorders, trauma/PTSD, and attachment disorders.
Stepping Stone Family Services
[email protected]
515-276-6338

Madison Musson, LMFT
LGBTQ-Specific Therapy
All ages
EMDR, Art Therapy, Loss & grief, trauma, gender & sexual diversity (including LGBTQIA+ and ethical non-monogamy/polyamory), children and adolescents, spirituality, and anxiety
Creatively Thriving, LLC
[email protected]
515-225-7124

Amy Pals, LMHC
LGBTQ-Specific Therapy
Trauma and PTSD, Oppositional Defiance
[email protected]
515-518-0412

Shelly Clymer, Ph.D., LMFT LGBTQ- Inclusive Therapy
Couples and Family Therapy
life adjustments and transitions, confidence and self, grief, parenting, sexuality, anxiety and depression
[email protected]
515-402-1101

Kelsey Finch, LMHC-T
LGBTQ-Specific Therapy
Couples, families, adolescents, and adults
EMDR
New Beginnings Counseling Service
(515) 401-6886

Susin Bredice, LISW
LGBTQ- Inclusive Therapy
Individual, Family, Couples Counseling, all ages
EMDR, PMIC and residential care, child welfare, attachment, foster care, and adoption, couples counseling
New Beginnings Counseling Service
515-401-6886

Megan Runchey, LMSW
LGBTQ- Inclusive Therapy
Teens and Adults, Individual and Couples Counseling
Intellectual disabilities, chronic mental illnesses, anxiety, depression, trauma, life changes/stressors, and adults with intellectual or cognitive delays
New Beginnings Counseling Service
[email protected]
515-401-8668

Douglas Aupperle, Ph.D
LGBTQ-Specific Therapy
Children and Adolescents
Anxiety, attention disorders, Bowen Family Systems therapy, child sexual abuse, E.M.D.R. (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), working with LGBT youth and parents, stress and coping in children, and trauma
Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center
[email protected]
515-274-4006

Ashley Parker
LGBTQ Specific Mental Health Provider
Trauma Informed Care, EMDR, EBT, CBT, motivational interviewing
Teens and Adults
Broadlawns Medical Center
515-282-5695

Megan Matulka
LGBTQ Specific Mental Health Provider
Works with any diagnosis: depression, anxiety, co occurring disorders, letters for HRT
Ages 13+
1-712-214-8266

Johanna Grenko
LGBTQ Inclusive Mental Health Provider
Internal Family Systems
Adults
515-282-9659

Ankeny

Hilary Johnson
LGBTQ Specific Counseling
Children age 10+ and adults
Individual and family therapy
EMDR, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, LGBTQIA+ issues, anxiety, depression, grief/loss, relationships, PTSD, foster care, adoption, fertility, HRT and Surgery Assessment, and Preparation.
Prism Therapy Solutions
515-303-0160
[email protected]

Tricia Yavitz
LGBTQ- Specific Therapy
Adults, Couples, and Families
Depression, anxiety, sexuality and identity issues, grief counseling, first responder issues, stress management, addiction and recovery, conflict resolution, gender identity.
TRY Therapy
[email protected]
515-669-2650

Psychiatry Services

Geoffrey Hills, D.O.
LGBTQ- Specific Care
Depression, bipolar, anxiety, attention disorders, thought disorders.
Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center
[email protected]
515-274-4006

LGBTQ Healthcare National Resources

Human Rights Campaign – LGBTQ Patient Resources
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) provides resources for LGBTQ patients to help navigate topics such as the affordable care act, healthcare discrimination, and guidance for trans patients.

Trans Voice Training – Your Lessons Now
Your Lessons Now is a multi-state company that provides online transgender voice lessons for voice feminization, voice masculinization, and androgynous voice. Contact information: [email protected]

Trans Vocal Training
Trans vocal training by trans people, for trans people – since 2013, they have been helping students retrain their speech to sound more masculine, feminine, or androgynous – whatever their unique trans voice goals.
[email protected]

American Addiction Centers 

• Drug Addiction and Abuse in the LGBTQ Community discusses why so many LGBTQ individuals abuse drugs and give a list of helpful resources.
• Looking at the Landscape of LGBTQ and Gay-Friendly Rehabs provides statistics on LGBTQ populations & addiction, where to find an LGBTQ-friendly rehab center, and a substance abuse self-assessment.
• Your Guide to LGBTQIAPK Addiction Treatment gives information on what LGBTQIAPK means, substance abuse & addiction statistics, and LGBTQIAPK addiction treatment.
• LGBTQ Rehab Centers for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender A medically reviewed guide to help find treatment specialized for the LGBTQ community.

Start Your Recovery

Start Your Recovery was developed by bringing together substance use disorder treatment experts from leading nonprofit, academic, and government institutions. Through this resource, members of the LGBTQ+ community can hear stories from people with similar experiences, discover the answers they need for recognizing and dealing with substance use disorder, and locate support.