Andrea cardenas, t-lmhc

Hello! My name is Andrea, and I am a temporary licensed mental health counselor at Hope Family Counseling. I earned my Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Drake University, and I truly enjoy working with children, individuals, and families.

Before training as a therapist, I spent 15 years working in health education, worksite wellness, and community mental health settings, and I also hold a Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH). Throughout this time, I had the privilege of supporting people from many diverse cultural backgrounds through various stages of life, partnering with them to make meaningful changes for their overall health and well-being.

This background gives me a deeply rooted, holistic perspective on mental health and healing. I recognize that true well-being does not happen in a vacuum; it is heavily shaped by a combination of emotional, social, physical, cultural, relational, and environmental factors.

Whether you are a parent seeking support for a child or an adult navigating your own healing, my approach is collaborative and nervous-system focused. When working with young children, I focus on building security through play and deeply value involving caregivers in the process whenever possible, as I believe healing is strongest when families feel supported as a team. Overall, I provide a compassionate, non-judgmental space, offering developmentally-tailored support for children and adolescents, while partnering with adults on an individualized path to recovery. I believe that when you feel safe and supported, growth happens naturally at a pace that feels right for you.

My practice bridges the gap between mind and body, combining clinical expertise with your self-knowledge. I specialize in treating trauma, adverse experiences, ADHD, anxiety, mood disorders, emotional regulation difficulties, life transitions, relationship issues, and grief.

To best support your unique goals, I draw from an integrative blend of therapeutic modalities. I specialize in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a specialized trauma processing therapy designed to help the brain reprocess "stuck" or negative past experiences. I am a trained yoga teacher and also deeply value somatic (body-based) and mindfulness practices to help you safely connect with your physical self and ground your nervous system.

Additionally, I utilize a strengths-based framework to tap into your innate resilience and internal resources. Depending on your needs, our work may also incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help reframe negative thought patterns, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to build distress tolerance skills, as well as Family Systems and Attachment-Based Therapy.

Together, we will work to build your practical tools, gain new insights, and empower you to build a more balanced, fulfilling life.

Locations: Telehealth and Marshalltown