I am currently licensed in Iowa and Nebraska with over 26 years of professional work experience. The bulk of my career has been in community-based settings as I felt this type of setting was where I could give back to those that have helped me and my family of origin. I had a mother that was bi-polar and had a significant borderline personality disorder. Her first major hospitalization occurred following my birth. I have grown up in the Midwest but have lived in California and South Carolina as well as serving in the US military with one deployment to Afghanistan in which I served as the highest-ranking enlisted member of the Human Intelligence component of a Brigade Combat Team. I have a grown gay son and feel that my own healing process in coming to terms with my feelings toward my mentally ill mother were greatly facilitated by friendships in the queer community and feel a great depth of gratitude and respect for this community. I have been divorced, struggled with my own addiction, co-dependency and mental health issues throughout my lifetime and have carried various mental health diagnoses at different times in my life as well. I don't look at myself as complete expert on life but to quote Brene' Brown: "I might just be a little further down the road in recovery is all".
I view therapy as more of an art form in that there are skills and techniques that can be learned and applied to the work of art that is being created, but it is the process involved that brings out the beauty of the final product. I understand the importance of being heard and feel that a person’s truth can emerge through a collective experience in the interaction and engagement with another human being. I hope to bring my experience in life and working with others to your life experience. I view it as a privilege to be able to be a part of the understanding of another person’s life and hope to be part of this journey with you.
Professional experience
31 yrs in practice
AddictionsLGBTQ+Trauma, AbuseAnger managementCoping with life changes
Additional areas of focus:Self esteem, Career difficulties, Aging and geriatric issues, Codependency, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Drug and alcohol addiction, Emptiness, Family of origin issues, Fatherhood issues, Gender dysphoria, Guilt and shame, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Veteran and Armed Forces Issues, Personality disorders, Self-harm, Self-love, Sexuality
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Rodney Black. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
I came to therapy with a significant trauma history & a fairly clear understanding of my own patterns. Even so, this process has helped me make sense of many things at a deeper level. And make other connections I did not see before.
What has been genuinely refreshing is working with a therapist who does not assume, invalidate, or try to reshape me into something I’m not. There is no performative empathy or pressure to fit a narrative. Instead, I’ve felt listened to, understood, & respected as a person. While my original goals are still in the works, the sessions have strengthened my sense of self-trust & self-assurance. For the first time, therapy feels like a space where I can exist as I am, without being reduced to a case or a problem.
Written on Dec 18, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 3 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, lgbt, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, sleeping disorders, anger management, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and adhd
He is awesome. Always available, provides great resources for out of session work, and shows he truly cares!
Written on Dec 11, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and coping with life changes
Rodney is easy to connect with and helps guide me through anxiety issues.
Written on Dec 10, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 5 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, and anger management
Rodney has been very good at hearing me out on so many things. He gives me resources and support. He shows concern and thoughfulness
Written on Nov 23, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 6 months on issues concerning trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue
Rodney has been such a great person to talk to and he gave me some thoughts that I hadn’t considered before.
Written on Nov 21, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, and coaching
Very attentive, understanding and provides feedback as well as means of learning more about myself
Written on Aug 31, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and adhd
Rodney is a very compassionate and informed therapist, he understands and is able to help me navigate life’s challenges.
Written on Aug 25, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, compassion fatigue, and adhd
Rodney is wonderful.
Written on Aug 15, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 1 year and 7 months on issues concerning relationship issues, family conflicts, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, and adhd
Rodney has been great. I really wanted to find a therapist that would help me explore some of my feelings and set some goals. As well as someone who would offer some really practical suggestions for mental health and wellness. I feel like I'm off to a great start and that I have someone to offer me some guidance.
Written on Aug 01, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 3 weeks on issues concerning addictions
Rodney is very easy to talk to, I really enjoy my sessions with him.
Written on Jul 19, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, parenting issues, self esteem, and coping with life changes
He’s been great! He listens and helps me work through situations I may not know how to handle.
Written on Jun 23, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, parenting issues, self esteem, and adhd
Rodney is a great therapist to discuss day-to-day life. He listens to the issues I go through and is able to relate to the issues I face.
Written on Jun 17, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 1 year and 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, sleeping disorders, self esteem, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, coaching, compassion fatigue, and adhd
From our first conversation, he gave me the support that helped me deal with a critical situation at hand.
Written on Mar 26, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, sleeping disorders, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and adhd
He's awesome
Written on Feb 10, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, sleeping disorders, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, and coping with life changes
While my experience has been limited (only 2 sessions thus far), I must say that Rodney has been great. He has helped me navigate through some pretty difficult emotions and days. He understands what I'm going through and has helped me keep a level head. I'm very grateful.
Written on Feb 10, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, grief, self esteem, and coping with life changes
He’s a good guy with common sense.
Written on Feb 08, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, and parenting issues
Very responsive and relates to my issues.
Written on Jan 06, 2025 after therapy with Rodney for 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, career difficulties, and compassion fatigue
Rodney has been fun and insightful. I appreciate all the help he has offered.
Written on Dec 20, 2024 after therapy with Rodney for 4 months on issues concerning lgbt, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, and intimacy-related issues
We had a wonderful initial talk, though there is still much to get through, so, I think, more sessions will be required to actually get into the meat of my issues.
Written on Dec 11, 2024 after therapy with Rodney for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, self esteem, career difficulties, coaching, and adhd
Rodney was pleasant to speak with and helped me feel confident in what I was feeling and that they are workable issues
Written on Dec 09, 2024 after therapy with Rodney for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, sleeping disorders, parenting issues, anger management, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and adhd
He is amazing!
Written on Oct 11, 2024 after therapy with Rodney for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, family conflicts, and self esteem
So far so good. Great listener. We are diving more into deep stuff.
Written on Aug 11, 2024 after therapy with Rodney for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, and coping with life changes
Rodney Black is a great listener,open minded, has a good sense of humor, and makes me feel heard and supported. I look forward to our sessions and highly recommend him as a therapist!
Written on Jun 28, 2024 after therapy with Rodney for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, self esteem, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, and adhd
Rodney is awesome, thank you!
Written on Jun 20, 2024 after therapy with Rodney for 1 year and 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety, career difficulties, and coaching
Easy to talk to and helps me understand situations that have occurred in my past.
Thank you!
Written on Apr 29, 2024 after therapy with Rodney for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, family conflicts, career difficulties, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and adhd
I’m appreciative him as a therapist
Written on Apr 01, 2024 after therapy with Rodney for 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, self esteem, career difficulties, compassion fatigue, and adhd
Amazing guy
Written on Mar 25, 2024 after therapy with Rodney for 1 month on issues concerning depression, relationship issues, and intimacy-related issues
Rodney understands, he can joke, he relates, gives the greatest advise I could ask for and there's a sense that he genuinely cares about his client. On my second session with Rodney tonight and I really feel like he helped me turn a corner.
Written on Mar 08, 2024 after therapy with Rodney for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, anger management, and adhd
I love Rodney. He’s a good listener, is knowledgeable and empathetic.
Written on Feb 23, 2024 after therapy with Rodney for 4 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, and adhd
I'm delighted to have worked with Rodney Black, and can recommend him with confidence. He has an excellent understanding of human experience that allows him to be helpful in a great variety of issues. His easy-going and compassionate manner immediately set me at ease about returning to therapy after many years, and his insight has been really beneficial to my process.
Written on Feb 07, 2024 after therapy with Rodney for 1 month on issues concerning bipolar disorder
Rodney is exactly the breath of fresh air I didn’t know I needed. His approach feels like a wise warm hug. And remembers every detail without skipping a beat. Look forward to our sessions always !!
Written on Feb 03, 2024 after therapy with Rodney for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, coping with life changes, and adhd
Rodney has been a great listener and has shared some great techniques for me to manage ADD. He has had some similar experiences to mine and I feel he can relate to my challenges but also points out and reminds me of some of the things I have going for me. I'm feeling more impowered and have been finding it easier to find motivation in the time I have been doing video meetings with him.
Written on Feb 01, 2024 after therapy with Rodney for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, lgbt, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, self esteem, and adhd
Rodney is the first therapist I have met in a long time that I felt fully comfortable with. He shared a large part of his life story with me which made me more comfortable telling him my story. I will definitely see Rodney again.
Written on Jan 27, 2024 after therapy with Rodney for 3 weeks on issues concerning relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, sleeping disorders, and bipolar disorder
Rodney has been very kind and helpful so far, always remembers what's going on, and what we've been talking about.
Written on Jan 05, 2024 after therapy with Rodney for 6 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, sleeping disorders, self esteem, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue
Rodney is Rad. Professional and personal without projecting his own experiences or values on you or your situation but sharing as a human and professional. I said professional too many times.....I gotta talk to Rodney about this.
Written on Jan 05, 2024 after therapy with Rodney for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, and coping with life changes
Rodney is a great listener, easy to talk to, and offers helpful insight. He will even give you homework if needed! Usually a podcast or worksheet that gives you some more insight into questions or things your are processing. I’m grateful to have met him and get to work with him.
Written on Dec 20, 2023 after therapy with Rodney for 3 weeks on issues concerning lgbt
Rodney is the best therapist I’ve ever worked with. It’s not even close.
Written on Nov 27, 2023 after therapy with Rodney for 6 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, self esteem, and career difficulties
Great therapist. Would recommend absolutely.
Written on Nov 13, 2023 after therapy with Rodney for 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety, self esteem, and coping with life changes
I haven’t been talking with him long, but he is incredibly nurturing and friendly! Creates a welcoming environment that allows me to feel comfortable opening up and accepting help.
Written on May 17, 2023 after therapy with Rodney for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, lgbt, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, sleeping disorders, and career difficulties
Rodney is a wonderful counselor and a fantastic listener. He made me feel like my feelings were justified and validated my ideas but still held me accountable for my behavior
Written on May 03, 2023 after therapy with Rodney for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, self esteem, coping with life changes, and adhd
I've only had one call with him so far, but we've had a lot of messages. He's been understanding, up front, and has given me a variety of options. I don't easily trust people, but I would heavily recommend him to others like me.
Written on Apr 27, 2023 after therapy with Rodney for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, eating disorders, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and adhd
He shared with me some of his experiences which made me feel like he understood me and the feelings I was having regarding certain situations. When a therapist is open to sharing parts of their story to relate to their clients, that's the kind of therapist I want.
Written on Apr 20, 2023 after therapy with Rodney for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, coaching, compassion fatig
Well versed and listens.
Written on Mar 22, 2023 after therapy with Rodney for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, lgbt, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, and coping with life changes
I have had the luck in finding Rodney. Until now I was unable to find that connection with someone with whom I truly felt comfortable, understood, and listened to. While our time was short, it was more than enough and exactly what I needed. I now feel encouraged to start a new chapter in my life. I have never met someone in such a short amount of time that has left this much of an impact on me. I now have someone I can rely on whenever I should need it.
Thank you for everything.
Written on Mar 01, 2023 after therapy with Rodney for 1 week on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, self esteem, career difficulties, coaching, and compassion fatigue
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