I am licensed in Iowa and Illinois with 7 years of professional clinical work experience. I have a Masters of Science in Mental Health Counseling, a Masters of Divinity with 4 Units of Clinical Pastoral Education, and over 15 years of Ministerial/Pastoral Practice. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, & dementia caregiver stress. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.
Additional areas of focus: Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Intimacy-related issues, Anger management, Career difficulties, Coping with life changes, Compassion fatigue, Abandonment, Adoption and Foster Care, Aging and Geriatric Issues, Attachment Issues, Caregiver Issues and Stress, Chronic Pain Illness and Disability, Codependency, Commitment Issues, Communication Problems, Control Issues, Coping with Natural or Human-Caused Disaster, Dependent Personality, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Divorce and Separation, Domestic Violence, Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Eating and Food-Related Issues, Emptiness, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Fatherhood Issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and Shame, Hospice and End of Life Counseling, Immigration Issues, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation / Loneliness, Jealousy, Life Purpose, Men's Issues, Midlife Crisis, Military and Veterans Issues, Mood Disorders, Multicultural Concerns, Obsessions, Compulsions, and OCD, Panic Disorder and Panic Attacks, Phobias, Postpartum Depression, Post-traumatic Stress, Prejudice and Discrimination, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-Love, Sex Addiction, Sexual Assault and Abuse, Social Anxiety and Phobia, Somatization, Traumatic Brain Injury, Women's Issues, Workplace Issues, Young Adult Issues
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Existential Therapy, Jungian Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
IA LMHC 094835
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Rev. Sergio Ayala. 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.
Rev Ayala seems to actually care, is open to exploring topics and letting the conversation wonder, while steering it back to my needs. I would strongly recommend him.
Written on May 19, 2023 after therapy with Sergio for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, and coping with life changes
Rev. Ayala is empathetic but direct in the counseling approach. I have experienced several bad counselors that left me fragmented and confused believing counseling does not work. This has changed after working with Rev. Ayala. Life has thrown hard balls at me. Counseling with Rev. Ayala is given me tools to navigate my current life challenges but the clarity and resources he is equipping me with is giving me faith to believe my challenges can be overcome.
Written on Apr 04, 2023 after therapy with Sergio for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, self esteem, and anger management
Hes fantastic
Written on Jan 30, 2023 after therapy with Sergio for 5 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, and self esteem
Christian therapists are few and far between, and it took me a while to connect with one. Rev Sergio and I have been working together for a short time, however both his insight and feedback has already helped me so much. Thankful for him and his work.
Written on Nov 28, 2022 after therapy with Sergio for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, compassion fatigue, and adhd
He listens to me attentively and offers sound advice for what I'm dealing with on an everyday basis. Yet, he helps me see the brighter side of myself and life in God. Thank you
Written on Oct 16, 2022 after therapy with Sergio for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, parenting issues, anger management, and coping with life changes