Rodney Black

Rodney Black is a licensed clinical social worker with over 31 years of practice. He holds LCSW and LISW credentials and currently works in Iowa. His career has focused on community-based settings where he has supported people through long-term struggles and life transitions.

He draws on personal experience with family mental illness, addiction, and recovery. Those experiences shaped his interest in trauma and addiction work and his respect for the queer community. He also served in the US military and spent time deployed to Afghanistan, which informs his understanding of stress and service-related issues.

Rodney describes therapy as a shared process rather than a one-sided fix. He blends practical techniques with listening and presence so people can find their own path forward. Sessions tend to focus on everyday problems like anger, self-esteem, substance use, and coping with big life changes.

His approach uses a mix of Trauma-Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). These methods are used to address symptoms and patterns while helping people reconnect with purpose and values.

Rodney’s work is informed by decades in community settings and by lived experience. He aims to create a respectful space where people feel seen and can try new ways of managing emotions and relationships.

How therapeutic approaches work online

Trauma-Focused Therapy helps people talk through the impact of past harm and learn coping skills for triggers and flashbacks. It is often used when trauma and abuse are central concerns and the goal is to reduce distress tied to those memories.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on values and taking small, meaningful actions even when feelings are uncomfortable. It can help people facing addiction, low self-esteem, or life transitions by naming what matters and committing to steps that match those values.

Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current ways of relating and feeling safe with others. This approach can help people who struggle with trust, loneliness, or repeating painful patterns in relationships.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That plan can change over time as progress and challenges emerge.

Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life by removing travel and offering more flexibility for scheduling. Different formats have different strengths, so confirm the specific session options before booking. Many people appreciate that online sessions let them attend from a quieter place, use shorter check-ins when needed, or avoid commutes while still working through trauma, addiction, or relationship patterns with a licensed professional.