Counseling
The Young Women’s Resource Center provides access to Mental Health Counseling for one-on-one or group sessions to participants. Sessions may also include their partner and/or family in sessions. Counseling sessions provide supportive and safe spaces to discuss any issues participants are dealing with in their lives or any topic they choose. These free, voluntary and confidential services give participants a safe place to talk about whatever they are going through, to be listened to and be accepted for who they are.
Marcia Bradley (pronouns: she/her/hers)
Marica is an Art Therapist and specializes in creative counseling techniques. She provides voluntary and confidential counseling services for girls and young women in schools and at the YWRC.
Maria Alonzo (pronouns: she/ella)
Maria provides bilingual (Spanish and English) mental health counseling services to YWRC participants. Maria has been a victim counselor and advocate at Polk Crisis and Advocacy Services for the last 26 years. She believes in the power of community and works to cultivate hope and resilience through advocacy, empowerment and relationship building.
Topics covered
- depression
- anxiety
- self-esteem
- anger management
- empowerment
- school-related issues
- eating disorders
- substance abuse
- trauma issues
- healthy relationships/family relationships
- child-parent therapy
- postpartum therapy
Activities
- art therapy
- journaling
- goal-setting
- parental support
- support system involvement
Age group
Any persons age 10 – 24 who have been socialized and/or identify as female. Trans and nonbinary friends are welcome.
Time & day
All art therapy and counseling sessions are arranged by appointment with the counselor.
Registration
To schedule an appointment, please email Marcia, email Maria, or call (515) 244-4901.
Related Programs
After School Groups
The Young Women’s Resource Center holds weekly after school groups for young women in the Des Moines area in 5th through 12th grades. These groups explore a variety of topics such as body image, self-esteem, reproductive health and healthy relationships. They include hands-on activities, field trips, guest speakers and community service projects. (Groups are currently held online and meet in a virtual space. Project-specific activity kits are provided for participants.)
Better Beginnings Doula Program
The term doula comes from ancient Greek which means, “a woman who serves”. Today Birth Doulas provide practical, emotional, physical, spiritual and informational support. Birth doulas stand by their clients during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Doulas aim to empower clients to have the birth they want, as well as have autonomy over their birth and body.
Childbirth Education Group
Held at the Young Women’s Resource Center, the Pregnancy and Birth Support Group provides comprehensive pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum education for young women and their partners.