Rodney Black, LCSW, LISW

Rodney Black is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) with 31 years of professional experience. He is licensed in Iowa and has worked across community settings for most of his career. His work covers addictions, anger, trauma and abuse, LGBT issues, coping with life changes, self esteem, and career concerns.

Rodney grew up in the Midwest and served in the US military, including a deployment to Afghanistan. His family background includes a mother with serious mental health challenges, and he has lived with and learned from his own struggles with addiction and codependency. Those life experiences inform how he talks with people about difficult feelings and painful histories.

He approaches therapy in a practical, human way. Sessions focus on listening, skill building, and honest conversation. He uses methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to help people notice patterns and try different responses.

Rodney also draws on attachment-based and client-centered ideas to create straightforward work together. That might mean looking at family of origin issues, fatherhood concerns, or shame and guilt that keep people stuck. He uses direct reflection and collaborative problem solving rather than jargon-filled explanations.

People who contact him can expect a therapist who shares life experience alongside clinical skills. He frames therapy as a process that unfolds over time, with practical strategies and conversations aimed at making day-to-day interactions easier to manage.

How his approaches translate to online work