Brit Sweet
I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW/LISW) and perinatal mental health certified practitioner (PMH-C) offering services in Iowa, Missouri, and Hawaii. I specialize in OCD and perinatal mental health, offering compassionate, practical guidance grounded in evidence-based therapy.
No topic is taboo here. We can talk honestly about the things that feel hardest to say out loud, then work together on what to do next.
My approach balances understanding and encouragement with direct support in facing fears, navigating difficult emotions, and breaking unhelpful patterns. I work collaboratively with clients to identify meaningful goals, develop effective coping skills, and build confidence through manageable, intentional steps. My aim is to help you move beyond feeling stuck and develop the tools, flexibility, and self-trust to navigate life's challenges with greater independence.
First session
I want clients to leave their first session feeling heard, informed, and clear about what to expect from therapy. During the intake, we will explore their concerns, history, and goals, with a potential diagnosis and initial psychoeducation when appropriate. I prioritize transparency about my scope of practice, therapeutic approach, and recommendations for treatment. Clients will leave with a clear plan for our next session and an understanding of how we can work together. I encourage questions, open communication, and active participation from the beginning so clients feel empowered to take an active role in their care.
Strengths
I want you to feel comfortable showing up as you are, knowing that no topic is taboo and you can talk about anything without fear of judgment. I’ll give you space to process your thoughts while offering honest, compassionate guidance when you’re ready to tackle difficult things. Together, we’ll find practical ways to work through challenges, face fears, and make meaningful changes that fit your life.
Ideal clients
My ideal clients are individuals experiencing OCD, anxiety, depression, peripartum mental health challenges, hair pulling, or skin picking who want practical, evidence-based support to help them move forward. They may feel stuck in cycles of intrusive thoughts, compulsions, avoidance, low motivation, or repetitive behaviors that interfere with daily life. I use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Habit Reversal Training (HRT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and behavioral activation to help clients face fears, change unhelpful patterns, reconnect with what matters to them, and build lasting skills for greater confidence and independence.
Origin story
I’ve always felt drawn to supporting people through difficult experiences and helping them feel understood rather than judged. Seeing friends and acquaintances navigate stigma and barriers to support strengthened my desire to create a compassionate, nonjudgmental space where people feel empowered to make meaningful changes in their lives.
Ongoing work together
Ongoing therapy is collaborative, structured, and tailored to your goals, with an emphasis on building practical skills and making meaningful progress between sessions. For OCD, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) helps you gradually face feared situations or intrusive thoughts while resisting compulsions. For anxiety and depression, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns, while Behavioral Activation (BA) focuses on increasing meaningful activities to improve mood and reduce avoidance. For hair pulling and skin picking, Habit Reversal Training (HRT) helps you recognize triggers, increase awareness of urges, and practice alternative responses. Together, we set achievable goals, review progress, address barriers, and adjust strategies as needed to support lasting change.
Treatment methods
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
I use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), an evidence-based treatment for OCD, to help clients gradually confront feared thoughts, feelings, sensations, and situations while resisting compulsions and other behaviors used to reduce distress. We collaboratively develop an exposure hierarchy, practice facing fears at a manageable pace, and work toward reducing avoidance and reliance on rituals, reassurance, or other forms of neutralization. Rather than promising certainty or eliminating discomfort, I help clients build their capacity to tolerate uncertainty and distress while engaging in meaningful activities. Sessions include guided exposure practice, review of progress, and individualized between-session exercises to support consistent skill development and lasting change.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients recognize the connections between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and understand how unhelpful patterns can contribute to anxiety and depression. Together, we identify cognitive distortions, examine assumptions, practice reframing unhelpful thoughts, and develop healthier behavioral responses. I incorporate practical exercises, thought records, problem-solving, and achievable goals to help clients apply skills outside of sessions. My approach emphasizes building cognitive flexibility, increasing self-awareness, and developing effective strategies for navigating difficult emotions and everyday challenges. The goal is to help clients become more confident in recognizing patterns and responding to challenges in ways that align with their values and goals.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy that helps you process distressing or traumatic experiences that may continue to affect how you think, feel, or respond to situations today. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements or alternating sounds, while you briefly focus on aspects of a difficult memory. This process helps your brain reprocess the experience so it feels less emotionally overwhelming and no longer has the same impact on your present life. You do not have to share every detail of your experience or repeatedly retell your story. We work at a pace that feels manageable, beginning with preparation and coping skills before moving into memory processing when you are ready. The goal is to help you feel less distressed by the past, develop healthier beliefs about yourself, and move forward with greater emotional freedom.
Trauma-Focused CBT
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based approach that helps individuals work through the emotional, behavioral, and psychological effects of traumatic experiences. It focuses on understanding how trauma can influence your thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and relationships, while developing healthier ways to respond. In therapy, we work on building coping and emotional regulation skills, identifying and challenging unhelpful beliefs associated with trauma, and gradually processing difficult experiences at a pace that feels manageable. Depending on your needs and treatment goals, this may include trauma narratives, cognitive restructuring, relaxation strategies, and practical skill-building. You do not have to navigate these experiences alone or share more than you are ready to share. Our work is collaborative, structured, and paced according to your needs. The goal is to reduce trauma-related distress, strengthen your sense of safety and control, and help you move forward without feeling defined or limited by what you have experienced.
Location
Virtual sessions