Nurturing Therapy Services | Ankeny, Iowa
An Inclusive, Empowering Perspective on Mental Health Labels
Hearing a mental health diagnosis can bring many emotions.
Sometimes it feels like relief. Finally, I have a name for what I have been experiencing.
Other times it can feel heavy. Does this mean something is wrong with me?
At Nurturing Therapy Services, we believe a diagnosis can be a valuable tool, but it is never the full story. Your worth, your identity, and your potential are far greater than any label.
The Power of a Name
For many people, a diagnosis can offer:
- Validation – A way to confirm your experiences are real and recognized.
- Clarity – Guidance for treatment options, resources, or accommodations.
- Community – Connection with others who share similar experiences, helping you feel less alone.
A diagnosis can also give you language to share your experience with loved ones, teachers, or employers. It can help others understand and support you in ways that feel more aligned with your needs.
What a Diagnosis Cannot Define
While a diagnosis can be helpful, it cannot tell you:
- Who you are at your core
- What you are capable of achieving
- How you will grow and heal over time
A label might describe part of your experience, but it can never capture your full complexity, resilience, and uniqueness.
When Labels Feel Limiting
Sometimes a diagnosis can feel like a box. You may worry that others will only see you through that label, or that it will overshadow the rest of who you are.
Therapy can help you:
- Explore your experience beyond the diagnosis
- Challenge stereotypes or stigma connected to certain labels
- Build confidence in advocating for your needs
- Focus on your strengths, values, and goals, not just symptoms
Our Inclusive, Whole-Person Approach
At Nurturing Therapy Services, we offer trauma-informed, identity-affirming therapy for teens, young adults, and adults across Iowa. Whether your diagnosis is new, has been part of your life for years, or you are still seeking answers, we meet you with openness, compassion, and respect.
We understand that mental health labels do not exist in isolation. They can intersect with your race, gender, sexuality, neurodivergence, and cultural background in ways that shape your lived experience. We hold space for all of those layers because your story matters in its entirety.
Your Diagnosis Is Just One Chapter
You are not your diagnosis. You are a whole person with relationships, dreams, and a life beyond what is written in a clinical file.
If you want a space to explore what your diagnosis means ( and what it does not) we are here to walk alongside you.
📍 Therapy for teens, young adults, and adults in Ankeny, Iowa and online statewide
💬 Reach out today to start a conversation that honors your whole self, not just your diagnosis
