Catalyst Counseling

Collaborating in Healing & Growth

At Catalyst Counseling, we believe in the power of collaboration in healing and growth. We understand that seeking therapy can be a difficult decision, and we strive to create a safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental environment where you can express your goals for therapy, and we can develop a plan together. Our team approach is centered on compassion, integrity, skill, and effort. We offer emotional understanding and acceptance of whatever you are experiencing, while maintaining careful adherence to ethical and professional guidelines, including preserving your confidentiality. Our wide variety of methods and creative approach enable us to meet your particular needs with thoughtful and thorough assistance.

Common Issues

We work with a wide range of issues, including depression, anxiety, relationship loss, relationship conflict, self-esteem, assertiveness, grief, substance use, and academic or work performance. Our goal is to help you identify and address the root causes of these issues, and to provide you with the tools and resources necessary to manage them effectively.

Specialty Areas

Catalyst Counseling specializes in several areas, including eating disorders, career exploration, sexual trauma in childhood, sexual trauma and harassment as an adult, pornography addiction, pregnancy and pregnancy loss, accidents and disasters, gay, lesbian, bisexual issues, and multicultural issues. We have extensive experience and training in these areas, and we are dedicated to providing compassionate, skilled, and effective therapy to our clients.

Professional Background

Suzanne Zilber, Ph. D. is the founder and primary therapist at Catalyst Counseling. Dr. Zilber completed her bachelor's degree in psychology at Duke University, and completed her doctorate in Counseling Psychology at the Ohio State University. She has been licensed in Iowa since 1991, and has provided counseling and consultation to individuals, couples, and organizations for over 30 years. She opened Catalyst Counseling in 2005, and has developed a reputation for her sophisticated awareness of multicultural and gender issues, as well as her expertise in several specialty areas. Dr. Zilber has completed a post-doctoral certificate in Beck's Cognitive Therapy, Level 2 training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing), and is Certified in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Iowa Psychological Association, the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp), and EMDRIA.

Trainings Offered for Organizations

Dr. Zilber has provided organizational consultation and training on a variety of topics, including stress management, communication skills, conflict resolution, team building, leadership development, and trauma-informed care. She has worked with schools, universities, hospitals, businesses, and non-profit organizations, and has a reputation for her engaging and interactive training style, as well as her ability to tailor her presentations to the specific needs and goals of each organization.

Thank you for considering Catalyst Counseling for your therapy needs. While we are closing our practice in Ames, Iowa, we are proud of the work we have done over the past 16 years, and we are committed to maintaining the confidentiality and care of our former clients. If you are a former client and need to request your records, please contact us directly at 515-231-5180.