Therapists
Doug McPhee, PhD, LMFT
Owner/Therapist
he/him
Call/text: 319-214-0769
dougmcphee@cedarwoodtherapy.care
—— Dr. McPhee is not currently accepting new clients——-
Dr. Douglas McPhee (Doug) is an assistant professor of marriage and family therapy (MFT) at Mount Mercy University (MMU) and is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) in the state of Iowa. He is the Director of the university’s Marriage and Family Therapy Program and serves as the Clinical Director for MMU’s community therapy clinic, the Gerald & Audrey Olson Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic.
— Doug likes to track therapy outcomes with his clients to assess if his services are working. Nearly 100% of his clients report feeling a strong therapeutic alliance/connection with him. Similarly, nearly 100% of his clients report that Doug has the skills, techniques, knowledge, and expertise necessary to help them effectively address the problems that bring them to therapy. Doug’s warmth, kindness, non-judgment, authenticity, honesty, transparency, and genuine care are consistently brought up by clients and colleagues as some of his greatest strengths.
— Because of his commitments at the university, Doug maintains a relatively small caseload to ensure that he can provide his very best care to clients. Doug works effectively with a myriad of client problems and challenges. He consistently works with couples and families on the brink of divorce and teenagers experiencing depression and/or anxiety. Doug additionally specializes in treating or working with: obsessive and compulsive behaviors or disorders, trauma, anxiety, depression, people in the LGBTQ+ community, the psychosocial-spiritual challenges associated with chronic pain/disease, and faith crisis/ transition/ transformation
— Doug completed his PhD in MFT at Texas Tech University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Utah State University. He has worked in various clinical settings and contexts, including several primary care clinics and general hospitals where he collaborated with physicians and other medical providers to provide patients with integrated, holistic healthcare. Doug is published in multiple peer-reviewed academic journals and frequently presents his research or offers clinical training at international, national, and state conferences.
Heidi Miller, tLMFT
Therapist
she/her
Call/text: 319-214-0870
heidimiller@cedarwoodtherapy.care
Heidi Miller, tLMFT, works with a variety of human experiences including, but not limited to, perinatal loss, grief, relationship stressors, parenting, depression, anxiety, and trauma. While she sees value in individual therapy, she also encourages couples and families to come to therapy together as often as possible.
— Heidi’s experience of being a mother to six living children has afforded her a deep understanding of many of life’s challenges such as perinatal loss, financial stressors, relationship dynamics, and the expansive complexity of life. In addition, she cherishes the time she has spent immersed in various cultures and truly embraces and enjoys the beauty and diversity of humankind.
— A life-long learner, Heidi recognizes that the most valuable learning often comes from genuine human interaction and an openness to new perspectives. Her core values of trust and understanding guide her belief that no matter where a person comes from or what they bring to the room, personal and relational growth is possible. Heidi sees beauty in brokenness and strives to work alongside her clients so they can feel empowered in a path of healing.
— Heidi primarily works from an experiential model of therapy that is shaped by the belief that whole health must consider biological, psychological, social, and spiritual components of a person’s life. She finds value in taking time to understand her client’s history, culture, relationships, and perceptions.
— Her children might say that in her free time she loves to be weird. She also loves to go on adventures with her husband and kids, or clean while listening to a great book. She de-stresses by kickboxing, lifting weights in her basement, taking long walks with her dogs, or sneaking off to get fast food or ice cream all by herself.
Chelsea Plunkett, tLMFT
Therapist
she/her
Call/text: 319-214-0010
chelseaplunkett@cedarwoodtherapy.care
Chelsea received her master's degree in the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Mount Mercy University. She works from an experiential, attachment-based model of therapy that prioritizes a genuine, caring therapeutic relationship. From her own healing, she understands the importance of earning her clients’ trust and bearing witness as they rediscover self-compassion and safe connection.
— Chelsea received a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from West Virginia University and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University. From over a decade of experience as a writing teacher and advisor for college students in need of academic, social, and emotional support, she understands the vulnerability needed to share one’s story, the imprint of the narratives we are taught about ourselves, and the courage it takes to rewrite them.
— Chelsea enjoys working with individuals, couples, and families. She moves at her clients’ pace, meets them with compassion, respect, empathy, and warmth, and finds unique approaches that work for them. She believes everyone has the capacity for growth and healing, and she strives to create a collaborative space where clients can be themselves without fear or judgment.
— Outside of the office, Chelsea enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her dog Barney, reading, writing, baking, and finding time for herself. She loves to be outside and feels most at peace near the ocean.
Jyothi “Jo” Shivakumar, MFT-Intern
Therapist-Intern
she/her
Call/text: 319-214-0296
joshivakumar@cedarwoodtherapy.care
Jyothi, who likes to be called Jo, is currently pursuing the completion of her master’s degree training in Marriage and Family Therapy at Mount Mercy University. She is mentored and supervised by Dr. Doug McPhee. As a therapist intern, she is does not currently accept insurance, but she is offering online therapy sessions for a discounted rate of $30/ one-hour session.
— Jo is originally from India, where she completed her MBA and had a career in the service industry. After raising (still raising) two kids, she decided to reinvest in herself and pursue her master’s degree at Mount Mercy University.
—Jo works largely through a person-centered approach; she believes all human beings have a built-in ability to heal and find their potential. Her approach is about providing a supportive and accepting environment which allows people to tap into their own resources for growth and healing.
— Jo’s experiences as a first-generation immigrant and mother have given her understanding of feelings of loneliness, the struggles of infertility, and traumatic births and NICU experiences. She works with couples, individuals, and families with young kids.
— Outside of work, she enjoys walking, cooking, and good ice cream. Her favorite is the peaches and cream flavor at Dan and Debbie’s in Ely!
A master clinician was asked at a seminar, “What is the most important thing a training therapist can learn?”
Without hesitation, he answered, “Kindness.”
(Fife, Whiting, Bradford, & Davis, 2016).