Housed at the University of Iowa, the Women’s Wellness and Counseling Service’s mission is to provide state-of-the-art clinical care, conduct world-class research, and provide quality clinical education and training.
A joint venture between University Hospitals and Clinics Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Psychiatry, Women’s Wellness and Counseling Service addresses women’s comprehensive mental health needs, with a special focus on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
Screening/assessment—Preliminary screening of all prospective patients will generally be conducted by the patient’s primary care physician or obstetrician, and a referral to the clinic can then be made directly by the physician on the patient’s behalf. Once the referral has been made, clinic staff will conduct a secondary assessment to determine the proper treatment (e.g., medication, therapy, combined treatment, etc.).
Consultation/second opinions—Providers may contact the clinic with questions or concerns regarding clinic services, referral protocol, clinical management of perinatal depression, research studies being conducted through the clinic, upcoming training events, collaborative opportunities, etc. at any time.
Psychotherapy/counseling—Brief, time-limited psychotherapy (generally 10-12 sessions) is the primary format. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) is the most common form of therapy, although other forms may be used. IPT focuses on assessing and strengthening the patient’s social support network and interpersonal relations, and has been found to be very successful in the treatment of many types of mental disorders, including perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
Psychotropic medication services—Psychiatrists will prescribe and manage patient psychotropic medication regimens, or provide second opinions on current treatment.
