IOWA LAKES COMMUNITY COLLEGE GRANT
ONLINE COUNSELING WITH SYNERGY ETHERAPY
Thank you for taking the first steps towards improving your overall mental health and well-being!
We are delighted that you are taking advantage of 6 sessions paid for by Iowa Lakes Community College.
We have four amazing Iowa therapists here to help you achieve your goals! You can receive a 45-min phone or video eTherapy session with one of our eTherapists:
Karie Bliss is licensed in IA, UT, SC and FL. She works with kids, teens, and adults! She’s also proficient in American Sign Language (ASL). Karie enjoys working with college-students struggling with anxiety, depression, adjustment to school and social/peer relational difficulties.
Jonathan Levin is licensed in IA and PA. He has worked with teens and young adults for decades on building coping skills for anxiety/depression and other life stressors. He offers weekday and Sunday options. Jonathan is known by his clients to be warm, empathic, sensitive to a variety of concerns, and solutions-focused!
Nikki Arthur (Nikki is currently full as of 10/4/25) is licensed in MN and IA and enjoys working with the college-aged population to help find ways to cope with anxiety/depression or other life circumstances that are causing distress at this time. She has a variety of daytime (M-Th) options available.
Emili Lair (EMILI IS CURRENTLY ON MATERNITY LEAVE UNTIL 2026) is licensed in IA and MN as a mental health counselor. She has worked with college students at a counseling center in the past and has expertise in anxiety/stress, grief/loss and emotional regulation.
Please complete the contact form and the calendar will pop up for you to schedule. Please make sure you are scheduling with the therapist of your choosing (currently available: Karie Bliss or Jonathan Levin).
*If you currently reside in another state outside of Iowa, please contact us at Info@SynergyeTherapy.com to learn more about options for you in your state.
IS ONLINE THERAPY RIGHT FOR ME?
Are you struggling with a negative mood, feeling overwhelmed, irritable or anxious? Are your relationships suffering? Has work and/or family life become so stressful, you wonder how you’ll manage? Are you looking for convenient care? If these resonate with you, you may benefit from online holistic therapeutic support. Together, we will address how you can feel better in your body, have balance in your thoughts, & wellness in your spirit. I will give you space to address what is important to you, and help you learn effective skills to cope so you can feel more empowered in your everyday life.
ABOUT Karie bliss
Karie Bliss, LMHC, LPC is licensed in Florida, South Carolina, Iowa and Utah! She has a great deal of experience in mindfulness and yoga practices, and is trained in Adlerian styles as well as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, somatic experiencing, polyvagal stress responses, SSP, play therapy techniques, and positive parenting approaches. Karie has been a therapist for over 15 years and holds a certified clinical anxiety treatment professional (CCATP) and a certified clinical telemental health provider (CTMH) certification.
Karie also utilizes a protocol called Seeking Safety for people in recovery from Alcohol Misuse and Trauma. Karie’s first career lent the knowledge and use of American Sign Language (ASL), so incorporates that when working with younger people to help express emotions and coping strategies.
She obtained her Master’s Degrees in Rehabilitation Services and Mental Health Counseling from Florida Atlantic University in 2009. Her style is warm and interactive and works best with clients whom struggle with anxiety, panic, trauma, narcissistic abuse, and daily life stressors. She believes in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion and doesn’t believe in stigmatizing labels.
Karie focuses more on the whole person using somatic and polyvagal strategies, incorporating evidenced based practices as well for client positive progress in treatment. In her free time, Karie enjoys her animals, farm life, two children, and any time hiking, kayaking, surfing, or other nature-based activities. You can usually find her reading a good book out on her dock by the lack on the beach.
ABOUT JONATHAN LEVIN
Jonathan Levin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Pennsylvania and Iowa. Jonathan received his Bachelor’s Degree from The University of Michigan in 1991. He later went on to get his Masters of Social Work from The University of Illinois at Chicago in 1998.
Jonathan brings over twenty years of diverse clinical experience to his work. He has supported children, adolescents, adults, and older adults across a wide range of settings, including schools, private mental health agencies, and private practice. His background includes working with older adults in underserved communities in Chicago as well as serving as a school social worker supporting students with emotional and behavioral challenges.
Drawing from extensive training, Jonathan integrates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, psychodynamic, narrative therapy, and family systems approaches. He tailors these methods to meet the unique needs of each client, helping them build insight, resilience, and meaningful change.
Jonathan has owned a private practice for the past 14 years and has been working exclusively online with clients for the last six. Much of his work focuses on supporting students who attend online schools in Pennsylvania, providing them with both emotional and behavioral support. His warm, engaging approach with teens and families has been widely recognized by his medical colleagues, who value his ability to connect with compassion and empathy. Jonathan’s goal is always to partner with clients in reaching their mental wellness goals.
Beyond his practice, Jonathan has also dedicated time to global service. During the Ebola crisis, he traveled to Sierra Leone to provide mental health training and crisis support. His efforts helped local communities not only cope with immediate challenges but also develop sustainable social service resources. He continues to remain connected to this work, offering mentorship and training to Sierra Leonean professionals online.
Jonathan believes that every client has the capacity to grow, change, and thrive in therapy. He sees the purpose of counseling as empowering clients—helping them tell their story, build confidence, and embrace their full potential.
Currently, Jonathan lives overseas with his family. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys running, walking his three dogs, and spending quality time with his loved ones.
ABOUT NIKKI ARTHUR
Nikki Arthur is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in IA and MN. She also lives in Iowa with her family. Nikki holds a Master’s degree in Professional Counseling & Marriage and Family Therapy from The Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University. She has over two decades of experience in the mental health field; the last fifteen years providing therapeutic services to individuals & couples.
Nikki works most effectively with people who are open to increasing their connection with mind and body and a willingness to address this connection through mindfulness practices. Mindfulness is defined by Jon Kabat Zinn as “paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.”
Nikki believes utilizing mindfulness can allow clients to fully explore their emotions through the lenses of curiosity and compassion which can lead to decreased suffering and ease in dealing with the stressors that life inevitably brings. Mindfulness also appeals to Nikki’s background in research as mindfulness continues to show effectiveness in treating a variety of clinical concerns including, but not limited to, anxiety, recurrent depression, chronic pain, and ADHD.
Nikki’s approach to therapy is systemic, collaborative and strength-based. In addition to mindfulness, her work is informed by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Polyvagal Theory and the latest neuroscience research. Nikki utilizes these methods to increase her clients’ ability to experience their thoughts and feelings with openness and non-judgment, while practicing self-compassion.
Nikki’s special interests include working with individuals & couples struggling with depression, anxiety, parenting concerns, family/couple conflict and wellness/stress management. She provides her clients with a safe and supportive space to explore their concerns, while working collaboratively with clients so they feel the empowerment that comes from accessing their best self.
In her free time, Nikki enjoys spending time with her husband, her children and their dog, Bella. She also loves to read, meditate, bake with her daughters, go for walks, and listen to music.
Nikki Arthur, LMFT: Minnesota License#: 1611, Iowa License#: 091101
“The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen; room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.” – Pema Chodron
Professional Membership: American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy – Clinical Member
Marriage and Family Therapy Bill of Rights Bill of Rights Download
ABOUT EMILI LAIR
(CURRENTLY ON MATERNITY LEAVE UNTIL 2026) Emili is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the states of Iowa and Minnesota. Emili received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art with a minor in Religion from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Emili went on to complete her Master of Education degree (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, as well as a Community College Teaching Certificate, from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
She worked with college students at a private university for three years as a student affairs professional. During that time, Emili found her passion for working with individuals in one-on-one and small group interactions during this transitional stage of life, as well as through high stress and crisis situations.
The importance of mental health and wellness was very apparent working in the university setting with students at various stages of their college careers and coming from diverse backgrounds. During this stage of her professional career, she was a member of the Iowa Student Personnel Association (ISPA) and served as the chairperson one year for the ISPA Annual Conference. She was trained in Fierce Conversations and became certified as the highest level Fierce Conversations facilitator.
Emili paused her professional career in higher education to return to complete her Master of Arts degree (M.A.) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at The University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota (CACREP accredited).
She completed her counseling internship in a faith-based, college counseling center. Emili’s first professional experience was through SAMSA’s Project AWARE grant providing therapy in a school-based setting. She has gained experience teaching as an adjunct professor at a community college.
Most recently, Emili worked in a community mental health agency providing therapy to adolescents, adults of all ages, and couples for nearly five years. In addition to her work as a therapist, Emili has worked part-time providing crisis services to individuals and families struggling with mental health crises. Agriculture has been part of Emili’s life since childhood, and she is also passionate about providing access to mental health care in rural, agricultural communities.
She has experience treating individuals struggling with anxiety disorders, all severities of depression, employment issues, chronic health issues, relationship distress, as well post-traumatic stress disorder.
Emili is most passionate about helping individuals struggling to cope with the complexities of grief and loss of all forms, including those struggling to understand the most unimaginable tragedies in life. Emili has also uncovered her interest in the challenge of providing couple’s counseling to partners wanting to improve communication, addressing ongoing conflict and/or betrayal in relationships, and experiencing new stages of life together.
When you work with Emili, you will find that she utilizes an integrative approach to therapy that starts and ends with person-centered care. Influenced by Carl Rogers, Emili strives to utilize the person-centered approach by focusing on unconditional positive regard, congruence, and empathy. Emili is interested in getting to know you and understanding life through your perspective.
She will often incorporate psychoeducation, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and/or Gottman Methods for couples. She is in the process of completing the first two levels of Gottman Training. Emili has additional training in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Seeking Safety, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). She also values the use of mindfulness, humor, creativity and music in therapy.
Beyond her professional work, Emili can be found investing into her family relationships, playing with her dog, going to the beach (or dreaming of it all winter long), practicing her cooking skills, reading to unwind her mind, working on passion projects, listening to music or podcasts, and laughing.
Emili is currently a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the Iowa Mental Health Counselors Association (IMHCA).
ACA Code of Ethics https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf
OTHER MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AT SYNERGY ETHERAPY
As an eTherapy practice, our mission is to offer a variety of online therapy services to help you focus on you. We take the stress out of getting the treatment you deserve with our flexible, convenient, and easy to use counseling services. We offer online therapy in several states including Iowa, Wisconsin, New York, South Carolina, Kansas, California, Maine, Colorado, Illinois, Florida, and Georgia, and we new states added to our list on a regular basis. Depending on the therapist you see, we can offer help with anxiety, trauma, depression, substance abuse, medical conditions, and more. Our therapists help teens, college students, adults, and couples. Also, our online psychiatrists are able to offer psychiatric medication management in some locations. Learn more about the cost of online therapy from our cost of investment page. Getting mental health support doesn’t have to be hard. Online therapy may be the answer you’ve been looking for.