Elijah Schaefer

About Me

• GENDER: Male (He/him/his)
• LANGUAGE: English

My therapeutic style involves providing a safe and calm presence for individuals to express themselves, their emotions, and their thoughts fully without fear of judgment. I view the therapeutic relationship as the most important aspect of therapy and seek to establish a collaborative and equal relationship from the beginning. I also like to balance a sense of professionalism with a sense of humanness in the room to promote trust from my clients. My therapeutic approach is an integration of internal family systems therapy and emotion focused therapy informed through an attachment lens. I seek to understand how clients' relationships with their caregivers during childhood truly shaped who they are and how they interact with others today.

I am a fourth year graduate student in the counseling psychology doctoral program at Iowa State University. I have completed many hours of individual therapy and group therapy in our student counseling center and training clinic on ISU's campus. I specifically was trained and took part in a dissertation study as a therapist providing emotion-focused therapy interventions for those struggling with self-forgiveness. Before returning to graduate school, I worked as a psychometrist at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics where I assessed individuals with traumatic brain injuries and neurogenerative diseases.

I greatly value respect and authenticity. I am always going to assume every person I meet knows something that I do not. I have a big sense of adventure. I love traveling, hiking, climbing, and trying new things. I greatly value family. I truly enjoy being a husband and father. I believe that being a husband and father has helped my therapy work more than anything.

---

Ready to take the first step on your journey to hope and healing?

We are ready to walk with you. Find out how to request an appointment through our secure intake form so we can match you with one of our clinicians.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please dial 911 for immediate help or 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.

Department

• Psychological Services
• Training Programs

Specialty

• Anxiety, Depression, Emotions
• Attachment Disorder / Problems
• Eating Disorders or Body Issues
• Emotional Regulation
• Family or Team Relationships
• Marital & Relationships
• Trauma

Therapy

• Emotion-Focused Therapy
• Internal Family Systems
• Interpersonal Psychotherapy
• Mindfulness
• Psychological Testing & Assessment

Client Focus

• Adults

  Telehealth Offered