Faith-based Christian Counseling, Coaching and Consulting Services in Central Iowa

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Meet our Staff

The New Life staff meets both clients and groups, and holds classes and seminars, at both our Ankeny and West Des Moines, Iowa locations. Although we each bring a unique blend of educational and corporate experience to our practice, we are unmatched in our ability to connect to clients on an individual and personal level. Each of us is certified by the National Board for Certified Counseling in the areas of individual, family and group work. We are eager to bring our seminars or classes to your group or organization. We invite you to contact us for details and availability of schedules and topics.

Meet Dr. Gilbert, Jacquelyne Joens, Dr. Newkirk, and Julie Stevens:

Dr. Don Gilbert, M.S., L.M.H.C.

I married my wife, Debbie, in 1976. After graduating from Oklahoma Wesleyan University in 1977, with a BA in Theology, I started my first pastorate in Harrison, Arkansas. From 1977 until 1993, I served as pastor in four different congregations, adding a child to our family with every move. I was ordained in 1979 in the Wesleyan Church. In 1989, I returned to school and was awarded a Master’s of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling from Drake University in 1991. From 1991 to 1998, I counseled under the tutelage of Dr. Gary Rosberg, nationally known author, speaker and founder of Crosstrainers Ministries. A journey of self-discovery and my passion to serve resulted in returning to school and focusing on my personal gifts of counseling and teaching.

I attended Oxford Graduate School in 1991 and received my Doctorate of Philosophy in Mental Health Counseling and Religious Studies in 1994. It was during my studies that I discovered a gift of working with couples on building and strengthening their intimate relationships. This passion of working on couple growth resulted in the birth of my inter- and intra- personal communication program. This opened the door to consult for the next nine years with Iowa Heart Center and Mercy Hospital as a medical staff team facilitator in a heart disease prevention program. As my journey continued, I expanded my areas of expertise to include a broad area of individual, family and marriage counseling; business and organizational consulting as well as professional and personal coaching.

As I reflect on the above, I continue to rejoice in the gifts of my wonderful and loving wife, the blessings of our 4 children, their spouses, the addition of our two grandchildren, and in 1998 – the opportunity to begin New Life Clinics of Iowa for a nationally known counseling service. In the fall of 2002, the parent company decided to sell some of its subsidiaries and I then purchased the New Life Clinics in Iowa, opening New Life Counseling, Coaching, & Consulting. As New Life continues to grow, I have invited additional professionals to join me in fulfilling our passion of serving individuals and our community in new and exciting ways.

Jacquelyne Joens, MA, NCC

I graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1981, with a degree in Economics. I then worked in the areas of employee relations, training and development, and management for the next 10 years. It was during this time that I discovered my interest in counseling and education, as I was responsible for the development and implementation of corporate training programs, employee relations and career counseling.

After my two sons were born, I enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom for the next 15 years. These years afforded me the opportunity to serve as a volunteer and leader in our church, schools, and the community. I began working on my Mental Health Counseling Master’s Degree in January, 2004, graduating in May, 2006. While going to graduate school full-time, I enjoyed working as a substitute teacher in the junior high and high school grade levels. I completed my practicum at the UNI Counseling Center, my internship at Allen Memorial Hospital Mental Health Unit, and started New Hope Coaching and Counseling in Cedar Falls.  These experiences have provided me the chance to work in the areas of individual, couples, family, crisis and group counseling - covering a variety of mental health issues.

I moved to the Des Moines area and was privileged to join New Life in the fall of 2006. In addition to my degrees, I have been formally trained in professional and personal life coaching, play therapy, corporate training and staff development, job organization and the writing of job descriptions. After years of research and work, I have developed a unique educational program for the enhancement of self-identity/self-esteem. I am fortunate to be the mother of two wonderful and loving sons, the step-mother of three great people and the step-grandmother of five beautiful children.

I was divorced in 2003, after being married for almost 19 years. The experiences of establishing a blended family, the challenges of abuse, infidelity, divorce, single parenting and returning to school have gifted me with life lessons unmatched by knowledge gained from exclusively reading textbooks. I have many activities that fill my free time, reading, singing, gardening, decorating, writing, membership in both professional and social organizations, indoor and outdoor exercise, serving as music worship leader for my church, bleacher mom for my sons’ sports, and a happy pet owner of the world’s sweetest dog, Risa.  I have loved, lived and learned to be a better person through my life’s journey.  My life is rich and blessed, and I continue to look forward to the promises of each new day.

Dr. Richard Newkirk, M.S. Counseling

New Life Counseling in Ankeny is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Richard Newkirk as a counselor in the Ankeny office at 423 S. Ankeny Blvd. Dr. Richard Newkirk has been a teacher, guidance counselor, principal, superintendent of schools and college professor.

Since July 1999 Dr. Newkirk has worked on autopsied brains in a clinical setting. In June 2003 he was featured on in an hour long documentary for educational television dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The presentation was entitled, “Worried Sick, Over and Over and Over Again”. Dr. Newkirk was featured as an authority dealing with Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders associated with Streptococcal infections that can cause obsessive compulsive disorder. During the summer of 2005 he furthered his research in a clinical setting extracting brains with various pathologies.

Since 2000 Dr. Newkirk has given in excess of 180 workshops in the Chicago area and throughout the Midwest. His speaking engagements deal with neurological impairments that affect learning, personality and learning style assessments to enhance performance and productivity and the effects of drugs and alcohol on adolescent and adult brains. Dr. Newkirk was a featured speaker at the Governor’s Conference in April 2007 and will be speaking at the Governor’s Conference again on April 7 and 9 at the Polk County Convention Complex.

Dr. Newkirk welcomes your calls for marriage and family counseling in addition to child and adolescent counseling dealing with educational issues that impede learning. Dr. Newkirk is also available for speaking engagements for educational and corporative settings.

Julie Stevens, MA, NCC

I attended Arizona State in 1974 majoring in psychology. After two years of college, I met my wonderful husband, Jerry, and returned to Iowa to be married. We have been blessed with two wonderful daughters and I enjoyed being a stay at home mom when they were young. After they entered school, I went to work as a sales manager and then a vice president of sales at Allbee Printing and then Inland Color Graphic and Publishing Company. During these years, I was very active in my church volunteering to teach bible studies, organizing outreach programs for women, serving on boards, serving as chairman of the drama team and singing in the choir. I also enjoyed volunteering at my daughters’ schools and served as a counselor and board member for a crisis pregnancy center. It was during this time that I became involved with a Christian Woman’s ministry developed by Jo Ann Wallace. I spoke to women groups, teaching women to appreciate their inner and outer beauty. I was trained through this program to be a professional speaker and I enjoyed my travels and experiences with them.

As our children left home, I discovered my desire to return to college and finish my degree. I attended the University of Northern Iowa and completed my undergraduate degree in psychology. The completion of my degree was quite fulfilling, but it soon became apparent to me that I wanted to further my ministry by going to graduate school. I received my Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling in May of 2006. While attending school I continued working full time in sales. I completed my practicum at the UNI Counseling Center and my Internship was at Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines Iowa - I was delighted to be under the leadership of Dr. David Kaptain in the DDU adolescent program.

I was fortunate to join the New Life staff in the spring of 2006. I have been trained to work with adolescents, children, individuals and families. I also have experience working with couples on marriage issues and clients of all ages as they struggle with eating disorders. It is rewarding to work with them in their road to recovery. In addition to counseling for New Life, I am employed part-time at Iowa Lutheran Hospital as a Behavioral Counselor in the ER triaging mental health patients. This job has given me the opportunity to see all mental health problems. In addition to enjoying being a wife of 30 years, I enjoy my daughters, my son-in-law and am anxiously looking forward to becoming a first time grandmother. During my free time, I enjoy knitting, reading, golf and travel.