Elements offers mental health help

Nov. 13--MOUNT PLEASANT -- Life's circumstances can bring adults and children to a point where their mental health is a big concern.

Melissa Scheetz and Annie Hudson have started a business, Elements Family Therapy & Play Therapy Center in Mount Pleasant, where they can help individuals, couples, families and children with their issues.

Scheetz and Hudson grew up in southeast Iowa, Washington and Mount Pleasant respectively, and they were immediately drawn to helping others.

Scheetz graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in social work and became a licensed baccalaureate social worker.

Hudson earned a degree in psychology from the University of Iowa. She went to work in her hometown for Christamore Family Treatment and then spent 10 years at Mid-Iowa Family Therapy in Mount Pleasant.

While at Mid-Iowa Family Therapy, Hudson spent a lot of time with children dealing with abuse and other mental health issues.

"We went to their homes a lot of the time after school," Hudson said.

Hudson also spent two years working on a temporary license of marriage and family therapy, learning on the job.

It was at Mid-Iowa Family Therapy were Hudson met Scheetz, who hired her in 2006. Both decided much later to pursue a master's degree in marriage and family therapy. They went to Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, often attending night classes after work. Hudson earned her master's in 2012 and Scheetz in 2013.

With plenty of experience in therapy and master's degrees in hand, the friends began thinking of striking out on their own.

"I always kind of felt that was the direction I was going to go," Hudson said. "I was thinking about it last year. The ball kind of got rolling."

The friends starting looking for a place in Mount Pleasant in June, closed on the 124 N. Main St. spot June 30, started construction the next day and opened Sept. 6.

With the help of family and friends, they turned a blank slate of space into a reception area, two offices and a play area.

"We definitely saw a need in this corner of the state," Scheetz said.

Scheetz added, many agencies have an overflow of clients since the Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute was closed by Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad.

"I deal with mostly kids," Scheetz said. "We have the resources that you don't have to wait three months for service."

Scheetz is a registered play therapist. She also works for the Mount Pleasant School District as a social worker dealing with children's problems in the various schools.

At Elements Family Therapy, Scheetz witnesses children being affected by divorce, poverty, a parent's substance abuse and trauma.

"They communicate through play," Scheetz said of the children, as games, art and other activities encourage children to talk about their problems. "We use a lot of different play modalities."

"Kids are kind of an open book," she said.

Children often are reactive to the stress in a family situation.

"I prefer family work, couples work," Hudson said.

Many of the same issues can affect individual adults and married couples, but also include infidelity and the strain over money issues.

"I like to use a narrative approach," Hudson said. "Externalizing a problem so they don't think it's a flaw of theirs."

One trend Hudson is dealing with lately is an issue facing senior citizens.

"People at retirement age are struggling with a new phase in life," Hudson said.

With families, Scheetz and Hudson might handle different components of the therapy, which can be done in phases. Scheetz can handle the children in play therapy, while Hudson discusses the problems with the parents. There also will be a discussion with the family as a unit.

Solving a problem doesn't happen in the initial session as a schedule is set up for the clients.

The name "Elements" for the business was suggested by Hudson's husband, Bruce.

"There are many different elements that go into our approach," Hudson said.

Going into business for the two friends seemed to be a logical step.

"We were always talking about private practice," Scheetz said. "Annie is an amazing person and I wouldn't have done this with anybody else."

Hudson said she had complete trust in Scheetz.

"The response from the community has been great," Hudson said.

Elements Family Therapy & Play Therapy Center can be reached at (319) 385-1665.

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