Meet Our Staff
Jeff Loney
Jeff is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and has been a clinician since 1999. He graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with an MS in Counseling Psychology, after earning his BA in Psychology from The University of Northern Iowa. Jeff has previously worked for mental health centers in Winterset, Adel and Creston.
Jeff provides counseling to persons suffering from depression and mood disorders, anxiety, adjustment issues, couple/marital problems and pornography and sex addictions. He also has worked extensively in dual diagnosis (substance abuse and mental health) and domestic violence. Jeff works with older children, adolescents and adults of all ages. Jeff has completed Module 2 of the Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) training.
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Susan Dannen
Susan is a Licensed Independent Social Worker & she has provided mental health services since 1994. She trained at Jane Addams College of Social Work, Univ. of IL Chicago for her MSW. She specializes in child and adult mental health, anxiety, OCD, depression, grief, trauma, play therapy, and adoption. Susan can work with children as young as 3 years old.
Her passion is working with clients to find hope and healing. She believes in taking a mind-body approach to mental health healing. She is a Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist, Registered Yoga Teacher, and is a Certified Youth Instructor in Yoga Calm. She has held positions as an In-home therapist, Day Treatment Therapist, Outpatient Therapist, Hospital/Clinic Therapist, Program Supervisor, and Clinic Director.
Susan is also passionate about educating and supporting others in their work with children and families. She was an Adjunct Professor at Adler Graduate School in MN, and at Drake University in their Continuing Education Department. She was a trainer/writer for the MN Child Welfare Training System for several years. Currently she writes & trains for Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R), and Mindspring Mental Health Alliance. She able to provide a variety of community and agency seminars for mental health staff, organizations, school staff, social service staff, and foster/adoptive parents.
Susan and her husband have been married over 30 years. They were foster parents with PATH of ND for 6 years and adopted one of their foster children. They have 2 adult children & 6 grandchildren. Susan enjoys yoga, nature, making pottery, art, music, and theatre.
Carissa Dannen
Carissa Dannen is the Operations Manager at River Roots Mental Health and Wellness Center, where she oversees the administrative systems and organizational strategies that keep our clinic running smoothly. With a professional background that blends high-level coordination with creative problem-solving, Carissa is dedicated to building efficient, supportive environments that allow both providers and clients to thrive.
In addition to her role at River Roots, Carissa is a multi-disciplinary creator. She runs a design practice specializing in website and graphic design, helping various organizations establish their digital presence. Her passion for community engagement also extends into the classroom; she is an active Art Instructor, teaching weekend classes at the Des Moines Art Center and leading weekday programs through ASAP (After School Arts Program).
Outside of her professional and artistic pursuits, Carissa enjoys life in Des Moines with her partner and their cat, Titi. Whether she is designing a new interface, guiding a student through a painting, or streamlining clinic operations, she brings a unique blend of structure and creativity to everything she does.
Jamie Avendt, MA, LMHC, LPC, IADC
Jamie is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and International Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She is also licensed in OK and MO as a Licensed Professional Counselor. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Grand View University in 2009 and a Master’s degree in Professional Counseling through Liberty Christian University in 2014. She is certified in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT and TFCBT/CSE) and is a TBRI (Trust Based Relational Intervention) Practitioner. She is also a SYMBIS (Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts) certified premarital program facilitator.
Her focus throughout her professional training has been on trauma recovery, alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression, navigating grief, loss, and/or divorce, setting and maintaining healthy boundaries in relationships, understanding and mitigating the impact of substance use, as well as developing healthy family systems. Jamie is passionate about working with others in order that they may build and improve connection through meaningful relationships, feel an increased state of hope and calm, as well as achieve a sense of ‘felt safety’, acceptance, and self-worth. She believes in a balanced whole-body self-care approach.
She is currently not accepting patients at this time. Please contact the River Roots office to check for current availability.
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