About Us

Also see my listing under www.PsychologyToday.com OR ttps://sehcure.sussexdirectories.com/rms-sec/prof-det.php

Donald M. Kaesser, Ph.D.

PHONE: 515-240-7997

SKILLS

Therapist: Individual, group, family and crisis counseling with patients from hospital, university

and general population.

Manager: Development and clinical management of partial hospitalization program and private practice groups. Hiring, evaluation, promotion and supervision of clinical and clerical staff.

Teacher: Experience teaching broad array of undergraduate psychology courses to students with wide variety of ability levels.

Workshop Facilitator: Experience in design, delivery and evaluation of Stress Management, Values Clarification and Personal Development workshops for educational, governmental and private organizations.

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Iowa State University, 1986. Dissertation on process dimensions in therapy under Dr Frederic Borgen.

M.S. in General Experimental Psychology, Central Missouri State University, 1972. Thesis on verbal learning under Ron Curtis.

B.S. in Chemistry, University of Missouri at St. Louis, 1967, with Dr Charles Armbruster, chair & Founder of UMSL Department of Chemestry.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES: FULL TIME

NOW! Solo Practice of Psychology & Psychotherapy as:

Donald M. Kaesser, Ph.D., P.C.

September 2013- NOW

In Solo Practice creatively using clinical skill set(s) developed over past 30 years while growing three group practices in Des Moines and Central Iowa.

1990-August 2013 CENTRAL IOWA PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES, West Des Moines, Iowa.

Licensed Psychologist, Clinical Director & Owner. Development and Clinical/ Administrative management of fifteen-person multi location private practice group. Psychotherapy with individuals, couples, families and groups. Psychological assessment, evaluation, supervision and training.

1988 - 1990 SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICE ASSOCIATES, Des Moines, Iowa.

Licensed Psychologist & Co-Owner. Clinical responsibilities for seven-person private practice group. Psychotherapy with individuals, couples, families and groups. Psychological assessment, evaluation and supervision.

1986 - 1988 MERCY HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER, Des Moines, Iowa.

Psychologist and Clinical Director. Intensive Psychotherapy Program (IPP) modeled after Mayo Clinic's IPP. Responsible for development, management, staffing and clinical aspects of three-week partial hospitalization program. Hire, evaluate, promote and supervise clinical staff. Provide intake, assessment, group and individual therapy for Mercy Psychological Services. Psychological evaluations and treatment/referrals for HMO subscribers.

1985 - 1986 VETERANS ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CENTER, Knoxville, Iowa.

Psychology Intern. Major rotations in Behavioral Health Clinic, Inpatient Psychiatry, Alcohol-Drug Treatment Program and Iowa Methodist Medical Center’s Powell III. Minor rotations in Logotherapy, Administration, Outpatient Individual and Family Clinic, and Rehabilitation Therapy. Provided clinical services including intake, assessment and individual, group and family therapy. Facilitated inpatient group. Developed stress management program and an introductory booklet for staff use of main frame computer system. Taught part-time in DMACC.

1972 - 1986 DES MOINES AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Ankeny, Iowa.

Psychology Instructor. Senior member of six-person multi-campus psychology staff. Planned and coordinated purchase of original micro-Desk Top computers for psychology department. Developed item analysis of improved test construction. Active in the co-formulation of "Iowa Great Teachers Workshop." Coordinated design and delivery of Human Relations/Personal Development offering. Developed and delivered workshops. Served on numerous institutional committees in addition to 15-hour per week teaching load.

1968 - 1969 LEVER BROTHERS CORPORATION, St. Louis, Missouri.

Control Chemist. Chemical analysis of all incoming raw materials and of finished products.

1966 - 1968 PLAS-CHEM CORPORATION, St. Louis, Missouri. Research and Development Chemist. Tested paint/coating formulations. Initiated research program in polyurethane coatings. Quality control duties

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES:

PART TIME

1988 - 2000 WAYNE COUNTY HOSPITAL, Corydon, Iowa.

Consulting Psychologist. Diagnosis and treatment of individuals and families in rural outpatient specialty clinic.

1992 - 1994 DES MOINES MEDICAL GROUP, Des Moines, Iowa.

Consulting Psychologist. Diagnosis and treatment of individuals in nine person medical practice.

1990 -1993 MONROE COUNTY HOSPITAL, Albia, Iowa.

Consulting Psychologist. Diagnosis and treatment of individuals in rural outpatient mental health clinic.

1990 - 1992 NEW GENERATION YOUTH CENTER, Des Moines, Iowa.

Consulting Psychologist. Testing interviewing and diagnosis of all (dual diagnosis) patients age 12-19. Attend staffings and provide supervision of individual and group treatment.

1990 - 1992 WEST CENTRAL MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, Adel, Iowa.

Consulting Psychologist. Consultations with 18-person staff for testing, diagnosis and treatment/management of rural mental health center patients. Serve on Quality Assurance Committee.

1988 - 1990 DECATUR COUNTY HOSPITAL, Leon, Iowa.

Clinical Psychologist. Member of multi-disciplinary treatment team. Responsible for diagnostic intakes with children and families in FOCUS unit. Provide inpatient consultation and outpatient therapy to severely emotionally disturbed children and parents. Provide clinical supervision as needed.

1989 - 1990 IOWA METHODIST MEDICAL CENTER, Des Moines, Iowa.

Clinical Psychologist. Member of five-person multi-disciplinary diagnostic/referral team with ACES consortium. Testing, interviewing and clinical diagnosis of children.

1989 - 1990 MANNING GENERAL HOSPITAL, Manning, Iowa.

Consulting Clinical Psychologist. Testing and interview with all inpatients of Substance Abuse Treatment Unit (SAT). Provide clinical consultation to SAT and Employee Assistance Programs. Outpatient psychotherapy.

1974 - 1981 COMMUNITY TELEPHONE COUNSELING, INC., Des Moines, Iowa.

Senior Trainer. Assisted in design and delivery of on-going training experiences for all CTC counselors. Facilitated large and small groups, did library research, served on Clinical Services Committee, telephone counselor, supervisor, feedback-group leader, workshop leader and orientation trainer.

1981 - 1982 DES MOINES CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER, Des Moines, Iowa.

Practicum Counseling Psychologist. Intake, assessment and treatment of children, adults and families. Family systems orientation. Presented Burn-Out seminar to staff. 250 hours. (Dr. Sandra Nett, Supervisor)

1978 - 1979 COMMUNITY TELEPHONE COUNSELING, INC., Des Moines, Iowa.

Practicum Trainer. Facilitated training and therapy groups. On-call responsibilities. Participated in decision making for clinical direction of agency. Designed and co-led workshops. 240 hours. (Dr. Herbert Roth, Supervisor)

1978 CENTRAL IOWA MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, Ames, Iowa.

Practicum Counseling Psychologist. Individual counseling with clientele from diverse Iowa population. Brief psychotherapy with adults having marital, sexual and general coping concerns. 80 hours. (Dr. Jan Dale, Supervisor)

1978 IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT COUNSELING SERVICE, Ames, Iowa

Practicum Counseling Psychologist. Individual career and personal counseling with university population. Intake and treatment of 18-35 year olds with vocational and personal development concerns. 75 hours. (Walden Baskerville and Dr. Fred Borgen, Supervisors)

1979 - 1981 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, Des Moines, Iowa.

Instructor/Workshop Facilitator. Member of interdepartmental team that negotiated a contract for design, delivery and evaluation of training workshops for state Income Maintenance and Social Workers. Contributed to design and testing of copyrighted written and video modules.

1971 - 1972 CENTRAL MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY, Warrensburg, Missouri.

Graduate Assistant. Responsible for scoring and statistical analysis of examinations given by instructional staff. Responsible for co-administration and security of standardized and controlled test (GRE, SCAT, Millers’ Analogy, etc.) Supervised three part-time employees.

1967 - 1968 WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, St. Louis, Missouri.

Lab Instructor in Chemistry. Arranged and supervised experiments for undergraduate lab courses. Administered tests, graded papers.

1966 - 1967 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT ST. LOUIS, St. Louis, Missouri.

Lab Instructor in Chemistry. Taught undergraduate lab courses at freshman and sophomore levels while senior in Chemistry Department.

PUBLICATIONS

Kaesser, D. M., Invited book review of "A Workbook to Increase your Meaningful and Purposeful Goals (MPGS) by R. R. Hutzell and M. A. Eggert. International Forum for Logotherapy. #13 (2), p. 135, 1990.

Kaesser, D. M., "The use of logotherapy in partial hospitalization program," In The Proceedings of the 7th World Congress of Logotherapy. (Finck, W.C., M. & Larson. L.D., Eds.), p. 122-126, Institute of Logotherapy Press: Berkley, CA, 1989.

Kaesser, D. M., "A view from the outside," Newsletter of the American Academy of Psychotherapists, p. 1, Vol. 34, No. 1, 1989.

Hutzell, R. R. & Kaesser, D. M., "Logotherapy: Suggested Readings," The Iowa Psychologist, Vol. 32, No. 5, 1988.

Hutzell, R. R. & Kaesser, D. M., "Frankl’s Logotheory: Suggested Readings," Nova-Psi, Vol. VI, No. 2, 1988.

Kaesser, D. M., Invited book review of "Meaning and Suffering: Comfort in Crisis through Logotherapy" by Elizabeth Lukas. International Forum for Logotherapy, Fall, 1987.

Kaesser, D. M., "Mentorship and Metamorphosis, "The Iowa Psychologist, p. 24-28, Vol. 32, No. 4, 1987.

Kaesser, D. M., "When Did I First Hear ‘Voices’," Newsletter of the American Academy of Psychotherapists, p. 2, March 1983.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (Present & Past)

American Psychological Association (APA)

Iowa Psychological Association (IPA)

Central Iowa Psychological Association (CIPA)

Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy, 

American Academy of Psychotherapists (AAP)

HONORS/ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Licensed Psychologist, State of Iowa (#550).

Certified Health Service Provider in Psychology, State of Iowa (#166).

National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (#35192).

APA-CPP Substance Use Disorders Certificate (# AD002035)

NCC AP Certification: Master Addiction Counselor (#511934)

Permanent Professional Teacher’s Certificate for Community College Teaching. (Psychology, Folder #159226).

Twice recipient of Iowa State University Summer Honorarium for Undergraduate Teachers.

State of Iowa Committee for Suicide Prevention (1987).

Committee on Scientific and Ethical Conduct of American Association of Suicidology (1986).

United States Army, 1969 to 1970.

Combat Demolition Specialist one and one half years in USA and six months overseas.

Chair of the Medical Assistance Advisory Council (MAAC) for the Iowa Department of Human Services (1989-1990): Iowa Psychological Association Representative (1989-1993).

Allied Health Staff Member with hospital privileges at: Mercy Hospital Medical Center, Des Moines, Iowa

Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Des Moines, Iowa

Iowa Lutheran Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa

Wayne County Hospital, Corydon, Iowa