Mental health therapist (recently retired), Mercy Behavioral Health Clinic

Joyce Feddersen has helped hundreds of Iowa families cope with the pain of divorce, and her legacy will endure, even though she retired from full-time counseling work in June.

A licensed mental health therapist, Feddersen counseled patients at both Iowa Lutheran Hospital and Iowa Methodist Medical Center during her career, and most recently worked at Mercy Behavioral Health Services in Des Moines.

One of her most significant achievements came in 1994, when she developed the “Children in the Middle” program. Initially used for all Polk County divorce cases, the four-hour course was adopted in 1997 as a requirement for all divorcing couples in the state who have minor children.

“Through working with the divorced population, I became aware of what a challenge it is (for parents) to meet the needs of their children when they’re going through their own struggle,” she said. She has also led an eight-week course to help women build their self-esteem for the past two decades.

Feddersen moved to Greater Des Moines from Illinois in 1985 with her husband, John. At that time, she was working primarily as a registered nurse, but realized that she had a talent for counseling and pursued a master’s degree in social work to become a licensed mental health counselor.

Beginning a new career path after age 30 was not an obstacle for her. “I took my very first college class when I was 31 and had four girls, the oldest of which was 6,” she said. “So it’s possible; we don’t have to believe that we have to do it at a certain point in our lives. Later is OK.”

Feddersen said she receives her greatest support and encouragement from her husband; they’ve been married for 55 years. Now that she’s “retired,” she’s looking forward to attending more events in which their 14 grandchildren participate.

She also credits her success to a strong support system of friends at their church, Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, where she is active in the women’s group. She and her husband have participated in mission trips to Jamaica, New Mexico and Mexico. She’s currently working with a team that’s starting a Hispanic ministry at the church.

Twelve years ago, she co-founded Ruth Harbor, a home in Des Moines for women dealing with unplanned pregnancies. She served as the nondenominational ministry’s first counselor, and now supervises the counselor.

Feddersen said she’s grateful for her career and for the opportunities it presented to help people in need.

“I felt I was able to encourage people and was pretty successful at that, and I learned a great deal from each of them, also,” she said.