Kerstin Marnin, LMSW

Kerstin Marnin joined the Iowa Family Counseling team in the middle of 2021 out of a desire to serve and support members of her home community in a new capacity. As a native of the Mid-Prairie district, she has always been proud to call this community “home.”

 

Kerstin’s knowledge, experience, and compassion are truly an asset to Iowa Family Counseling and the families with which she works. Helping children and families has always been the central focus in her career. She comes to Iowa Family Counseling with 12 years of experience working with children and families at St. Luke’s Child Protection Center, followed by work at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. 

 

Kerstin’s desire to help people, especially children and families, has led her educational path from the beginning. She attended University of Northern Iowa as an undergraduate, receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Family Studies. She went on to earn her Master of Social Work degree from St. Ambrose University. 

 

Kerstin has a special interest in working with young children and their families. She loves being able to work one-on-one with these children, but also appreciates that supporting the growth and development of her clients supports growth and development within their families as well. She strongly believes that collaborative, child-centered care is the best way to support children. Kerstin understands the unique needs of her clients and tailors therapeutic techniques to help each individual achieve their goals.

 

Kerstin appreciates being able to have a proactive role in helping children build their confidence, emotional-awareness, and sense of self. She has a tremendous respect for individuals' resilience and capacity to grow. She is grateful to be able to support people on their personal journeys.

 

Outside of work, Kerstin recharges by spending time with her children and family. She feels lucky to have family close by for everyday moments and enjoys attending Hawkeye football games with them each fall. She also loves having the opportunity to be involved with her children’s activities, even when she feels like a taxi service! If there were more hours in the day, Kerstin would love to spend more time working with her hands on DIY projects and crafts!