About Me

Personal life, Coaching, Stage Fright, Values, Strengths, Cute cats pic

Personal Life

Hi! I’m glad you’re here!

A little about me. I am Andrea Nus. Some of my identities and advantages – I am a heterosexually married, white, cisgender, neurodivergent, childfree woman in a fat and abled body. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Iowa. My spouse and I have two beloved fur babies (see below for cuteness). I experience joy gardening and doing yardwork, being creative, spending time with loved ones, and listening to live music. And I find reality TV absolutely fascinating for reasons I haven’t fully cared to explore or defend.

A life long learner (not knower), I attend and staff trainings, read, listen to podcasts, attend a few groups. As most do I think, I learn greatly by life experiences. Especially my mistakes. And I am passionate to learn more about people – the human brain, relationships, communication styles, and aspects of human history.

Coaching

In pursuit of my personal and professional development, I have received good and great coaching in a few areas of my life. During the pandemic I became became curious about coaching. In 2022, I began a coaching program designed specifically for therapists. We wrapped up in Spring 2023, and I continue to learn and develop my coaching skills while workings towards certification from International Coaching Federation (ICF).

Stage Fright

While always nervous speaking in classroom and group situations, my first panic attack occurred while giving a brief report at a state conference. My fellow classmates, soon-to-be collegues, my supervisor, and therapist were attending. Until 2021, I never considered running a group of any kind. As an introvert, the idea of facilitating a group made everything inside of me holler “Hell to-the-No!” My heart raced rapidly at the thought of speaking in a group. But because of the changes and healing I’ve experienced in recent years in a few groups, I want to take this risk. In the fall of 2023, I taught as an adjunct professor and rarely experienced nervousness.

My desire ignited for more women with bodies like mine to experience the power and possibilities of being in a group where each member is valued. Also, my other services of coaching and workshops allow more women in fat and larger bodies to have the kind of relationship they want with themselves and live the life they want. Look around this site and if what I offer interests you, reach out and we’ll set up a time to connect on your interests and questions.

My Core Values

I believe it’s important for you to know what values guide me in my life. Some of my values may not align with yours and that may be okay with you. And it might not be. Just like I have a lot of interests, I have a LOT of values I consider to be very important to me. Below are a few of those. Seeing them might help you determine if you want to work with me.

  • Relationships: where I and others can show up as our true, whole and imperfect selves. Be open. Be vulnerable. Yes, it is scary. And it is exhilerating and freeing. And it gets easier and smoother with practice. We grow when we are in relationship with others.
  • Growth: Strive to do better. Be better. Allign with my values and when I stray from them, reflect on what happened, learn from it, and re-allign.
  • Accountability: for and with myself and with others. When I hold myself accountable, I can reduce my guilt and shame then make different choices. When someone wants me to hold them accountable we operate as a team.
  • Equity: where all oppressed persons are no longer oppressed. Inequity does not serve the collective human race (emotionally, mentally, physically, financially), the creatures we co-habitate this Earth with, or the Earth Herself.
  • Hope: always hope.
  • Humor: truly the best medicine. I can’t take myself too seriously, or much of anything for that matter.

My Strengths

Floofer and Cora

  • Good Listener
  • Compassionate – understanding and without judgement
  • Warm and caring
  • Invested in your growth and success
  • Presence. Creating a container for you to share freely. And when I’m not fully present, I name it. And if I don’t catch it, I invite you to name it. Transparency is a value and strength.
  • Connection. Meaningful connections. With you, myself, the four-legged, those with wings, and the earth that holds us all.
  • Funny. Depending on your sense of humor of course. I can’t remember the punchline to a joke. I have a dry sense of humor.
  • Down to earth. What does that even mean?!? To me, it means I am uncomfortable with compliments and quick to point out my flaws or growing edges. I like egalitarian systems and equality, and equaity.

Contact Me


Hours (CST)
Tuesday: 8am – 4:30pm
Wednesday: 9am – 5:30pm
Thursday: 8am – 3:15pm
Available by Appointment Only.