Finding Peace After Loss: Grief Counseling in West Des Moines with Amy Davis

Anyone who has lost someone to suicide knows that grief doesn't follow a straight line. Finding the right grief counseling in Des Moines can mean the difference between staying stuck in that pain and learning to carry it forward with purpose. Amy Davis, a Clinical Social Worker and Therapist at Diamond Heart Therapy, built her practice around exactly that journey — because she's lived it herself.

A Therapist Who Understands From Experience

Amy Davis isn't just trained to help people through grief — she's walked through it herself. Clients who meet her often describe feeling an immediate sense of warmth and safety, the kind that makes it easier to open up.

"Sometimes people struggle with being who they are, being authentic. Peeling away the layers, unlearning and relearning, that's a lot of what life is," Amy says.

That authenticity is central to how she works. She listens without judgment, creating space for clients to say things they may have never said out loud.

"This is a safe place. A lot of people hold things inside. I see the relief they feel when they speak their truth. A lot of times people are scared they will be judged," Amy explains.

Why Amy Davis Became a Grief Counselor for Suicide Loss

Amy grew up in an unstable home with a mother who struggled with mental illness and substance use. The family moved often, and Amy didn't always feel safe.

In 2011, Amy's mother died by suicide. That loss changed the direction of Amy's life. She joined a support group for survivors of suicide loss and found something she desperately needed: the knowledge that she wasn't alone.

"I don't want anyone else to experience what I did. I wanted to make an impact on the world. After many months of heartache and asking 'why me?' I received an answer back of 'why not me?' I signed up for college the next day."

As a single mother of two daughters, Amy spent seven years earning her:

• Bachelor's Degree from Grandview University

• Master's Degree from the University of Iowa

She now specializes in grief counseling in West Des Moines and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), making her one of the few practitioners in the region offering both. For families searching for an OCD and grief therapist in Iowa, that dual specialization is rare — and it comes directly from Amy's own path through loss and recovery.

What Makes Diamond Heart Therapy Different?

Amy named her practice Diamond Heart Therapy for a reason rooted in her own philosophy on healing.

"The reason is that we all face extreme pressure and challenges just as when diamonds are formed from carbon. A lot of it is having resilience and bouncing back, saying the pain is awful, the fear is debilitating but I can work through this."

Her approach centers on a few core beliefs:

• Everyone has potential, even when they can't see it themselves

• Healing starts with self-understanding, not judgment

• Grief and love are connected — one doesn't exist without the other

"I see their potential that they can't see in themselves," Amy says. "All the stuff they experience in their life, when they can release that and somebody says, 'You're OK with who you are. How do you want your life to look? What steps do you need to take to get there?'"

Beyond the Therapy Room: Advocacy and Community Support

Amy's commitment to mental health extends well past one-on-one sessions. She currently serves as President of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in Iowa, where she advocates at the state and national capitol for stronger mental health laws.

She also provides direct support at suicide loss survivor events and speaks publicly about her own experience to offer others hope. For the last two years Diamond Heart Therapy co-hosted the Annual Diamonds & Donations Gala for Free Mental Health Care alongside Foster's Voice-Suicide Awareness. This event has raised over $52,000 towards free mental health care access in Central Iowa. The third annual Diamonds & Donations Gala is set for April 17, 2027. 

For anyone looking for a suicide loss support group in Des Moines, Amy's involvement in both clinical work and community advocacy makes her a connected resource well beyond the therapy office.

How Does Grief Counseling Help After a Suicide Loss?

Grief counseling after a suicide loss gives survivors a structured, judgment-free space to process complicated emotions — guilt, anger, confusion, and love, often all at once. A therapist trained specifically in suicide loss, like Amy Davis, can help survivors understand that these emotions are normal, not signs of failure or weakness. Over time, counseling helps survivors move from feeling shattered toward finding renewed purpose.

Turning Pain Into Purpose

Amy is candid about how much her mother's death still shapes her, even years later.

"I have empathy for anyone who struggles. Stephen Covey said, 'Seek first to understand and then to be understood.' I had to learn to understand myself first. A mom's job is to teach and my mom taught me invaluable lessons," Amy says. "Not in the way that was gentle and sweet, but her hard lessons changed my life."

She carries her mother's memory forward through her work with clients every day.

"My mother lives on through me and I honor her now. She is in my heart and that never dies. Grief is love disguised as pain."

Today, Amy channels that same resilience into helping others find their way through hard seasons of life. "In the midst of all that sorrow, we can still have peace, joy and love," she says.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is grief counseling, and how is it different from regular therapy? Grief counseling focuses specifically on loss and mourning, helping people process emotions tied to a death rather than general mental health concerns. It often includes techniques tailored to complicated or traumatic grief, such as suicide loss.

Does Amy Davis specialize in suicide loss specifically? Yes. Amy is a survivor of suicide loss herself and serves as President of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in Iowa, in addition to her clinical work with grieving clients.

Is grief counseling only for people who recently lost someone? No. Many clients seek grief counseling years after a loss, especially when unresolved grief resurfaces or when the loss was traumatic, such as a death by suicide.

How do I know if I need a suicide loss support group versus individual counseling? Both can help, and many survivors benefit from combining the two. A support group offers shared experience with others who understand suicide loss specifically, while individual counseling offers personalized, one-on-one processing time.

Does Diamond Heart Therapy have a Gala scheduled for next year? Yes. The next Diamonds & Donations Gala to raise funds for free mental health care sessions is scheduled for April 17, 2027 at the Meridian in West Des Moines.

If you or someone you love is navigating grief after suicide loss, support is available. Reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline anytime by calling or texting 988.

Ready to start your healing journey? If you're navigating grief, suicide loss, or OCD and are looking for compassionate, experienced support in Des Moines, reach out to Diamond Heart Therapy to schedule a consultation with Amy Davis or another member of our team.