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Best Clinical Social Workers in Urbandale, IA (2026)

9 clinical social workers ranked by RP ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →

The short answer

  1. 1

    Best overall in Urbandale: McDonald Claudette, RP Score 70/100; 5.0★ from 4 Google reviews.

  2. 4

    Most-reviewed: Compass Clinical Associates, PLLC, 96 Google reviews at 3.3★, the most of 9 ranked; ranked #4.

Rankings can't be bought. Psychologists can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank

9 Urbandale clinical social workers are ranked here by RP Score, from eight published factors. The median Google rating is 3.9★ across 9 rated practices.

Most of this list also appears on the Clinical social workers in Des Moines ranking. See Clinical social workers in Des Moines

Top 9 clinical social workers in Urbandale at a glance

Ranked by the RP Score from public listing data, not by treatment outcomes; Sponsored placements are shown separately and never change rank.

Top 9 clinical social workers in Urbandale at a glance
RankBusinessRP ScoreGoogle ratingBased inHoursBest for
1McDonald Claudette705.0★ (4)Urbandale—Overall
2Benjamin T. House Jr, LISW704.9★ (9)Des Moines, 4 mi away——
3New Beginnings Counseling Service534.2★ (14)UrbandaleEvenings—
4Compass Clinical Associates, PLLC533.3★ (96)West Des Moines, 3 mi away—Most reviews
5Synergy Clinical Services, L.L.C.523.3★ (30)Des Moines, 2 mi away——
6Kavalier and Associates513.0★ (57)West Des Moines, 3 mi away——
7Thriving Families Counseling Services513.9★ (7)West Des Moines, 4 mi away——
8Innovative Learning Professionals: Counseling & Psychological Services504.0★ (4)West Des Moines, 3 mi away——
9Central Iowa Family Institute493.9★ (14)Ankeny, 9 mi away——

The 9 best clinical social workers in Urbandale, ranked

Ordered by RP Score, a 0–100 score from eight published factors. Paid placement never changes the order.

Ranked by the RP Score from public listing data, not by treatment outcomes; Sponsored placements are shown separately and never change rank.

  1. Ranked #1 in Urbandale

    #1 McDonald Claudette

    Based in Urbandale

    70/100RP Score

    Ranked #1 because of specialty focus and its Google rating: listed on Google as “Social worker”, 5.0★ from 4 Google reviews.

    Based on 6 of 8 factors; recency and availability not yet collected.

    • 5.0★ from 4 Google reviews
    Address
    7025 Hickman Rd #8, Urbandale, IA 50322
    View profile for McDonald Claudette(515) 276-3355

  6. #6 Kavalier and Associates

    Based in West Des Moines, 3 mi away

    51/100RP Score

    Ranked #6 because of its Google rating and proximity: 3.0★ from 57 Google reviews, 3 mi from Urbandale.

    Based on 7 of 8 factors; recency not yet collected.

    • 3.0★ from 57 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    1003 Grand Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50265
    View profile for Kavalier and Associates(515) 267-1003

  8. #8 Innovative Learning Professionals: Counseling & Psychological Services

    Based in West Des Moines, 3 mi away

    50/100RP Score

    Ranked #8 because of its Google rating and proximity: 4.0★ from 4 Google reviews, 3 mi from Urbandale.

    Based on 7 of 8 factors; recency not yet collected.

    • 4.0★ from 4 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    1001 Grand Ave #201, West Des Moines, IA 50265
    View profile for Innovative Learning Professionals: Counseling & Psychological Services(515) 270-0280

  9. #9 Central Iowa Family Institute

    Based in Ankeny, 9 mi away

    49/100RP Score

    Ranked #9 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 3.9★ from 14 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Mental health clinic”.

    Based on 7 of 8 factors; recency not yet collected.

    • 3.9★ from 14 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    Parking lot, 220 W 1st St Ste 100, Ankeny, IA 50023
    View profile for Central Iowa Family Institute(515) 620-3192

How we ranked Urbandale clinical social workers

We scored 9 Urbandale clinical social workers on eight factors, weighted as shown. A practice is ranked when its specialty is confirmed and it has 3 or more Google reviews or a claimed profile. A practice with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency. Other unknown factors are left out, not counted as zero. Scores last refreshed November 9, 2026.

Paid placement never changes a rank or score. Sponsored businesses are paid, labelled, limited to 3 and shown above the ranking, outside it.

Read the full method: formula, sources and exclusions

RP Score factors and weights
FactorWeightComputed fromIn Urbandale data
Reputation25%Google star rating, adjusted for how many reviews back itMeasured
Review volume5%Number of Google reviews, compared with the most-reviewed practice on the listMeasured
Recency5%Share of Google reviews from the last 12 monthsNot yet collected
Availability10%Weekly open hours, Saturday, Sunday, and round-the-clock or same-day availabilityMeasured
Specialty focus25%How clearly the practice does this specialty (its Google category and name)Measured
Proximity15%Based in the city scores highest, less the farther away it isMeasured
Claimed profile10%The practice has claimed its Ranked Psychologists profile (free or paid earn the same)Measured
Partnered5%The practice links to Ranked Psychologists from its own website with our badge, checked periodicallyMeasured

How to choose a clinical social worker

  1. Check the license with the state or provincial board that issued it; most boards publish a free online lookup.
  2. Make sure clinical social work is a regular part of their work, and ask what approach they use and why.
  3. Check the license with the state social work board or provincial college that issued it.
  4. Ask about fees, insurance and the cancellation policy before the first session. In the US, if you are uninsured or paying yourself, you can ask for a good faith estimate of expected charges.
  5. Check practical fit: in-person or online sessions, evening times, and how soon they have an opening.
  6. After a few sessions, ask yourself whether you feel heard. Changing to a different provider is common and fine.

Questions to ask a clinical social worker

  • Are you accepting new clients, and how soon could I start?
  • Which license do you hold, and in which state or province?
  • How much of your work is clinical social work?
  • Which license do you hold, and in which state or province?
  • What do you charge per session, and do you take my insurance or provide a superbill?
  • Do you offer online sessions?
  • What is your cancellation policy?
  • What do you keep confidential, and when would you have to share information?

Terms explained

PhD / PsyD
Doctoral degrees in psychology. A PhD usually has a stronger research focus, a PsyD a stronger clinical focus; both can lead to a psychologist license.
Licensed psychologist
A person licensed by a state or provincial psychology board to practice psychology. The title is protected by law.
Psychological associate
In some states and provinces, a master’s-level practitioner licensed or registered by the psychology board, often with supervision requirements.
LPC / LMHC / LCPC
US licenses for professional or mental health counselors (the name differs by state). They provide counseling and therapy.
LCSW
Licensed clinical social worker: a master’s-level social worker licensed to provide therapy.
LMFT
Licensed marriage and family therapist: licensed to treat individuals, couples and families with a focus on relationships.
RP / RCC
Registered psychotherapist (Ontario) and registered clinical counsellor (British Columbia): Canadian titles for licensed therapy providers.
PSYPACT
An interstate agreement that lets psychologists licensed in a member state provide telepsychology to clients in other member states once they hold the required authorization.
Telehealth
Sessions held by secure video or phone instead of in person. The provider generally needs to be licensed where the client is located.
CBT
Cognitive behavioral therapy: a structured talk therapy that works on the links between thoughts, feelings and behavior.
DBT
Dialectical behavior therapy: a form of CBT that teaches skills for managing intense emotions and relationships.
ERP
Exposure and response prevention: a form of CBT used for OCD.

Clinical social workers in Urbandale: frequently asked questions

Who is the best clinical social worker in Urbandale?

By RP Score, the highest-ranked clinical social worker in Urbandale, IA is McDonald Claudette with an RP Score of 70/100. It has 5.0★ from 4 Google reviews. Benjamin T. House Jr, LISW (#2) and New Beginnings Counseling Service (#3) follow. We ranked 9 clinical social workers on eight factors, last updated November 9, 2026.

How many clinical social workers are there in Urbandale?

RankedPsychologists ranks 9 clinical social workers serving Urbandale, IA. 2 of them are based in Urbandale; the rest serve it from nearby towns. Counts are as of November 2026.

What should I do if I need help right now?

In crisis or thinking about suicide? Call or text 988 (US and Canada), any time. In an emergency, call 911. This site cannot help in an emergency.

What Google rating do Urbandale clinical social workers have?

The median Google rating among 9 rated clinical social workers in Urbandale is 3.9★, with a median of 14 reviews. Compass Clinical Associates, PLLC has the most, 96 reviews, and ranks #4. We adjust ratings for review count, so a few five-star reviews cannot top the list.

How does RankedPsychologists rank clinical social workers?

Each clinical social worker gets a 0–100 RP Score from eight published factors, led by reputation (25%), specialty focus (25%), proximity (15%) and availability (10%). A practice with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency; other factors we cannot measure are left out. Only practices with a confirmed specialty and 3 or more reviews, or a claimed profile, are ranked.

Do clinical social workers outside Urbandale count in this ranking?

Yes, if they are within 40 mi of the Urbandale city center, our service radius for clinical social workers. Each listing shows where the practice is based and how far away it is. Proximity is 15% of the RP Score, so a nearby practice gets a small edge.

Can clinical social workers pay to rank higher on RankedPsychologists?

No. The RP Score never reads payment status, and this ranking has 0 paid placements. Up to 3 Featured practices may appear above the list, labelled Sponsored and showing their honest rank.

How are clinical social workers in Urbandale ranked?

Each practice gets an RP Score from 0 to 100 from 8 published factors, including its Google rating, how clearly it focuses on clinical social work and how close it is. Sponsored placements are shown separately and never change rank. The score does not measure treatment outcomes.

Can a social worker provide therapy?

Yes, when licensed for it. In the US a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW, or LICSW in some states) holds a master’s degree in social work, has completed supervised clinical practice and passed a licensing exam. In Canada, registered social workers are regulated by provincial colleges. They provide talk therapy for many of the same concerns as counselors and psychologists.

Can I see a clinical social worker online?

Often, yes. Licensing generally follows where you are during the session, so the provider needs to be licensed or authorized there. In the US, psychologists in PSYPACT member states can offer telepsychology to clients in other member states; counselors and social workers have their own rules. In Canada, ask whether the provider is registered in your province.

What if I need help right now?

Do not wait for a consultation. Call or text 988 (US and Canada) if you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, at any time. In an emergency, call 911.

Update log for Urbandale

  1. November 2026: RP Scores recalculated for 9 clinical social workers serving Urbandale.

More clinical social workers and Urbandale pages