All-ages fundraising event to assist Creative Counseling Services in our mission of increasing access to Mental Health Counseling for anyone underinsured in Story County.

Where Did We Come From?

Our founder, Kristten Buttermore, LMHC, LIMHP, LPC, NCC had been practicing in the Ames community for 9-years. She witnessed the same trend: limited accessibility to mental health services in Story County creates barriers for underinsured people.

It doesn’t have to be this way. 

Kristten established the not-for-profit Creative Counseling Services in 2008 to fill this treatment gap in the Ames and surrounding Story County community. We provide Mental Health Counseling to anyone in Story County, regardless of their ability to afford mental health care. We are a United Way partnered agency and work with local and state resources to help anyone in Story County who is underinsured get access to the mental health care they need and deserve.

For the last 18-years Creative Counseling Services has continued this work. Financial barriers to mental health care are more significant than ever for our community. 

**National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that the average delay between initial onset of seeking professional care for mental health symptoms is roughly 10-11 years. (2026)

**2025 Community Health Needs Assessment for Story County identified mental health needs as our primary priority.

Real World, Local Examples: 

College Students

Our local colleges and universities welcome more than 30,000 young adults every year. 

Historical statistics show that 10-20% of college students have limited access to healthcare as a result of limitations of their health insurance. Student counseling is offered at many colleges and universities, but they typically offer short-term access of 4-8 sessions.

This means that in our community, there are thousands of students each year with limited access to mental healthcare.

Underinsured Community Members

(2026) “Betty” has been struggling with increased depression and anxiety. This is being reflecting in more health problems. Betty has health insurance provided by federal and state resources (Medicare and Medicaid). Recently, Betty’s adult son expressed concerns that Betty needs additional support and a return to therapy. He reached out to us and we tried to find the family a resource.

Upon searching for community resources, Creative Counseling Services discovered that there is a minimum 6-month waiting period for access to mental health care for those with federal and state health insurance.

Waiting 6-months for access is too long.