Rachel Oxley, MSW LICSW

Rachel Oxley, MSW, LICSW (she/her/hers) earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology through Iowa State University in 2012 and her Master of Social Work through The University of Iowa in 2015. Rachel first developed an interest in feminist frameworks during an internship at a domestic violence and assault support center. From there she pursued an in-depth understanding of the relationships between gender/sexuality and institutions/systems. 

 

While in her graduate program, Rachel used her internship experiences to advance her knowledge of affirming practices for the LGBTQIA+ community as well as effective treatments for eating disorders and body image concerns. Additionally, she used this time to examine the overlap between various gender/sexual identities and eating disorder symptoms and treatment. Unexpectedly and proudly, this was the time when her own queer identities began to emerge. 

 

In her 8 years of clinical practice, Rachel has worked in a variety of settings and populations, between the use of play therapy models with children and secondary evaluations for gender affirming procedures. In addition to supporting both LGBTQIA+ youth and adults, she has worked with family members as they support their loved ones through changes and needs that can arise during a transition or coming-out experience. Rachel additionally has a passion for supporting individuals through the healing of religious trauma. She also utilizes body intuitive approaches and a body positive framework to address body and eating shame.

 

Rachel’s strengths include therapeutic creativity, language reframing, a peculiar memory for detail in client history, and the foundational belief that each client’s journey can and will be as unique as they are. Her guiding values are that of trust building, safety, relentless curiosity, client autonomy with treatment, and humor when appropriate. She believes that client feedback, even in challenging moments, is at the center of creating a safe and healing space. 

 

Rachel views her ongoing clinical growth as paramount to client and community need. In addition to specific treatment model use, her continuing education goals include best practices to support the needs of BIPOC as well as those of any relationship configuration (e.g., ethical non-monogamy, polyamory, kink). Rachel utilizes WPATH and gender affirming frameworks to inform effective treatment, and, with client consent, likes to utilize a multidisciplinary approach among the client’s other support professionals (e.g., physicians, teachers, psychiatric providers). Best practices and models for the treatment of those who are transgender and gender diverse are ongoing elements of her continuing education.

The following are therapeutic models most frequently used by Rachel to support a range of clients: Feminist and Gender Affirming frameworks, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Mindful Self-Compassion, and Narrative Therapy. Rachel is actively working to build an enriched Multicultural Therapy practice.