When Kerby Hanson graduated with his Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Iowa in 2014, it marked the start of a new career devoted to helping children and families. But before becoming a therapist and opening his own practice, Hanson spent 16 years as a teacher, a role that first sparked his interest in understanding behavior beyond the surface.
“I had this belief that there’s more to behaviors than just kids being bad or making bad choices,” Hanson said. Teaching students with severe behavior disorders in an alternative middle school setting, combined with his experience as a foster and adoptive parent, deepened that belief. When Hanson encountered the concept of trauma-informed care in 2010, everything clicked.
“That’s when I realized this is what it’s all about,” he said. “I’d been going to therapy sessions with my kids, looking at the diplomas on the wall that said ‘MSW,’ and I thought, I need to be in that chair.”
Encouraged by colleagues, Hanson enrolled in the University of Iowa’s MSW program at the John and Mary Pappajohn Education Center in 2011. On his very first day of classes, he was hooked instantly. “I knew right away I was in the right place,” he said.
A transformative learning experience
For Hanson, the program’s biggest strength was its connection to real-world practice. Many of his instructors were active professionals who taught in the evenings after working full-time in the field. “I really appreciated that,” Hanson said. “They brought current, practical experience into the classroom.”
He also credits his practicum at Orchard Place, a mental health center for youth, as a pivotal moment in his training.
“[The center] trained all their therapists in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy right away, and I was able to use that throughout my first year,” Hanson explained. Orchard Place eventually hired him as a therapist before he even graduated, leading to a long tenure that included serving as senior clinical director.
Launching his own practice
After years of leadership at Orchard Place, Hanson recently took a leap of faith and opened his own private practice, Secured Connections and Wellness, in West Des Moines.
“Owning your own practice is interesting—I do all the things,” he said, laughing. From scheduling evaluations to billing and credentialing with insurance companies, Hanson manages every detail.
Despite the challenges, Hanson remains committed to serving clients with Medicaid, a population he has worked with throughout his career. Today, his focus is on children, adolescents, and young adults navigating life’s transitions—often those who are resistant to help. “I kind of like the kids who hate coming to therapy,” he admitted. “It’s a challenge I enjoy.”
Advice for future social workers
When asked what advice he would give to those considering an MSW, Hanson emphasized the program’s broad perspective. “If you want to have a more well-rounded career—advocating for those who can’t do it themselves, understanding policy, and still having the option for clinical work—the MSW gives you that,” he said.
In addition to his rewarding work as a therapist, he also noted the importance of the advocacy skills he learned in the program: “I had no idea how much policy affects the work we do,” Hanson said. “Learning how to talk to legislators, write effective letters, and advocate for vulnerable populations—that’s something you don’t get in other programs.”
Hanson sees his MSW as more than a degree. “It’s part of who I am now,” he said. “We need more social workers in this field, and the University of Iowa does an incredible job preparing them for the challenges ahead.”