Welcome to The Heart of Play, a mental health collective for children, adolescents, adults, and families.

Accessible, intentional, and personalized mental healthcare in-person or from the comfort of your home.

Our approach

You are more than a number at The Heart of Play. You are deserving of a place where you feel warm, welcome, seen, heard, validated, safe, and trusting. You deserve to share your story and know you are truly valued and respected in your journey. The Heart of Play recognizes the heart of healing requires vulnerability, courage, integrity, and bravery. We will walk alongside you in your journey, joining you in your vulnerability and healing as equals. We are not the experts on you— you are! You, all of you, are welcome here. That is our approach.

A family of four walking through a grassy field with trees in the background, during the golden hour sunlight.

Providing you a safe, intentional space to relax and reflect inward

All your appointments will take place in a space created with intention, mindfulness and the client in mind. You will be greeted with a warm and soothing office environment with fully private offices reflective of your therapist’s personality and approach to connecting with others. We offer complimentary coffee, tea and water, and snacks because you deserve a treat! Our waiting room and offices were purposefully crafted to put you at ease and help your mind and body prepare for a meaningful session. We want you to know you belong here. We hope the space we have created for you relays such messaging.

 

In-person and remote options

We have two office locations:

30 Taft St. N. Suite B Humboldt, Iowa 50548

114 N. 27th St. Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501

We also offer telehealth services upon request to client’s in Iowa. Nolan provides telehealth services to client’s in Wyoming and North Dakota in addition to Iowa.

Our services

  • A person standing alone on a wet sandy beach looking toward the ocean on a cloudy day.

    Talk Therapy

  • A black sand beach with large ocean rocks and driftwood on the shore, misty sky, and forested cliffs in the background.

    Play Therapy

  • A foggy seascape with a rocky shoreline, a person in an orange jacket sitting on rocks, and a tree branch on the left side.

    EMDR Therapy

  • Black and white photo of a beach with a large rock formation with trees in the distance, calm water, and smooth sand.

    Biofeedback

  • An underwater scene showing a cluster of mussels attached to rocks, with green and white sea anemones in a tide pool on the sandy ocean floor.

    Group Therapy

  • A foggy coastal landscape with rugged cliffs, a large rock formation in the ocean, and a sandy pathway with a railing in the foreground.

    Parent-Child Services

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Meet our team

  • A smiling woman with long blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a cream lace sleeveless top and layered turquoise and gold necklaces, standing outdoors in front of blurred green foliage.

    Nolan M. Vitzthum, MSW, LCSW, LISW, ACSW, RPT-S™

    Owner/Psychotherapist

    Licensed Independent Social Worker

    Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™

    EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist

    Sand Therapy Foundational Certificate

  • A smiling woman with shoulder-length wavy hair standing outdoors among trees and bushes in a sunny setting.

    Jessi Lantz, MSW, LISW

    Psychotherapist

    Licensed Independent Social Worker

    Independent Contractor

    EMDR Therapy trained

  • A woman with long brown hair in a black and white plaid blazer standing in a modern, glass-enclosed indoor space with tables and chairs in the background.

    Caitlyn Tinken, MS, tLMHC

    Psychotherapist

    temporary Licensed Mental Health Counselor

    Supervised by Nolan Vitzthum

    EMDR Therapy trained

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a black turtleneck, smiling with arms crossed.

    Alycia Wirtz, MS, LMHC

    Psychotherapist

    Licensed Mental Health Therapist

    Independent Contractor

    EMDR Therapy trained

  • A woman sitting on a wooden stool with crossed arms, smiling, against a grey background, wearing a white long-sleeve shirt, a green quilted vest, and black pants.

    Emily Lane, MS

    Master of Mental Health Counseling Candidate

    Counseling Student Intern

    Supervised by Nolan Vitzthum and Jessi Lantz

  • A smiling curly-haired tan dog wearing a blue collar with tags, sitting outdoors on grass with a person hugging it.

    Pippa Vitzthum, AKC Canine Good Citizen

    Office Emotional Support Friend

  • Mary Collins, BSW

    Administrative Assistant

    Master of Social Work Candidate

    Social Work Student Intern

    Supervised by Nolan Vitzthum

Learn more