Meet the EAP and SAP Staff

Our Staff

Our licensed professional staff provide a confidential setting where employees, students and their family members feel free to seek help and solve personal and family problems, learn new coping skills and enhance their work or school performance. Employees and students who address their problems are better able to concentrate, have increased productivity and morale while reducing the likelihood of workplace accidents and/or behavioral problems in the classroom.

Kimberly Brangoccio, CEAP, LMSW 

Kim is the manager of the Employee Assistance Program and the Student Assistance Program. She is a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP) with a License in Marriage & Family Therapy and an advanced certificate in alcohol and drug counseling. She has experience managing Employee Assistance, Alcohol & Drug, and Family Counseling Programs. Her background includes working with mental health patients, addiction and family problems and she enjoys seeing others change their behaviors and begin living life to the fullest. She has been with UnityPoint Health - Des Moines since 2010 and has worked in the Des Moines area for several years.

Kristten Buttermore, LMHC

Kristten graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Sociology. She went on to Drake University where she earned her Master's in Community Counseling. Kristten has worked in the mental health and substance abuse field since 2000 and has experience with a variety of populations and diagnoses. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family on their acreage, where they raise pigs, cows and chickens.

Frances Gorde, LMHC, CEAP, RYT500

Frances has been providing counseling services to individuals, couples, families and organizations in the Des Moines area for more than 19 years. She is a Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMHC), a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP), a Certified Yoga Wellness coach, and also has an advanced yoga teaching certification, RYT500. Areas of special interest and expertise include, marital and relationship issues, mindfulness-based stress reduction, wellness coaching, grief and loss, life-changes, depression, and crisis response. Fran is currently in the office on Wednesdays and Thursdays only.

Timothy Flynn, LMHC

Tim joined EAP after two and half years as an in-patient therapist at Iowa Lutheran Hospital's Behavioral Health unit. He received his master's degree in 2014 from Drake University after completing internships at Powell Chemical Dependency Center and EyerlyBall Residential. Tim has experience working with depression, anxiety, communication problems, work stress, life transitions, trauma, emotional Intensity, gender identity, relationship issues as well as substance abuse and addiction.