Mike Koch is a man who came from a very rough family in Waterloo, Iowa, and managed to overcome the things that held him back.
Life for Koch started in Waterloo, Iowa, with a “dysfunctional” family. He grew up surrounded by mental illness and substance abuse issues, but still liked his friends and hometown in some aspects. “We’d have these ‘Loo moments where either we see something stupid or do something stupid,” said Koch.
His career choices as a young adult consisted of construction work and roofing, which he determined weren’t his thing.
“Well, I can tell you how terrible concrete work was, and roofing wasn’t my thing. So no construction,” said Koch.
Then he thought of being a mechanic, but he couldn’t quite figure out how to work on engines.
And after all of these setbacks, he tried again as a teacher and coach, which didn’t quite work out.
“[I] thought I was going to be a teacher and a coach. Crappy teacher, and found out I was a lousy coach as well,” said Koch.
After these upsets and already being tired of Waterloo, he applied for a Federal Pell Grant, got his undergraduate degree in child and family services with an emphasis on family services, and began working at Four Oaks Family and Children’s Services.
Within a couple of months of working for Four Oaks, his boss told him, “You need to go get your masters in social work, and get licensed. You can do a lot more in this field, you’ll do great things.”
He believed her and took advantage of the opportunity.
The company he was working for would reimburse him for his grades in college as long as he got A’s in his classes, and Koch got a single B, so that was the only credit he paid for. The company never did this to get him to stay, either; he could have left right after he was done with school. The company’s policy now is that employees must stay with the company for three years after college.
Koch stayed at Four Oaks for five years after he graduated, then from there he went to Broadlawns after his old boss called him and wanted him to take her spot as she was leaving.
“I was lucky to have her as a mentor. She was awesome,” said Koch.
Mike then stayed at Broadlawns for five years, and throughout this time, he started working with the state of Iowa and began building his very own practice called Next Step Counseling Services.
His practice now employs 10+ licensed therapists and is located in Des Moines, Iowa. Just because he owns his own company does not mean he sits and lets his employees do all the work. He currently travels to two different school districts, including Des Moines Public Schools and Southeast Polk. He also visits with clients in their homes or public places, showing that every client’s needs can be met. “Currently, I visit two [school] districts, and visit people that live in communities belonging to those districts,” said Koch.
Helping people and seeing progress in treatment is very important. Mike doesn’t like to just sit at a desk with papers all day.
“I like variety, I like talking. I mean, I can’t just sit at a computer,” said Koch.
Everyone has a different story, and everyone should be heard.
“People come from different backgrounds, and if I can be helpful, I will be, and if not, I just go from there and see how I can improve,” said Koch.
A shocking moment Koch had before he owned his practice was when a boy and his mother walked into his office. The boy looked exactly like Koch’s little brother when he had guardianship over him. The situation they were going through at the time sounded a lot similar to what Koch experienced growing up.
“There were just a lot of provoking things I hadn’t thought of for years,” said Koch.
He told his boss to transfer the boy to a different therapist because he just shared too many similarities with the boy.
Koch’s journey is a powerful testament to resilience, determination, and the impact of mentorship. From a challenging upbringing in Waterloo, Iowa, surrounded by adversity, he navigated setbacks and failures, but never lost sight of his purpose to help others. His evolution from a young man unsure of his path to a dedicated social worker and successful business owner reveals how passion combined with perseverance can transform not only one’s life but also the lives of many others.
Through Next Step Counseling Services and his ongoing hands-on involvement, Koch continues to embody his belief that every person’s story matters and deserves to be heard. His story inspires hope and exemplifies the profound difference one committed individual can make in a community.
