Therapists in 64055

Dr. Erica Thompson, LPC is a multiculturally competent and realistic therapist that believes in meeting people where they are. She takes an individualistic approach in therapy understanding that the needs of everyone will be different. Understanding comfort and flexibility are top priorities for those needing therapy, her services are conducted in a variety of settings including, in-home, teletherapy, and traditonal office settings.

I love collaboratively working with a variety of clients but specialize in helping couples and individual adults. My hope is to help individuals develop into the person they desire to be rather than waiting for that moment to come to them. I desire to help partners who feel stuck and are willing to find a better alternative. Further, I enjoy working with motivated clients who want to know and share themselves more deeply and are open to taking risks in order to stretch themselves for personal growth.

I have experience working with individuals, couples and families. Some of the most common issues I work with are improving communication, anger management, building self-esteem, increasing self-awareness, and restructuring unhelpful beliefs. I work collaboratively with clients to establish therapeutic goals and create an environment where the optimal change can occur.

I have a Master's in Counseling Psychology from Avila University and a Bachelor's in Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia with training in Trauma- Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Gottman Method Couple's Therapy & Play Therapy. Beyond my education, I have experience working with children ages 3 and up, adolescents, and adults with a variety of mental health issues, including severe and persistent mental illnesses, addictions, trauma, abuse, neglect, couples and relationship issues, grief and loss, and mood/anxiety disorders. I use a multidisciplinary approach based on the individual and their specific need and therefore use a variety of therapeutic models.

I believe that all humans have the capacity for growth, but that growth is often thwarted by a lack of self-compassion or self-confrontation. I aim to help clients nurture their deepest and most hidden wounds, to examine the motives driving their actions, and to access new levels of joy and fulfillment by honoring the best parts of themselves. I specialize in working with couples where the power is imbalanced between partners, often resulting in feelings of helplessness.

If you are in a difficult time in your life and are experiencing emotional pain, you may be ready to make personal changes. Your past experiences and your reactions to those experiences make you who you are, which makes perfect sense. We can't always stay the same and move on in our lives. I am a directive, involved, compassionate, experienced therapist who is willing to provide insight, options, and perspective to help you resolve individual, marital, family issues.

Life provides many challenges to maintaining a healthy, happy relationship. Our relationships can be a great source of strength, but they can also cause pain and heartache. Whether you currently feel committed to building a better relationship, ambivalent about the future of your relationship, or fear that your relationship is on the brink of collapse--therapy can often help. Through looking at yourself, your partner, and your relationship in new ways, I help couples gain confidence and clarity about the next steps for their relationship and I help couples build satisfying relationships that last and are worth wanting.

I think we are all wired for and worthy of love and connection. Whether that is connection to ourselves or to others, I believe the desire to belong lives inside each of us. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, though. There can be so many places where shame, doubt, old wounds, and miscommunication disorient and disconnect us. As a therapist, I consider it a great privilege to be invited into your world and to get to partner with you as we collaboratively work through some of the things that might be keeping you stuck.

Are you or your child/adolescent feeling overwhelmed? Are you struggling with a situation from the past, present, or future? Are you feeling depressed, anxious, or other difficult emotions? These symptoms all have a way of letting us know we need to make some adjustments, process some experiences, or learn a new way of acceptance. I would be honored to assist you or your child in finding some peace.

Looking to gain a better perspective on life? Improve self-esteem? Stop the racing thoughts, anxiety, constant worry and depression? I provide supportive therapy to help people realize they can make these positive changes and know they are not alone.

I consider what my client and their environment can bring to their process of healing. I believe that I am an active participant, encouraging the process of change alongside my client. My goal is to offer support and strategies so that my clients can decide for themselves what is appropriate for them. I strive to help my clients gain perspective and a deeper understanding of their lives so they are empowered to make meaningful breakthroughs for themselves. In addition to individual therapy, I enjoy working with couples helping them to relate better with one another or to cope with family issues in healthier ways.

Would you like to feel more connected and valued in your life and relationships? Together we can enter your world as you see it, including what you believe about yourself, both good and bad. Behaviors and emotions make sense when we see them clearly from the perspective of the person, given their history and the lessons they have learned. I enjoy meeting people who want more from their life and are willing to put in the work to get there. My goal is to provide a trusting environment where you, the client, can feel valued and free to share yourself without the worry of judgement.

The angry, argumentative, and underperforming child is often seen by others as the product of lax parenting. This unfortunate characterization has had a great impact on the way our children are viewed by schools, employers, and society in general. The fact is parents often exhaust various recommended "fixes" and desperately want things to be normal. I have over 25 years of experience working with children and families. I understand the daily struggles parents routinely face. I know how school performance, relationships, and behavior are impacted when children struggle. I understand the frustrations associated with a child who "acts out" and underperforms.

I’m excited to have recently opened Dunsdon Counseling, LLC to offer mental health services in Independence, MO and the surrounding area. I graduated from UMKC in 2012 with my Master’s Degree in Social Work. I have been practicing as a therapist for more than 5 years. I work with children, parents, individuals and couples. I use an individualized, holistic approach, focusing treatment on the need of each client. I believe in the worth of all persons and value each person's unique life experience.

Hello! I anticipate being on family leave May and June 2022. I would be happy to meet with you when I return in July 2022. I work with adults and teens (age 15+) experiencing a variety of concerns, whether related to a new life change or to a longer-standing emotional or relational problem. Whatever problem you are facing, I believe it will appear more manageable once we start working on it together.

Relationships are incredibly rewarding but often challenge us in more ways than expected. Strong relationships are the foundation for a thriving life but for a variety of reasons, life gets in the way of thriving. Maybe you are looking for your relationship to thrive again or maybe you feel your problem is much bigger. No matter the issue, I believe therapy can help. My goal is for couples to look at themselves, their partner and their relationship in a new light. This creates the potential to have passionate and connected relationships while also growing as individuals.

Finding love is hard, and then when you do find love it is a whole different kind of hard to maintain that relationship. You may have noticed that your relationship feels harder than it used to, you feel disconnected from your partner, or are having more feelings of anger and resentment. While you are not alone in these struggles or feelings, you also do not have to continue to feel that way. Seeking help for your relationship can help you rediscover those initial “sparks” and even help you develop a deeper connection. Growth and change are hard and often scary, but the results are always worth it.

Keeping passion and connection in relationships while also thriving as individuals is a goal that many of us have. Balancing these aspects of life can be difficult, especially when life stressors, mental or emotional disorders, or trauma present themselves. My goal is to help clients achieve their goals of connection and personal growth, while challenging them to act on the best parts of themselves. I am passionate about working with couples struggling with intimacy and desire issues. My approach in working with couples centers on differentiation based therapies and encourages both individual and couple growth.

*I am not currently accepting new clients. Sorry!* I am an experienced clinical psychologist who has spent 15 years developing my knowledge and skills for addressing problems that occur in families such as problematic parent-child dynamics. I am also well equipped to address internalizing disorders such as depression, anxiety, suicidality, and PTSD in children, teens, and adults. While I use evidenced-based techniques that are informed by scientific research, I do so in the context of a warm and caring therapeutic relationship. I strive to understand your personal struggles without minimizing what you are going through.

I am a creative and caring professional holding a master in counseling psychology degree and a certificate in child and adolescent counseling. With a holistic and trauma-informed approach, I treat the whole person with special emphasis on the effects of trauma. I enjoy working with children, adolescents, parents, families and adults. With my previous work in the private sector and art community, I am uniquely qualified to assist individuals with creative challenges or career transitions and concerns.