Therapists in Missouri

Hi there, I am here to help you. I work with individuals, couples, and families with struggles ranging from current life issues, relationship struggles, and issues that have been a lifelong battle. Clients often come to me because they have hit the lowest point and have never felt more alone, even after trying therapy countless times before. Many clients have left counseling finding resolution and a drive to live their life to the fullest. My clients have expressed finding healing, feeling equipped to manage life, and having healthier relationships and connections with others that they previously thought weren't possible.

Welcome! If you are reading this profile, you are likely in the process of making a very important decision – choosing a therapist. I believe the client-therapist relationship is an essential component of growth and change, and I am happy to share more with you about myself and my approach to therapy. First, while I strive to create a safe, supportive, and affirming space for everyone, I recognize that safety is something that must be felt and not simply declared. I will meet you where you are at and work to build the trust necessary for vulnerability, growth, and change.

Are you struggling to find peace in your life? We all need support once in a while. My goal is to help you live a more balanced, happy, healthy life! We will work together to identify goals and strategies to help you initiate positive change in your life.I am truly grateful for the opportunity to help individuals reach their goals and I would be honored to support you on your journey! I am experienced in working with individuals in a variety of capacities including helping them learn to manage and overcome anxiety, depression, addiction, improve self-esteem, communication and overall well-being & overall connectedness in life!

Reaching out for support takes strength and courage. I respect this, and my aim is to create a calm, inviting atmosphere where a deep sense of trust can grow between client and therapist. I believe that pain shared is pain lessened and that people can and do recover from issues that have been troubling them for years. I have found that many people enter therapy not because of a complex mental health issue but because of a general feeling of life not being what they would like it to be. Let me be a catalyst of change for you.

It is important to me to build an open, inclusive, and non-judge mental environment through focusing on your whole self. Creating a safe and supportive space is my first priority. From there we can process stressors, explore growth points, and pursue goals. I am a gentle and compassionate listener who works hard to understand you and your concerns. I can help you sort through your thoughts and feelings so that you can make sense of the past and implement a plan for the future which includes clarity and compassion for yourself and others.

“Just a small-town girl, living in a lonely world…” Hi there! I never thought I’d have a good excuse to use a Journey song as my introduction, but here we are! I am a small-town girl; I grew up in Willard, graduated from Willard, and have returned. While driving home for Christmas in 2015, I realized Willard needed a counseling center--and I have officially taken the leap! My hope is this can help Willard and the smaller surrounding towns not have to drive all the way to Springfield. "Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable..." - Mr. Fred Rogers

"Growth is painful, change is painful, but nothing is as painful as being stuck somewhere you don't belong." Life is a journey and oftentimes along our journey we go through difficult life transitions that can feel impossible to overcome. We may go through feelings of being stuck in the same emotional states, unhealthy relationships or communication patterns that leave us feeling empty and yearning for change. When our lives begin feeling this way, finding a positive support can be crucial in navigating these changes we need to feel better.

We continue to grow in staff and services. Life is full of adventures that affect every experience we encounter. We now have four License Staff, One Master's Level Counselor, One Qualified Mental Health Professionals, a Counselors in Training, a Professional Visitation Supervisor Monitor, and a Life Coach. We will soon have an RN join our team. We are here for you and your overall life journey. Contact us and see if we can assist you in developing, implementing, and maintaining your goals. We would be honor if any practicum student, intern or PLPC would like to join our team.

I believe that the mind, body, and spirit are naturally inclined to healing if given the right space and support. I find a particular interest in working with victims of narcissistic abuse and betrayals and incorporate DBT, somatic counseling, mindfulness, emotionally focused therapy and narrative therapy into my work with these individuals. I also offer couples counseling services and utilize the Gottman Method to address the real work and change needed for couples to heal. LGTBQIA+ affirming.

Samantha Graham-Douglas, LPC and Life Restoration Center have been a part of the community since 2011. We have a mission of providing comfort, safety, and respect to those coming from hopeless situations - including trauma, sexual abuse, substance abuse, sexual addictions, criminal activity, delinquency, behavioral issues, parenting issues, and marital problems. Samantha and other team members have been trained in several trauma theories such as TF-CBT and EMDR and have experience working with substance abuse, addictions, mental health, family systems and focus on the whole family- children, adolescents, adults and families.

Our patients are individuals, couples or groups who have been struggling with depression, anxiety, mood disorder and other behavioral challenges that have made ordinary day to day functioning impossible or extremely difficult. Through evidence-based clinical mental health therapy that includes EMDR, CBT, DBT, and SFBT, we assess, and diagnose individuals, couples and groups providing evidenced-based treatment plans.

Allow me to help you transition from uncertainty to hope, healing and personal growth. I have over 20 years of experience working with people in a safe, caring, supportive environment. My position is to help you find solutions in managing and coping with life changes.

Using evidence-based techniques, I will help you look for patterns in your thinking or actions that may be causing problems, often rooted in trauma. I will help you establish healthier relationships, develop better coping skills, set boundaries and aid your ability to connect to your body & emotions while learning to regulate them effectively. Using a warm, genuine and goal-focused approach, you can be assured that whatever issue you have come to therapy to address, I will work to gently, but firmly encourage you to help resolve it. I emphasize praise and rewards for achievements, relying on your strengths as motivators for change.

I work within the perinatal population; particularly with clients who wish to process becoming a parent, are struggling with infertility, are looking to adopt and/or have a baby through surrogate, have suffered perinatal loss and/or grief, want to work through a traumatic experience before giving birth (including previous traumatic births and sexual assault,) are struggling with postpartum depression and/or anxiety, who need guidance and support as they transition back to work after parental leave, and/or who have children under the age of 3 are are looking to process the struggles of parenting.

Dr. Gwenda Plummer helps individuals, couples, and families develop healthy relationships, identify and change problem behaviors, overcome challenges, find healing from past pain, and discover tools for an overcoming and enriched life. After the initial intake, each session is designed to achieve the client's goals in a safe and welcoming atmosphere. Change and a fulfilled life are possible! Schedule with Gwenda today to begin your journey toward the healthy life you desire!

Living in a constant state of threat, insecurity, and anxiety does not need to be your normal. Together we will explore the root of your concerns and address them so that you’re no longer living in survival mode. My hope is that you walk away from therapy having gained an understanding of yourself and a sense of harmony with your mind, body, and spirit.

I work with individuals who are navigating grief and loss, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, life transitions and identity development. In therapy, I balance addressing symptoms and looking beyond the surface to address the underlying emotions driving behavioral and interpersonal patterns. By learning new adaptive coping strategies and gaining insight into the early development of current emotional wounds or maladaptive behaviors, clients can feel empowered to create positive change.

I have a diverse background in the evidence-based treatment of persons with trauma, eating disorders, co-occurring disorders, anxiety, mood disorders, LGBTQIA+ challenges and gender dysphoria. For clients with PTSD and other trauma, common goals include symptom reduction, coping, exploration and healing. With eating disorders, my practice is most appropriate for clients who have attended a higher level of care (e.g. Intensive Outpatient, Residential, PHP) and are looking to confront issues underlying the eating disorder. Clients seeking gender affirming care will find support with expression, transition, relationships and more.

I love working with children and adolesecents, the more problematic and difficult the kids, the better. I enjoy interacting with them in ways that help us get to the core problems, while implementing coping skills into their daily life to decrease the daily struggles they have at home, at school, with their peers, and out in the community. Empowering them to find their values and integrate them into their daily choices. I also enjoy working with women. Empowering, strengthening and uplifting them to live their full potential, while processing major life events and changes that might be hindering their ability to be successful.