Therapists in Callaway County, MO

My name is Michelle Maguire, I am a licensed clinical social worker in Missouri and Kansas. I believe trust, compassion and respect are essential for effective treatment. I will create a safe and non-judgmental space for healing and change. I studied at Kansas State University for my undergraduate degree in social work. I obtained my graduate degree in social work from the University of Missouri. I have been a practicing therapist since 2003. My clinical experience spans clients of all ages and backgrounds.

I believe people's pain is holy and sacred ground and that every individual's story has value. I work with individuals and couples, and I'm passionate about understanding my clients' struggles and giving them hope for healing and redemption. In coming to counseling, my clients can be assured that I'll provide a safe, non-judgmental space for them to grow and find healing. Of particular interest to me is helping people who struggle with relationship difficulties, sexual intimacy issues, vaginismus, sexual shame, religious and sexual identity conflicts, spirituality, and conflict and boundary issues.

I went into the field of psychology because I love helping people transform to the best version of themselves. We all need a safe place to understand ourselves and how we relate to others/self. I often say "We need to be Mindful of our Total-Well Being and that our minds and our bodies are an inter-connected systems. Where the mind goes, so does the man or woman in their actions and body states. We go to the physician for our physical health, so how much healthier would we be if we went to our psychologist for our mental health?" At heart, I am a holistic practitioner and love seeing my clients Thrive.

Welcome! Do you feel misunderstood and undervalued? Are you looking for more meaningful connection? Anxiety, pain and relationship stress can show up in our bodies, our work ethic, our social interactions, sleep habits and so much more. What happens to us early in life influences our ability to cope with the stress and setbacks that life can throw at us. Whether it's a chronic health issue, recent or past trauma, grief, or an ongoing stressor, you don't have to experience it alone. I have an integrative and person-centered approach that uses the therapeutic relationship to build your sense of agency to get yourself unstuck.

*ACCEPTING CALIFORNIA, ILLINOIS, AND MISSOURI CLIENTS* Come be seen & be known in a relational space with me, so that you can finally arrive home in yourself. Are you curious if you have experienced trauma, or if trauma may still be affecting you? Have you worked with many healers & still feel stuck in certain places? Have you experienced a spiritual awakening & need to integrate the experience(s)? If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions, then you may be in the right place. Trauma can express itself in PTSD & Complex PTSD symptoms, various types of depression & anxiety, & many other symptoms. Lets get to the root.

I believe that relationships are an essential element to our overall wellness. I understand that there are times when we may feel stuck in negative patterns and disconnected from those close to us. Counseling can provide a way to help clients navigate these struggles and promote health and growth in their relationships. By utilizing compassion and self-acceptance, I believe that we all have the ability to create positive change in our relationships and our lives.

As a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with years of training in various settings and theoretical approaches, I help individuals overcome the stories they tell themselves that hold them back from reaching their goals. Whether it's the fear of being judged or the fear of change, these fallacies can limit our ability to take action in our lives. It's okay to feel scared or unsure about taking the first step towards self-exploration, but it's important to remember that change is possible. I offer actionable steps to create positive and proactive improvements in your life.

Your relationship with yourself is reflected in interactions with family, friends, colleagues, professional life and your worldview. How do you seek, expect and provide attunement to yourself and important others? Often unrecognized inter-generational relational themes play a part in the manner of which one seeks connection. Attachment and relational patterns meant to gain closeness can mean one feels known & accepted or invisible & rejected. You can learn to listen to yourself with open-minded curiosity in order to identify your relational style, understanding how it supports or hinders you in life.

Have you ever wondered if your past sexual experiences might be negatively affecting your current well being? My counseling practice centers around helping individuals and couples who have experienced sexual trauma and/or brokenness in any of its various forms. Whether it be due to past abuse, recent infidelity, or a history of sexual, physical and emotional betrayal and trauma, I consider it a privilege to walk with clients into the darkness of their stories. I enjoy coming alongside and advocating for those who are tired of just coping, dissatisfied with their quality of life, and desperate for deep change and healing.

It's getting harder and harder not to argue in front of the kids. Or, not to argue at all. You are feeling resentful and annoyed with your partner and your negative reactions happen faster than ever before. Plus, you don't want to rock the boat and almost any conversation you have right now turns into an argument. It feels like the person lying next to you in bed is only a roommate and you are lonely. You thought things were getting better but then one more fight sent you back to square-one of feeling alone and distant from each other. You are no longer playing the waiting/hoping game and are looking for change.

To share your story and start a journey toward healing is profoundly brave and admirable. Being entrusted to walk alongside those who are willing to take that risk is a privilege that I don’t take lightly. I count it as a tremendous honor to be invited to sit with the clients I work with, in moments of vulnerability and hurt and in those of victory and celebration.

Are you struggling with the pressures of school, work, marriage, or parenting? Do you wish you had someone to help you process your feelings of anxiety, grief, stress, or fear of the future? Do you need some resources, tools, and coping strategies to be healthy and present in your life?

Does the stress of everyday life feel like "too much?" Do you find yourself struggling with anxiety, excessive worrying, panic attacks, or shame? Do these issues pour over into other areas in your life such as your marriage or work? If any of these things sound like something you experience, then you've likely found the right therapist! Its time you found the strength to surrender these feelings and begin to feel empowered to make brave changes.

I specialize in working with adults living with anxiety and/or struggles in their relationships (familial, romantic, platonic, occupational). Breast cancer survivorship is an area of specialty. Together we co-construct an approach that fits your needs, balancing the practical with exploratory. I believe that it is through self-exploration that you become aware of your stuck points whether in problematic and/or unfulfilling behavior, relationships, jobs, or experiences.

Striving for mental health and wellness in a society with as many issues as ours is hard. Finding a therapist to support you in that, can sometimes feel even harder. What criteria do you base your decision on? Degrees, years in practice, areas of expertise, whether they still meet people in person... But what a profile and your research cannot tell you, happens to be the most important criteria: if the two of you will "fit.” The best and quickest way to know for certain is to schedule the appointment.

I specialize in helping freethinking women, sexual and gender minorities, and nontraditional couples who have already overcome so much, but find that something keeps holding them back. I help people decidedly outside the mainstream, who aren't looking for a professional to fit them back into conformity. I work best with individuals and couples who already have some practice with self-reflection but you now need a fresh perspective and stronger support. I enjoy helping diverse people, in terms of relationship style, abilities, brain type, or cultural identities. I also specialize in recovery from cults or narcissistic abuse.

I believe that all clients deserve an open, safe, and non-judgmental space where they can explore stressors and other life situations. My goal is to foster a collaborative environment where clients can feel empowered and supported in their journey to healing. I use a variety of counseling techniques but I am very person-centered. While I have a wide range of experience working with people of all ages and needs, my expertise stressed working with children, ages 5 and up, teens, adults, and families with specializations in; anxiety, bullying, behavioral issues, depression, domestic violence, relational issues, and stress.

Over half of my work is with couples. Through training and supervision in Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), I can see and hear needs and feelings long hidden for fear of being hurt again. I empathize and acknowledge real wrongs and real emotional damage to trust and respect. I hear both sides. I also offer hope. I can see when marital conflict itself offers evidence that partners still desire and need each other. I know how difficult a process forgiveness and then trust building really are. Slowly, when even one is ready to love again, I equip both to express their hearts with a gentle strength, and to hear with compassion.