Therapists in Jackson County, MO

Finding a therapist can be hard, especially when you feel like no one really "gets" you. I'm hoping that's where I come in- I am a queer, autistic therapist passionate about working with other LGBTQIA+ and/or neurodivergent people that may struggle to find the right therapist for them, or who have felt unheard or invalidated by other mental health professionals. Currently, I am offering services to individuals age 12 and older, as well as families, couples, and diverse relationships.

We all deserve to experience meaningful shifts in our lives. It is a deeply rewarding feeling to see our efforts for positive change show up in our relationships with ourselves, with our loved ones, and with the world around us. It is my goal to be your trusted advocate—creating an emotionally safe space to listen, to encourage, to strengths-build, and to help co-create desired shifts.

Are you feeling overwhelmed, down, or anxious and don't know what to do or where to go? Do you feel very alone and nobody else understands or has experienced what you have/or are experiencing? Are you having trouble sleeping due to looping thoughts running through your mind? Have all your old ways of coping stopped working? We all need support and guidance along our journey. Sometimes we need more than what our family and friends can provide. When circumstances happen making life more difficult, you may need some extra help. Together, you and I can find the right path and tools to get you back to feeling more like yourself.

Are you a parent that is feeling overwhelmed or exhausted? Do your child's emotional or behavioral problems dominate your day? If your child or family is facing challenges, I'm here to help! I see children ages 4-16 presenting a variety of issues including anxiety, behavior problems, depression, anger management, grief and loss, trauma, adjustment issues, and more.

Play is the place where children’s minds, hearts, and souls meet. Through Play Therapy, children are able to heal from distressing events such as, but not limited to, trauma, grief and loss, divorce, depression, adoption, foster care and attachment issues; and to improve in myriad areas such as impulse control, emotional regulation, ADHD, OCD, and ODD. As your child’s therapist, my goal is to enable children to heal, so that they are empowered to “rise and shine” to their highest potential.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, and K-12 Certified School Counselor. I have over 20 years of experience working with children and families in non-profit and school settings.

Everyone experiences ups and downs in their life. When those experiences begin to feel like a never ending cycle of fear, conflict, and pain, we stall out. I help couples, families, and individuals who experience relational problems, intercultural difficulties, depression, anger, anxiety, and many other issues. The clients I see are often seeking ways to improve their relationships and change the patterns that continue to cause them grief and pain. Ultimately, I guide clients to live an authentic and healthier life with others and with themselves.

Hello, I’m Shantelle Wells, a compassionate and experienced therapist dedicated to helping individuals navigate life’s challenges and find meaningful solutions. With a non-judgmental approach, I create a safe space where people can be vulnerable, explore their thoughts, emotions and concerns. A place where others can share their deepest, darkest secrets. My expertise lies in areas such as anxiety, depression, stress management, relationship difficulties,self–esteem and personal growth. I firmly believe in the power of therapy to facilitate positive change and provide the support while working on becoming the best version of YOU!

Passion Populations & Specializations: LGBTQ+, Couples of all varieties, Sex Therapy, Women-Empowerment, Teens. I'm in the business of story-shaping. I believe we become the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves. People are not defined by their problems. Are you stuck in a story that feels disempowering or defeating? Do you no longer feel like your own narrator? Let me be your co-author and collaborator in creating your counter story—a brand new, one-of-a-kind tale that aligns with your truest, most authentic self.

Spring time is here a time for clearing and shedding away the old narratives that keep us stuck in the past. Are you ready to release and let go of the trauma, anxiety, unworthiness, depression, loneliness? Trauma lives in the body you are worthy of healing, renewal and restoration in the mind, body and spirit. I will inspire you to feel it and heal it and carry the shift toward becoming fully present and alive in self-love. You will learn the ancient transformative power of emboded presence, peace and practice. I will teach you the powerful science-based practices for increasing the neural pathways of happiness. Spring forward.

Life can be hard sometimes and full of stress, but my goal is to help provide a sense of inner peace and increase in happiness. I am passionate about the body and mind connection and identifying ways to improve overall happiness to live your best life. Life is meant to be lived and to feel empowered. Finding your own inner strength through improvement in mood, cognitions, and overall well-being. Having a safe space to talk and improve self growth and awareness is critical to improvement in daily functioning. My favorite saying is happiness is good for the soul and finding out that you are capable of that is my motivation!

How do we become proud of ourselves, feel self-love, confidence, calmness, & peace? These questions may feel familiar to you, & the truth is, the answer looks different for everyone. Simple tasks can feel like a mountain to climb & self-criticism consumes our day echoing "what's wrong with me?" This experience feel isolating. We have all felt self-doubt. Maybe we have even felt so lost we question our identity altogether. Living in a world of constant comparison, it's easy to doubt ourselves. Now we find ourselves wanting freedom from this pattern, we are hungry & eager for change. You want to thrive, not just survive.

Welcome! I feel confident treating Anxiety Disorders, PTSD, Depression, OCD, Relational Issues, Suicidality, LGBTQIA+, and people experiencing grief and loss. I believe that self-compassion is the foundation for personal growth. As your therapist, my role is not to give you advice. You know yourself best. My role is to provide a partnering hand to move through life's challenges with you.

Feeling stuck, apathetic, overwhelmed, angry, worried, depressed, anxious, hopeless, or disconnected is exhausting and isolating. Many of our systems are designed to keep you this way, and you deserve more. I believe every person has an innate resilience, that helps us adapt to an ever changing world. I work to meet people where they are, connecting to the strength, courage, and insight already present and exploring areas for transformation and growth.

My specialty is couples and families. I mostly work with partners who are struggling with communication issues, infidelity, trust, and conflict. I often work with families who are struggling with boundaries and family arguments, as well as issues stemming from a new marriage with children from previous relationships.

Finding the right counselor may be one of the most important decisions you can make in seeking a better life. As my client, you will be provided a therapeutic relationship that is non-threatening, challenging, empowering, and ultimately life changing. You will find that your pain, which is actually healing trying to happen, will be lessened and most likely alleviated, your feelings and experiences are valid, and that you can make positive changes to improve your life and relationships. I'm a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist and specialize in relationships - between couples, parents and children, friends - any human relationship

If you're reading this, I want you to know how courageous it is that you've already taken the first step: asking for help. It's something no one wants to do, but I've been there, and it can be the change you need to live the life you were meant to. Being vulnerable and brave enough to tell your story is tough. But getting you to the place where you can actually own your story, and maybe even write a new ending, is totally worth it.

Suffering, while valuable, doesn’t have to define you or your story. If you’re wanting to move beyond old hurts, or feeling stuck despite desiring change, together we can re-author your story to include healthier ways of thinking, feeling, and being. In addition to my office in Brookside, KCMO, I also offer sessions via Telehealth for those who are unable to leave home or feel it is a better fit.

We are not meant to live life alone, but rather deeply involved in relationships. Some of these relationships are highly successful, while others have come with great loss, significant struggle or just the every day difficulty of learning to live and enjoy life with another person. I believe in the value of working through personal problems in the context of building stronger relationships. I will help you work through this on a personal level or with whomever you are needing to have a restored relationship with.