Therapists in Platte City, MO

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.

When survival becomes the focus of our childhood, we miss pertinent opportunities to develop life skills that are necessary for meaningful relationships and our own personal well-being. Joy considers counseling as an amazing opportunity to rediscover and learn new life skills so that we can embark on a journey of wellness and leave dysfunctional coping behind.

NOW accepting new patients! My passion is working with children and families, helping them to relate better with one another or to cope with normal family issues in healthier ways. I believe all clients possess the potential to improve their lives. My goal is to offer support and strategies so that clients can decide for themselves what is appropriate for them. I hope to help adult clients gain perspective and understanding of their lives so they are empowered to make meaningful changes for themselves.

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.

The heart and soul of how I help others is as a counselor who meets clients where they are in life, relationships, struggles, and so on - with the goal of gaining your trust and helping move you through discouraging and challenging circumstances, while sharing in God's reality for your life. I believe in the value of working through personal problems and issues in the context of stronger relationships. I will help you with this on a personal level, and in the process of restoring health and relationships with whomever you are intending to build this restored relationship with.

When life gives you lemons, stop on by. At times, it may feel impossible to keep up with this fast-paced world. When we experience overwhelm, it can take a toll on our mental health, causing feelings of disconnection and pain. Please know, if you are feeling this way, you can break free. You deserve a tranquil, happier life. As your therapist, I will help you achieve a healthier way of being and thinking. Together, we will work to uncover tools & coping skills that help to lessen your struggles/worries. Talk therapy offers space to process, encourages empowerment, and can help alleviate unpleasant symptoms. Start healing today.

We all have strengths to build on and opportunities for growth and change. Counseling can be a helpful tool to work toward whatever goals you have or obstacles you may be facing. I am passionate about working with children and families. My goal is for children to feel confident in who they are and what they can do. I also work to build up families to grow closer and stronger together. I have seen how counseling can be a powerful tool in creating positive change for anyone.

Feeling stuck, chaotic, overwhelmed, purposeless, anxious? Do you ever find yourself doing the same things over and over wishing you would have a different outcome? Do you feel consumed by your thoughts? Do you feel like you and your partner just don’t get each other? Often time asking for help and finding help is overwhelming. You want to make a change, make things better, but you don’t know how. You want to feel like you again - not to just keep surviving, but start living intentionally and passionately. You want the anxiety, the intrusive thoughts and the sleepless nights to end - to be present with yourself and your loved ones.

Sometimes life is hard. We experience stress, difficult experiences, wounding in relationships, and trauma along with many other experiences. We carry these with us and they show up in our daily lives - in our thoughts, emotions, physical body, relationships with others, relationship with our self. Maybe you've noticed feeling stuck and overwhelmed. Weighed down. Maybe anxious. Maybe you've noticed patterns in your relationships. Maybe physical discomfort and pain. Tension in your body. Maybe you're curious about what you're noticing. Or maybe you’re curious about who YOU are – the authentic you.

Are you struggling with feelings of loneliness? Maybe even in the company of others? Do you question if something is inherently lacking within you, hindering your ability to forge the meaningful connections you yearn for, yet maybe also fear? Are you grappling with uncertainties about how to cultivate intimacy with your partner or how to initiate and nurture fulfilling relationships? Perhaps past hurts have left you hesitant to trust again, leaving you pondering if there's a way to discern who is worthy of your trust and affection. You deserve love, connection, and fulfillment, and I'm here to support you every step of the way.

I've provided therapy services for adults, teens, and children for over 8 years. I've found that the individuals who seem to flourish working with me are those who are particularly committed to understanding themselves and their struggles at a deeper level. I work to help facilitate meaningful insights and this often includes exploration of earlier relationships in a client's life. I believe that each person I work with is a unique and complex individual needing services tailored to them.

I have seen both professionally and personally how transformative the therapeutic process can be when seeking change, growth, and healing. I focus on individuals and couples whose concerns may include anxiety, depression, trauma, or relationship problems. My goal is to provide clients a safe and nonjudgmental space to explore and process their pain and help them reflect on how their experiences influence their perception of themselves, others, and the world. With empathy, understanding, acceptance, and encouragement, I work with clients on integrating changes so that they have the tools they need to live a happy and healthy life.

Knowing we can be loved exactly as we are gives us the best opportunity to grow into the healthiest people. I believe relational psychotherapy helps to restore hope and connection, even during seasons of immense pain and suffering. Having a place where you can be heard and feel known is essential while working through heavy feelings, emotions, thoughts, and processing difficult experiences. As therapy deepens, individuals I work with gain insight into presenting symptoms and patterns of behavior that initially brought them to see me.

The relationship you and your child has with their counselor is the true measure of how helpful the counseling experience will be. I value developing a warm, positive, supportive and empathic environment for your family to overcome any challenge that you are facing. In our experience together, you will find healing and growth, and recognize your own strengths, and how they help you and your child work toward building a more positive and rewarding future. Both in your individual lives, and collectively within the family.

Do you find yourself overthinking everyday life occurrences? Do you feel like stress and worry are taking over areas of your life that you used to enjoy? Do you find relationships difficult to navigate? Did something happen to you and now you feel like you can't move forward? What if I told you that you don't have to stay stuck, that I can help you navigate those waves that are making you feel like you are sinking...I can help you. The first step is reaching out, you are well on your way!

"Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." C.G. Jung-- You might suffer from anxiety, depression, grief, and/or relationship issues, but the key is that you are willing to explore why. My philosophy is holistic in that I feel like it is important to examine each part of life because I truly believe everything is connected when it concerns mental, emotional, and physical suffering and pain. I have recently completed a yoga teacher certification so I am able to incorporate somatic principles and movement into my work with clients.

Don’t continue doing life closed off and disconnected. Open yourself up to connection and find the peace you’ve been needing. I want to help, but more importantly, I want to point you back to you. You don’t deserve to keep living in the dark. There is hope for all the parts of you.