Therapists in Smithville, MO

It’s hard to get out of bed each morning. There was a time when you were hopeful about life, but that seems like long ago. That was before all your troubles started. Now, every day feels more difficult than the last. Your kids treat you like their personal assistant. You just got in another fight with your husband, and you’re not even sure what it was about. You try to concentrate at work, but your mind is always racing, darting in countless different directions. In the rare instance that you’re able to carve aside a moment for yourself, you feel guilty about it. It’s getting to the point where you just want to run away and hide.

Hi! My name is Jill and I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Missouri, a licensed specialist clinical social worker (LSCSW) in Kansas, and a registered play therapist supervisor (RPT-S). I am also a Certified AutPlay Therapy Provider, a Certified Autism Specialist (CAS), an EMDR certified therapist, and a Certified Animal Assisted Play Therapist (CAAPT). I am passionate about helping individuals meet their goals and enhance their well-being. I work with children, adolescents, and adults. I also provide supervision for social workers (LMSWs) in Kansas and play therapy supervision towards the RPT credential.

In a world full of judgment, we need someone we can be vulnerable with. We need someone we can talk to about the uncomfortable thoughts and emotions associated with fears and insecurities. We need someone we can bounce ideas off of to find perspective. In a world full of judgment, we need a nonjudgmental someone who can be kind, empathetic, and psychological educated to help us grow in self and life contentment. My 32 years of cosmetology and services industry work, along with my achievement of honors in both my BA and MA, has allowed me to build acceptance, wisdom, perspective, and awareness in my therapeutic approach.

Hello! I'm Vanessa, co-owner of Secure Counseling Clinics. I've lived in KC for 20 years with my husband, 4 children, 3 dogs, 2 cats, 1 bearded dragon, and a flock of backyard chickens! I'm a Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in both MO and KS, Nationally Certified Counselor, Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, and KS board-approved clinical supervisor. My heart work is helping humans with complex trauma. Couples, as well as parents and their children, work with me to form secure attachments with each other. I help clients experiencing relationship difficulties and those who experience pain from circumstances or losses.

I am here to be a compassionate, non-judgmental witness to any human that needs one. I believe a strong, collaborative relationship between client and therapist is important to helping you grow and heal. I am certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and EMDR trained. I have experience working with children, adolescents and adults, with an emphasis on trauma-work and sexual assault. I have experience working with couples, families, and individuals. I am also mindful of my clients’ intersectional and multicultural identities and how that may influence our work together. Reach out to schedule a free 15 minute consult!

Did you feel neglected and unloved when you were a child? Did you feel lonely and ostracized if you tried to tell your parents or other adults about your feelings or if you tried to ask them questions about life? In your adult life, do you have difficulty relating to others? Do you feel depressed and alienated from others? Do you have difficulty knowing your own feelings or how you feel in your own body? Are you afraid to trust yourself, to be yourself? I've worked for 20 years with adults abused, traumatized, and/or neglected in childhood. .

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.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who works with adults, adolescents, children and families. I have experience working with clients who are experiencing symptoms of stress, depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and trauma in a variety of outpatient settings. I utilize a holistic, strengths based approach that combines elements from Neuroscience, Attachment theory, Mindfulness, Cognitive-Behavioral theory, Art and Play therapy. I am now offering Direct Neurofeedback, which offers a drug-free approach to improving brain performance and forming new and enhanced patterns of functioning.

He sido una sicoterapeuta bilingue por 12 años enfocada en tratar trauma y evaluaciones sicológicas para emigración. Les proveo un ambiente confidencial y muy cómodo a mis participantes. Es un gran privilegio guiarlos en su andar de sanidad y paz. Me especializo en sicología infantil, EMDR, y hipnosis clínica. Tengo vasta experiencia ayudando a parejas, procesos de separación, trauma, niñas/niños, y a la comunidad LGBTQ+. I am a caring bilingual counselor with experience in working with people of races and genders. My mission is to be your companion on this therapeutic journey in a comfortable and confidential environment.

I hold two fundamental beliefs about all humans; firstly, I believe every individual is infinitely unique. Secondly, I think every person can grow and be better than they are today. I believe my job is to help you find the tools and resources you need to continue growing. My favorite aspect of therapy is that it can be tailored to individuals' authentic thoughts, feelings, experiences, needs, or desires.

Life is full of experiences. Our experiences shape how we see the world around us and our daily functioning. You may walk through some of your experiences with questions such as, “Will I ever feel better? What if I am just not good enough? Why am I so broken?” To be human means you were created to be healed. Coming into my office, the purpose is to find a sense of healing and personal growth in areas you may be struggling with in your life.

I specialize in High-performance individuals that live under a constant state of performance pressure, Parents who want to understand what their child needs in education (gifted or learning difficulties), and Attorneys that want fair and honest data to decide what needs to happen in complex child custody cases. As someone who has lived in these scenarios, I've developed tools and techniques to help you find the answers you need. Whether you are worried about your child, feeling burned out, or need an accurate assessment for court, I'll strive to give you the care and attention I'd want for my own family.

The world we live in can be hard to navigate under any circumstances. When you add in struggling with depression, anxiety, mental illness, adverse life experiences, or some combination of these, life can feel unbearable. My goal as a professional is to help my clients find balance and joy in their healing process, and walk through that process with them.

Our mission is to provide the highest quality therapy and counseling in Lee's Summit, MO and the surrounding community. For issues ranging from anxiety and depression to family systems, and trauma. We believe in the power of relationships but understand that most of us have experienced obstacles in our lives that leave us hurting, isolated and alone. Our therapists are professionally certified to provide the best evidence-based care to support your self-exploration and mental health journey.

Life has a way of paralyzing us with negative “what if’s?" What if there was a way to become unstuck? What if someone sat in the muck with you? What if you could finally get through a conversation with your child or spouse without yelling or storming off? Those are just a few what-ifs we can explore together. Let's create a space where you feel seen, valued, and understood. Together we can create a space where things feel less lonely, complex, or overwhelming. A space where you feel like you have your child's spark back. Wouldn't you like life to feel a little more possible? A little less lonely? To see smiles instead of tears?

Natalie is passionate about providing high-quality therapy services to kids, teens, families, and adults of all ages! She has served hundreds of families in the KC area over the last ten years, and she is honored to walk alongside people as they seek what’s important to them. She has experience across a wide range of issues, and she also has specialized training in four specific areas: Adoption, Autism & Neurodivergence, Trauma, and LGBTQ+ populations. Natalie can also assist in administering a full autism evaluation. Please reach out for more information!

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 path to wellness and freedom involves choosing to start or continue a journey of healing and restoration. My desire is to help individuals, couples, and families along their own unique paths of transformation, change, and growth. I believe that emotional and relational wellness are an important piece of a holistic picture of health. I am a proponent of therapy because I have personally experienced the benefits and the sense of empowerment that comes from the process.

I realize that today there is a tremendous amount of stress on individuals. Depression and anxiety abound because of the sheer amount of stress persons are facing. One possible answer to this dilemma is to engage a skilled and seasoned therapist to help. I have faced my own battles with stress, depression, anxiety and childhood trauma. Each of these are extremely painful experiences. I would be privileged to companion you on your healing and growth journey. Contact me for a free 15 minute phone consult.