Therapists in West Plains, MO

Do you find yourself running on empty, constantly overthinking and worrying? Do you struggle with past wounds or find yourself trying to navigate through a traumatic experience? Maybe you are feeling alone or disconnected, struggling to communicate, and wondering if there is any hope. Whether you are wrestling with the weight of anxiety and depression, navigating a challenging experience, or experiencing difficulty in your marriage, you are not alone. My passion is to help my clients move towards freedom from past hurt and pain so they can feel equipped to experience safe, connected, healthy relationships with themselves and others.

I am the owner of the Robert Jason Grant Ed.D AutPlay Therapy Clinic. I am the creator of AutPlay Therapy. I work with children, adolescents, adults, and families dealing with a variety of mental health needs. Some of my specializations include addressing the needs of neurodivergent children, adolescents, and adults (autism, ADHD, trauma issues, and anxiety and depression struggles). I am neurodiversity affirming and informed and provide individual, family, and group therapy. I provide in-office and telehealth services. I also offer parent training, coaching services, and various trainings for professionals and caregivers.

My reason for being a counselor is to help people understand and heal from their past and/or current pain and to learn coping strategies to manage future pain. People and relationships can be complex and full of both positive and negative emotions, including some that are painful. The ability to feel them, learn from them, and express them to others allows us to live more engaged and meaningful lives. It is rewarding to be able to support people as they go through the process of self-exploration.

Now accepting new clients! Addiction and trauma are linked. Unresolved trauma and attachment wounds need to heal. Be heard and validated without judgement. Allow your pain to be acknowledged. Regain a sense of sanity and heal from trauma and attachment failures. We all want to be seen, heard, and known. When working with me, a client-centered approach is utilized, meaning I will show unconditional positive regard and an empathetic understanding towards all clients. Together we will navigate the presenting issues while learning to incorporate new, healthy coping mechanisms and process through trauma.

Currently Accepting New Clients. With several years of personal and professional experience working with recovery from pornography and problematic sexual behavior, I utilize a trauma-informed approach to treat anxiety, depression, PTSD, and process addictions. I hold a Bachelor’s of Science in Human Services from Evangel University, and received my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Missouri State University.

My role as a therapist is to guide and facilitate the healing process of my clients as they return home to themselves. This “coming home” process involves attuning to our bodies as we befriend the wounded or exiled parts of our psyche, welcoming them back to the table and listening to what they have to say.

What a Stressful world we are living in today! Sometimes life can feel overwhelming. In a society that values hard work over mental health, it can be difficult to carve out time for yourself. As challenging as it is, you deserve to find balance and peace in your life. There is a way to find happiness again and to improve relationships with the ones you love. It is my passion to teach self-love, acceptance, relaxation techniques, and empowerment to women, couples, and families. With this in mind, we will uncover root causes of suffering and work towards healing and solutions.

“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

Are you exhausted from a toxic or narcissistic relationship? Sometimes the relationship is good, but often it’s really bad. You’re walking on eggshells, trying to anticipate their mood, fearful of setting them off. You’re confused because at one point they were so kind and loving. They’ve betrayed you and now it's hard to trust yourself & you feel a deep sense of shame.

Whether you are struggling in your relationship, dealing with loneliness from the multiple issues we've dealt with the past year (pandemic, grief, trauma), or simply needing to process some things with someone objectively, I believe the therapeutic relationship can be a platform for deep transformation and continued growth.

Have you ever thought, "How did I end up here?" Life has a way of giving us challenges we never could have imagined. Life's hard! You may feel you have been pushed past your breaking point, BUT there's good news... You're NOT broken, NOT worthless, and definitely NOT alone. What if I told you the strength to take control of this challenge is already inside you? You've found my profile, which says that you've already done something very brave. You've said, 'I have bigger plans for my life than this', and that is impressive.

I'm an empathetic and compassionate therapist who helps women and men who have experienced infidelity, suffered from trauma, or are struggling to cope with life's changes. I have gone through similar experiences myself, so I understand the challenges my clients face. My goal is to help you find your inner strength and provide the guidance you need to overcome these obstacles.

I work with adolescents, adults, and families to break generational cycles. I guide and empower individuals to take back control of their lives and become their best self. I have had to overcome hardships that were placed in my life and through counseling, I was able to take back my life! I believe that every individual deserves a safe space to heal. I will provide an atmosphere where people are free to experience change. I believe change is capable of everyone. I believe in our scars telling our story of healing. I believe in growth, forgiveness, second, and third chances. I believe in people. I believe in hope.

Maybe you're feeling overwhelmed by stress, depression, anxiety, or a disturbing experience. Maybe there's a part of you that is questioning your self-worth or feeling trapped in old patterns. Whatever it is, you're feeling that you want to take a deep-dive and grow toward increased peace and a more authentic you. Change is possible and you don't have to keep feeling stuck. Therapy is a collaborative process that offers a confidential, safe space to do this work.

As a counselor, I hold the view of myself as a “fellow traveler” with my clients on their healing journey. I believe that the client is the expert in their own life. My role as counselor is to help where needed to navigate rough terrain, explore new paths, identify, and understand what is being experienced, in order to reach the client’s goals. Through an integrative approach, I work alongside clients to make sense of their lived experience and consider new pathways through life as appropriate and desired.

I look forward to working with clients whose life path may have created difficulties for them that has led them not be the best of who they can be. Each individual's path may have been sprinkled with physical or emotional abuse, neglect, assault, grief and loss, domestic violence, marital or parental discord or a myriad of other situations. Sometimes these life paths create in my clients a feeling of hopeless and loss of self-worth, sometimes these path end with someone needing to determine a plan to leave an unsafe living situation. Sometimes these paths lead to turning to substances and illegal drugs to cope with the internal turmoil and pain. It is my privlege to work with clients to help them identify and bring forth the best of who they are and what they want for their life, their family and their future through their own individual strengths.

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." - Unknown I believe that we have the answers to our own struggles, but sometimes we just need help accessing those answers. My approach to counseling is one of helping my clients understand themselves better so that they can face life's difficulties with confidence.