Cognitive Behavioral (CBT) Therapists in Lees Summit, MO

“It turns out life isn’t a puzzle that can be solved one time and it’s done. You wake up every day, and you solve it again.” – Chidi Anagonye, The Good Place. Therapy is the most successful when the client and therapist are both working together to create positive change. As your partner in therapy, I provide honest and straightforward communication, an abundance of empathy, and compassionate education. I strive to foster an environment where you feel heard, validated, trusted, and empowered. No one should have to struggle alone, so let's work together to solve life's puzzles.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker/therapist with over 30 years of clinical experience. I specialize in helping adults who with depression, PTSD, and anxiety. Additionally, I have extensive experience working with people who are struggling with alcohol or substance abuse. I specialize in helping LGBTQ and elderly clients. I am available on to work with you in setting goals for treatment. During the initial visit, we will begin discussing what brought you to therapy and what you would like to receive from our sessions together.

“Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness.” - Brene Brown. You might be experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, anger, self-esteem issues, or relational issues. I am here to help you make the changes you would like to make, to help you learn more about yourself, and to strengthen your relationships so you can know yourself as whole and safe and can experience a positive quality of life! I treat clients of all different ages and backgrounds!.

Being a human can be tough and life gets heavy sometimes, but you don't have to do it alone. If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected, I can help you process these complicated feelings and find a way forward.

I would love the opportunity to help you along your journey! I believe in building strong therapeutic relationships and in meeting people where they are in life with empathy and respect.

Whether you are facing a new crisis in your life or feeling stuck with old feelings and behaviors, therapy can be a useful tool to help you move on with your life. Utilizing a direct and thoughtful approach, I will help you find coping strategies to deal with the immediate stressor, but also help you identify underlying patterns and issues so you can make long-term and lasting changes. I work with a range of clients from adults to adolescents and help people with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, and crisis situations.

Are you looking for someone to help your child talk about their emotions? Is your child experiencing bullying? Are they struggling with behaviors and choices at school or home? Is your pre-teen wrestling with self-esteem or thoughts of self-harm? Let me help you navigate these concerns by developing coping skills, regulating emotions, reducing negative self-talk, and learning communication skills for lasting change. With a background working in community health and private practice, I have worked with children and adolescents who are struggling with anxiety, depression, adjustment, grief, school and home issues, and peer dynamics.

I am honored to hold space for others recovering from depression, anxiety, addiction, and mood dysregulation. Family dysfunction impacted my development and I did not learn effective ways to cope. I am grateful that I sought help and have now been in recovery 35 years. I bring respect, kindness, compassion. and curiosity to your sessions so that I can encourage you on your journey. Through practices of forgiveness, self-compassion, and mindfulness I want to help you grow deeper in your awareness so you can live your life as the spiritual being you are created to be. Take a look at my website to learn more about how I might help you.

I can provide a safe space to talk through your big life transitions and stressful situations. If you are struggling with a rough patch in a relationship or needing to find yourself again, we can work together to reach your goals. Have you experienced trauma and are unsure how to move forward past difficult parts in your life? We can work together to figure out those triggers and move forward healing from those traumatic events. Together, we can find strategies that work best for you in therapy that you can carry with you in everyday life. Whether that be working on building skills or talking through difficult situations.

As we journey through life, we can experience challenges that stifle our personal growth or block our connection with others. Sometimes, we feel ill-equipped, disappointed, alone, hurt, or afraid. But there is hope-- hope for understanding, peace, empowerment, and joy. Whether you would like to broaden your understanding of your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, or deepen your connection with others, there is hope and there is help. Together we can enhance self-awareness and other-awareness. We can work to understand and strengthen your ability to manage your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. We can develop healthy problem-solving and life skills.

Do you feel like you don't "fit the mold"? Me either! Do you sometimes feel like you just need someone to talk to about life? Let's work through it together! Kiersten White is a former teacher and school social worker with experience working with both teens and adults. Kiersten is compassionate and caring while still giving you the tools you need to work through whatever you may be going through. Contact Kiersten today to get started! Evening and weekend times available now! Updated 3/22/24.

The decision to see a counselor may be intimidating or overwhelming. Sometimes we need to seek help outside family and friends. It is not easy to walk through the door and talk to a complete stranger. I want you to know, I have been where you are right now, and I hope you will reach out. I work with individuals who struggle with abandonment/trauma/abuse. I also work with couples who struggle with communication/infidelity/trust/conflict resolution. Investing in yourself and your relationships will be the most important investment of your lifetime.

I'm here for you, to listen and help work through life's issues to your goals, happiness, and best functioning. Individuals, couples, families, teens, aging, fertility, transgender, LGBTQI+, grief, loss, anxiety, phase of life, addiction, behavioral, medical, chronic, more. I offer support, and compassion in a solution focused, strengths based, informed and confidential environment, custom designed to meet your therapeutic needs. I am CISM-CISD certified, a therapist's therapist (I enjoy working with therapists who want to do their own work), Interactive, Cognitive Behavioral, Integrative, a Generalist. Let's talk.

Ready to shift from the heavy weight of overwhelm, anxiety, depression &/or trauma into a place of freedom & empowerment where you feel ALIVE (instead of just existing)? Awesome! Although starting therapy might feel like a serious & heavy thing—it does not have to be. It can be a safe space to lean into embracing curiosity, getting creative, learning coping skills, & reconnecting with your core self. It can look like taking this messy middle that you feel stuck in & working together to untangle the mess to make sense of what is in the present while reconnecting to your WHOLE self: resiliency, strengths, values, & all!

Life can be stressful. Navigating family relationships, friendships, schooling, employment, parents, and transitioning into adulthood can be hard to manage. Learning to communicate effectively, cope well, and set boundaries are hard things to learn alone. Adolescence is hard. Being a young person with big feelings and even bigger ideas can be challenging. Everyone deserves to work with someone who will listen, educate, give grace, and have fun!

I enjoy working with older and younger adults of diverse populations and gender identities dealing with anxiety, depression and trauma. I focus on a person-centered approach to guide each unique client to find the proper tools they need to enrich their lives and help each client become more empowered. You can feel better and you can overcome trauma. I can show you how to harness the power of your own psyche to live a happier, healthier life.

I'm a Compassionate, Caring, Trauma Informed, Holistic and Client Centered Clinician. Neurodivergent Welcoming! I believe being "Mentally Healthy" means having the energy to live life to the fullest, being content and having serenity to face life's everyday challenges. No one chooses to feel tired, fearful, anxious, sad or depressed. I am certified in Motivational Interviewing, EMDR Basic & advanced skills and training in CBT, DBT, and ACT to help you find the goals to your best life. I accept clients 8yrs old through Geriatric (99+). I have active duty Military and First Responder experience.

Feeling stuck? Not feeling like yourself? Do the stressors of daily life seem bigger to you than you believe they feel to others? I work with clients from early childhood through all phases of adulthood. I specialize in trauma, perinatal concerns (infertility, pregnancy, postpartum mood struggles, traumatic birth, and loss), as well as neurodivergence (Autism, ADHD, and more), gender/sexual expansiveness, and anxiety and depression.

Now Accepting New Clients! EMDR Trained! “They overcame everything that was meant to destroy them.” You or your child might be suffering from symptoms of depression, anxiety, grief, PTSD, or relational issues. With a will to get better and a person to support you through it, you too can overcome the things you thought were once meant to destroy you. I offer a free 30 minute consultation and 50 minute sessions for $75 where together we will learn and grow in a non-judgmental, safe space that ultimately brings healing and wholeness.