Therapists in Jackson County, MO

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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.

My experiences working with individuals facing addiction, mental health, and crises have been eye-opening and transformative. I have witnessed firsthand the pain, despair, and feelings of hopelessness that individuals in crisis experience. However, I have also seen the incredible resilience and strength that individuals possess when provided with the right support and resources. It is this resilience that fuels my determination to make a difference and offer a helping hand to those in need. I am deeply committed to the principles of empathy, compassion, and non-judgmental support in my work.

Sometimes we have experiences that make us feel different, out of place, foreign and even unwelcome. Life can bring challenges, pain, and experiences that do not always make sense to us. It's easy to become trapped in those moments, in need of help. I believe in being someone who will listen with unconditional positive regard, without judgement, to you and your story. I seek to help you see your situation from a different vantage point in order to discover something new about yourself and your world.

People go through hard times but you don't have to do it alone. Times of transition in your life or your loved one's lives can be challenging and can wreak havoc on you, your plans for your life and your family. With years of clinical experience devoted to helping families and individuals during times of change, as well as a slew of personal experience in the same, I am here to help you navigate the rough waters. We can come up with new solutions for you and/or your family. It doesn't have to be so hard!!

The vast majority people who seek therapy have, through no fault of their own, suffered loss and trauma which has caused painful consequences for their lives. The best way to heal from those losses is to first have them accurately identified and then to be gradually helped to express one's thoughts and feelings about them to a supportive listener. With such support one's experiences are validated as real and one begins to recognize one's strength and courage under the most challenging of circumstances. The opportunity to speak the truth about the painful facts of one's life to a supportive therapist is what heals.

*I am not currently accepting new clients. Sorry!* I am an experienced clinical psychologist who has spent 15 years developing my knowledge and skills for addressing problems that occur in families such as problematic parent-child dynamics. I am also well equipped to address internalizing disorders such as depression, anxiety, suicidality, and PTSD in children, teens, and adults. While I use evidenced-based techniques that are informed by scientific research, I do so in the context of a warm and caring therapeutic relationship. I strive to understand your personal struggles without minimizing what you are going through.