Therapists in Lees Summit, MO

There are times when life throws experiences your way that require extra support and care. Let the counselors here at Hawthorne Counseling help you, your children or the whole family navigate these challenging times. Let us help breakdown roadblocks that are keeping you from having fulfilling and loving relationships. We work with people who experience anxiety, depression, behavior issues, trauma, grief & loss, divorce, abandonment, and attachment & adjustment challenges, and ADHD. Sometimes finances are a barrier to getting the support you need. Give us a call and we can discuss some options.

Asking for help is huge step. It takes courage and a willingness to hope for change. This journey towards health and wellness requires honesty and openness. It is not always easy, and working with a professional who is the right fit for you offers a solid foundation from which to start that journey. I am passionate about mental health and wellness. Whether I am working with kids, teens, adults, partners, or families, I believe in journeying alongside my clients as a guide and support as they discover what drives them and works best to bring change and growth.

Life is beautiful even through all its struggles and disappointments. I believe the connections we make with others give us purpose and drive to fulfill our dreams. Though sometimes our intentions do not manifest and we become stagnant and distressed. In my therapy I like to focus on what we can control...ourselves. To take a look inward and view our most delicate fears, insecurities, and desires can be a lot of hard work. I approach each client with this recognition and strive to make a true connection to help foster self-improvement and life satisfaction.

I believe identity is a critical part of self-understanding and healing. For this reason, I enjoy working with folks who are looking to explore their identities which might include sexuality, gender, race, religion, physical and mental ability, and roles in society. I am cognizant that our identities shape our personal and lived experiences in the world, and this continually impacts how and what we need to heal. I approach therapy from a non-religious standpoint, but have a deep interest in how religion impacts people, including ways that it can act as a source of trauma, while also acknowledging that it can be a source of support.

Learning how to heal can be difficult, especially if you have tried to do so all on your own! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in therapy for all types of trauma, relationship dynamics, acceptance and commitment, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, emotion management, anxiety, depression, and adapting new ways of thinking. My goal is to be genuine, and to give you the space to heal in the ways that you find most helpful. I am here to start where you are, empowering you to become the person that you have always wanted to be, no matter the barriers.

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.

I provide a warm, safe and confidential environment for people to explore life's challenges to create positive changes and healing in their life. I focus on client strengths and their goals, and provide strategies for handling conflict, communication, anxiety, and problem-solving.

Life presents challenges that are difficult to face alone, and trusting someone to hold your thoughts and emotions as sacred takes courage. I consider it an honor to walk with you, side by side, through your journey of transformation, healing and restoration. I seek to connect the body and the brain to dig deeper, at your pace. Creating and being a safe, inviting, warm and connected space is a passion of mine. It is such a privilege to bear witness to people reclaiming themselves and finding freedom from trauma!

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 4/25/24.

Are you stuck? Something in life not all what you hoped it would be? Good for you for not letting more time go by without seeking help and making a change. Therapy can be an incredible resource to discover and navigate the “why’s” underneath our obstructive thoughts, confusing behaviors and disconnected relationships. It can also provide space for healing as we learn how to become more deeply rooted in who we are and how we want to show up for the life we’ve been given.

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.

Are you looking to get real results and make lasting change? Feeling anxious, depressed, overwhelmed? Experiencing the impacts of past losses or trauma? Having relationship difficulties? Struggling to stick with the goals you set for yourself? Whether you are hoping to resolve pain, discomfort, and despair or seeking authenticity, growth, and more satisfying personal outcomes, my goal is to give you the tools and emotional support necessary to move your life in a new direction. I balance intuition with over a decade of clinical experience to help you find your way to a more authentic and fulfilling life.

Finding a therapist can be hard, especially when you feel like no one really "gets" you. I'm hoping that's where I come in- I am a queer, autistic therapist passionate about working with other LGBTQIA+ and/or neurodivergent people that may struggle to find the right therapist for them, or who have felt unheard or invalidated by other mental health professionals. Currently, I am offering services to individuals age 12 and older, as well as families, couples, and diverse relationships.

I consider it an honor to be a part of someone's life story. I will treat you with the self-worth and the respect you deserve. I work to create a safe, trusted, and non-judgmental atmosphere which I believe will support you in your healing process.

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.

Embarking on counseling is an acknowledgment of your inner strength. Today marks a step toward wholeness, and I'm excited to support you in relationships, parenthood, anxiety, depression, trauma, or grief. A path awaits, promising change, healing, restoration, and relief. Hope is not a distant dream; it's tangible. In anxiety, trauma, or marriage challenges, there's hope within you, guiding you gently. If holding onto hope is hard now, I'm here to hold it for you. Hope isn't abstract; it shapes your journey. Taking a healing step is tough, but together we'll find your strength.

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.

It sometimes feels easier to seek support for physical challenges than for emotional ones, especially if we are used to thinking that we should be able to handle our feelings and challenges on our own. It can feel intimidating and stressful to reach out for help when you may not have the words for the challenge you're facing. I want you to know that you are not alone. Reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Just as we take swimming lessons before going into the deep end of a pool, we all need help navigating the deepest challenges of life.

Have you hit one of life's many mental, emotional or relational roadblocks? Are you feeling a bit travel weary? I have great news! Your brain has almost unlimited potential for self-correcting everything from negative and relentless thoughts, to deep seated, stubborn and unwanted emotions, to ingrained and undesirable behavior patterns. You have a built in awesome capacity for growth, change and healing. With your willingness joined together with my 20+years of experience, you have reason to hope. Change is possible.