Therapists in Lawrence, KS

I believe that we all want to feel respected, valued, significant and safe. So much of our pain and confusion comes from our own (often subconscious) attempts to find this sense of security. While these attempts have helped us make it this far, they often prevent us from living the life we truly long for.

Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health! Life can be stressful, unpredictable, chaotic, frustrating, and constantly throwing us curve balls. Sometimes we just need help processing our thoughts and feelings or making important life decisions. Other times, we may be struggling with mental illness, substance use, grief and loss, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, identity issues or other serious problems that are keeping us from living a happy and productive life. During these times, reaching out for help may feel scary or embarrassing.

What does it mean to feel safety and connection? As individuals we strive to have our social, emotional, and physical needs met. We strive to advocate for equity with ourselves, friends, families, and societal systems. The journey towards safety and connection can be overwhelming, tiresome, and different for each person. Have you ever pondered questions like… where do I start? When was a time I felt safety and connection? Do I feel whole? If you have asked yourself or other’s the above question, you might be ready to start to find those answers for yourself.

Many experiences in life can leave us feeling lost and alone. This often leads to seasons in our life where we experience emotional or physical distress. It is during these seasons where navigating and asking for help can sometimes be difficult. Maybe you're asking "what's wrong with me?" You are not alone in whatever struggle you are experiencing. I'm not here to fix you, but rather to provide a safe place to process, support, empower, and discover what it looks like to live a more authentic life.

I treat the whole person with an integrated approach to assessment and treatment. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. It takes courage to take those first steps to overcome obstacles and seek out a more fulfilling, authentic, and joyful life. I am here to support & empower you in that journey. I am licensed in Colorado and Kansas with 30 years of professional experience. I have a wealth of experience in helping clients overcome past trauma, stress and anxiety, eating disorders, depression, & coping with life changes.

We serve people of all ages, from children to senior citizens, both as individuals and as members of their families. Whether you know your specific needs, or you are looking for help but don’t know where to start, we work closely with you to ensure you get the safe, effective treatment you need from our team of therapists.

Coming to therapy can be scary! My clients generally enjoy my gentle approach, curiosity and sense of playfulness in session. I work with adults from all walks of life and specialize in trauma healing and the LGBT+ community. My ideal client has skills to navigate daily life or may have "graduated" from CBT/DBT, and is now ready to understand themselves in a deeper way. My clients usually thrive when they come to therapy ready to finally heal the underlying wounds that have caused them problems for far too long.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is a different and fun way to reach children, adolescents, and young adults without the stigma of talk therapy. EAP is an alternative therapeutic approach that addresses mental health concerns and everyday life challenges by teaming up with caring therapists and horses. This type of therapy often reflects clients' verbal and nonverbal strengths and incongruencies while enhancing personal growth and development. This experiential, holistic approach works well with solution-focused therapy (SFT) and other evidence-based treatment modalities, e.g., ACT, CBT, DBT, and EMDR.

As a creative guide I empower others with a mind-body-spirit approach to: find balance, tap into their intuition, and bring their own vision and desires to life. Are you feeling disconnected from yourself or others? Are you ready to dive deep into self-discovery and spiritual connection; strengthen your intimate relationships; reignite passion; explore self-identity and sexuality; build confidence; develop healthy boundaries; or need someone to help you walk through grief? I believe that adding creative expression into our lives helps reduce stress, promotes healing, and provides the opportunity to know ourselves in an intimate way.

As a compassionate therapist, my goal is to guide you towards understanding, self-discovery, and positive change. Together, we will navigate the complexities of your emotions, thoughts, and experiences.

I am deeply committed to each client achieving their optimum functioning. Across the range from disabled to the extremely high functioning executive, I ask that the client bring a commitment to growth, and I provide expertise in a range of specialties. I am best suited to treating the whole person.

I am a Clinical Social Worker who believes in helping individuals, families and groups achieve their greatest potential, through self empowerment, coping skills and self determination.

People can benefit from taking the time to reflect and think about their lives in the presence of a neutral therapist. When people encounter a crisis or a difficult situation, it provides an opportunity for the development of self. Change is possible. Therapy provides an avenue to identify and interrupt old ways of thinking, feeling and behaving that are keeping one stuck. It provides an opportunity to "think/reflect" on one's life vs. automatically responding to life's stresses. In this process, a person is often able to see things in a new light and identify new options for dealing with old problems.

Searching for the right therapist can be daunting. The prospect of starting therapy can be scary. It can be especially frustrating to try many different things to feel better, yet never finding a sense of long- term relief. Sometimes we all need extra support to start this healing journey– I know this from a deeply personal level. I have found that lasting change must involve our whole self- body, mind, and spirit. I use mindfulness skills to help bring awareness to how thoughts, feelings and sensations impact our nervous system and sense of well-being and to help you heal those places where you feel stuck and depleted.

PRACTICE IS CURRENTLY FULL. Wendy has 20+ years experience in mental health. A graduate of Grinnell College and KU School of Social Welfare, Wendy has vast experience working in both rural and metropolitan communities. Having worked with individuals with chronic mental illness, eating disorders, addiction and trauma at Menninger, Wendy went on to broaden her skills to include extensive work in anxiety, depressive and behavioral disorders in Kansas City. There, she also provided treatment for people who had experienced workplace violence and airline accidents.

I am an experienced therapist with many years of treating patients. If you would like to discuss working with me, please e-mail me the following information: Age, occupation/profession, family status, and the problem for which you are seeking help. I accept Blue Cross, traditional Medicare Part B, and self-pay. I am currently seeing clients via Teletherapy - a process which is helpful to most clients. My orientation is common sense, practical, psychodynamic therapy - blended with several other meaningful viewpoints about the problems people encounter. In our first meeting I will listen to your personal story (history).

Tired of relying on talk therapy and medication, only to feel stuck in a pattern of chronic distress? I can help you! We offer advanced clinical services to identify the root of the problem and provide real and lasting transformation. I have advanced training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for the treatment of complex trauma, mood and anxiety issues. Also offered in our clinic, is neuro-psych genetic testing and food sensitivity testing. This allows the patient to received individualized recommendation for supplementing and diet tweaks to improve optimal brain and body health!

Currently Not Accepting New Clients. "No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear" -C.S. Lewis. Hello, I am here to help you on your personal grief and loss journey. Having someone you love die, can feel unbearable. I have provided a safe place where your voice is heard. Grieving and mourning can take place. Death of a loved one, loss of a career and loss of relationships can all leave you feeling hopeless and alone. I will sit with you in this darkness. I will hold hope for you. I have witnessed personally and professionally that there is light in all this darkness.

I like to use a collaborative approach when working with clients, and make every effort to creat a supportive environment in which the individual might discover untapped potential and inner strength. I have experience providing brief solution focused therapy, as well as extended treatment for serious psychological disorders. I believe that every person has unique talents and gifts, and an inherent right to self-expression. I believe that families come in all shapes, sizes, and gender configurations. I believe that children should be seen, heard, and believed.