Therapists in Lees Summit, MO

Someone once told me that everyone is walking around with an 'under construction' sign above their head, meaning that behind the scenes everyone is working on something. My goal is to help you alter your perception of you, and to assist you in finding your way to living a life you find fulfilling. Occasionally we are found at a crossroads and are in need of some type of support, or change. I have experience treating a wide variety of clients including LGBTQ youth and adults, marriage and couples, athletes, and first responders.

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.

Your family may be feeling like it is being turned upside down as your developing young adult struggles to find their place in the world. I work within the family system to re-establish the balance that is necessary for a healthy, growing family and find order within the chaos. Teens and young people may appear to be rebelling; fighting back against all of the families efforts to offer guidance and support. We can work together to turn this energy into a productivity and success in academic, social, and all other aspects of life.

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.

People seek counseling for a variety of reasons! Whether you find yourself wanting to heal from previous painful or traumatic experiences, desiring to reconnect with your true and authentic self, seeking new ways to interact with yourself and others, or looking to explore your fears and what holds you back, I would be honored to come alongside you in your journey towards transformation. I believe that each person is an expert on themselves and that my role is to provide a safe space to help others uncover their own insights and needs. Together, we can gently work towards healing and integration.

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.

I believe we all have the right to our own belief systems but often times sharing those with someone who is a complete stranger can be intimidating. I offer you a safe space to be YOU. I am a spiritual being that is open to embracing dialogue around non-traditional ways of thinking and believing. Because the client-therapist is an important relationship, my goal is to provide a high-quality service to you that includes quick and responsive communication as well as a huge library of resources to give you the tools you need for an action based and humanistic therapy process. I enjoy working with women and couples!

Are you having trouble finding joy and meaning in life, healing from the past, or finding your way? I believe the path can get cloudy for everyone at some point, and that therapy is a great tool for finding clarity and healing. Let me walk with you on your journey towards peacefulness and positive change.

Overwhelmed? Everyone needs help occasionally through life transitions. Do you have trouble saying no? Do you feel like you do not value yourself enough or have difficulty setting boundaries? Do you have traumatic or abusive experiences (or episodes of panic)? Do you overanalyze things? I have extensive helping experience with these and other issues. I work to get to the root of these issues.

Love and nurturing are the cornerstones of my practice. From my youngest clients to my oldest, I believe that a positive connection in a safe and non-judgmental atmosphere encourages and empowers the children, families and adults I work with to heal and grow from the inside out! My focus for the past 13 years of my career has been on supporting children, families and individuals to reconnect with each other and themselves in a way that enhances their sense of peace, joy and fulfillment.

Hello! As of July 31, 2022, I will be semi-retiring and will no longer be taking insurance or EAP referrals. I will only be accepting new clients on a self-pay basis. If you've got troubles, large or small, maybe I can help by listening, offering some alternative perspectives and possible solutions, coaching & encouraging you in making changes along the way. I have over 30 years of experience counseling people of all ages, life styles, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. I see individuals ages 18 and up.

Psychotherapy is for individuals who are motivated to make positive changes in their lives. Some individuals seek out therapy to improve their lives and to help recognize and remove barriers to a healthy lifestyle, relationships, and productivity. While others find that troubling symptoms of anxiety, depression, failed relationships, chronic pain, and loss are too intense to manage on their own. I work with individuals presenting with a range of emotional and psychological needs in a safe and respectful atmosphere. I respect and encourage individuals' motivation to change and help them develop their own internal resources to make lasting positive changes.

Are you feeling stuck and don’t know what to do or where to go? Have all your old ways of coping stopped working? We all need support and guidance along our journey. Sometimes we need more than what our family and friends can provide. Everyone has the capacity to live a life full of joy, happiness and wholeness. When circumstances happen in your life that make this difficult to live, you may need some extra help. Together, you and I can find the right path to create the life you are meant to live.

I consider what my client and their environment can bring to their process of healing. I believe that I am an active participant, encouraging the process of change alongside my client. My goal is to offer support and strategies so that my clients can decide for themselves what is appropriate for them. I strive to help my clients gain perspective and a deeper understanding of their lives so they are empowered to make meaningful breakthroughs for themselves. In addition to individual therapy, I enjoy working with couples helping them to relate better with one another or to cope with family issues in healthier ways.

My approach to therapy is based on Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT). A core idea in ACT is that trying too hard to get rid of or control our emotions tends to backfire. Instead of trying to get rid of unwanted thoughts and feelings (e.g., anxiety & depression), I will help you learn to react differently to them so that you can keep your focus on living a meaningful and fulfilling life based on what’s important to you. We will work together to set meaningful goals to address your concerns–whether they relate to life transitions, depression, anxiety, body image, grief/loss, job or academic stress, or gender & sexuality.

Sometimes life can be just a little too much. Too much stress from work, social media, pandemic changes, too many people, or expectations you can't seem to live up to. I offer a safe space free of judgment and discrimination, yet full of conscious cultural competence to help you find your way to feeling comfortable in what can seem like an uncomfortable world.

Not Taking New Clients. All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination." Those who are suffering from issues related to any major mental health or stress concerns; such as anxiety, CAN regain the direction they may have lost in their life. If you or your child feels lost, I am dedicated to ensure that the individual builds their life back to where it is meant to be. A quality life worth living is important. Do you want to make that effective change?

As James Baldwin said, "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." I cannot promise that everything will be better every time, every day, but I do believe that we are more than the problems we face and the labels assigned to us. I work with clients to reclaim ownership of their lives and become empowered to work toward the changes they seek. Sometimes, as we change, our ideas and our goals may shift, and our understanding of possible or impossible may be altered. I am here to help my clients explore themselves, their problems, their goals, and the challenges they face along the way.