Therapists in Columbia, MO

Are you in need of someone who can provide a listening ear? Whether you are looking for counseling for yourself, significant other, or family member, I am here to listen. It is my goal to help clients move past difficult life events, whether grief, loss, anxiety, depression, or trauma, by building a counseling relationship based on trust in a non-judgmental atmosphere. We will work on this together using various methods including but not limited to Mindfulness (self awareness), DBT (short term therapy), and Person Centered Approach (self-guided therapy).

Reaching out for support takes strength and courage. I respect this, and my aim is to create a calm, inviting atmosphere where a deep sense of trust can grow between client and therapist. I believe that pain shared is pain lessened and that people can and do recover from issues that have been troubling them for years. I have found that many people enter therapy not because of a complex mental health issue but because of a general feeling of life not being what they would like it to be. Let me be a catalyst of change for you.

In my ten years as a counselor, it's been my privilege to care for men, teens, and couples wrestling with depression, stress, and anxiety; addiction (drugs and alcohol; gambling; sexual...); the grief involved with divorce; the struggles associated with life's transitions; difficulties in school and relationships; and family conflict. My hope is that the men and women I talk to would be able to experience intimacy in their relationships, fullness of life, and find success in their daily lives.

I am a nationally certified DBT therapist. Dialectical Behavior Therapy is my orientation and specialty. My orientation and personal experiences have inspired me to work toward the treatment of clients struggling with childhood trauma, PTSD, anxiousness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, relationship issues, LGBTQ concerns, NSSI(Self-Injury) and Borderline Personality Disorder.

I specialize in helping and guiding individuals towards a life of balance, fulfillment, peace, and growth. Perhaps someone navigating the complexities of work-life harmony while striving for personal well-being. Or maybe you're grappling with stress, self-doubt, or relationship challenges. No matter what you're struggling with, I always strive to provide a safe and supportive space for exploration and healing.

The Center for Cognitive Therapy, St. Louis, provides treatment for those suffering from a variety of emotional issues, including depression, anxiety, family, marital, aging, and childhood problems. CBT has been found by research to be one of the most effective treatment modalities. The Center's director, Donald F. Sloane, LCSW, has over 44 years of clinical experience, and has taught at Washington University in the graduate school for 17 years from 1990 through 2006. Don has given many seminars and keynote addresses at major conferences. He has also provided trainings at a number of Fortune 500 companies.

I have a passion to assist you in overcoming adversity and facing your mental health concerns. Empathy, open-mindedness, and communication are my core values. My path to counseling began very young through my own personal experience with loss of life, which lead me to the path to helping others. I understand that missing our loved ones and being depressed is normal, and the key to grieving is to find a way to form a new relationship with the one we lost. In addition, through my collegiate student-athlete experience I understand the delicate balance of being a student-athlete, including the pressures that come along with it.

I love supporting people who want change in their lives and are willing to work for it. Those who are looking for unbiased support and guidance from a professional who is dedicated to empowering people to live fulfilling lives.

As a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with years of training in various settings and theoretical approaches, I help individuals overcome the stories they tell themselves that hold them back from reaching their goals. Whether it's the fear of being judged or the fear of change, these fallacies can limit our ability to take action in our lives. It's okay to feel scared or unsure about taking the first step towards self-exploration, but it's important to remember that change is possible. I offer actionable steps to create positive and proactive improvements in your life.

Using natural methods, I successfully treat stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, low self-esteem and other problems. My focus is on making your symptoms go away - not just teaching you coping skills. By changing how your brain and body operate, it is possible to find the peace of mind you are looking for.

Whether you are in a marriage that is struggling, having a problem personally with substances, or just need some help clearing out the clutter in your life, my approach to counseling comes from many different counseling theories. I believe that it is important to focus on the here and now, emphasizing future actions, behaviors, and thoughts, rather than deeply exploring the past. While the past has brought us where we are today, how you believe today and how you act today is of more importance. I believe in being directive and intentional in all aspects of therapy.

I have a deep empathy for the struggles my clients are facing and feel it's important to provide a safe place for them to explore what is troubling them. I initially do a general assessment of why the client is seeking therapy as well as their mental health. Together, we outline a plan for treatment and set goals for where they want to see themselves. My clients appreciate my laidback, but not passive, approach to their treatment.

I work with individuals, couples, and families in helping them achieve control over "emotional hijacking" and poor decision making. Feelings like fear, sorrow, anger, rejection prevent people from experiencing connectedness with life and with others. Therefore, the ideal client is one who is struggling with relationship problems, anger, addictions (sexual or chemical), poor stress control, depression, or anxiety-I provide a safe environment where the individual's pain and/or struggle is met with understanding alongside a plan of action to address the issue(s).

I began working in the counseling field 25 years ago. I work with individuals, couples, and families to help them heal from the difficulties of life and develop their full potential. I spent the first 7 of those years working in the addiction field. That experience gave me knowledge, insight, and compassion for individuals struggling with addictions. I also have a passion for helping couples develop strong, healthy, loving, and trusting marriages. As an adoptive father I understand the issues and challenges faced by adoptive parents. I'm experienced in treating depression, anxiety, anger, grief, and issues related to codependency.

There are many reasons that we find ourselves in need of help. I believe that we all have a desire for our lives to be better, but many times we are unsure of how to reach those goals. Whether you are experiencing anxiety, depression, other mental health needs, or have experienced trauma in your life reaching out for help is the first step toward a better life.