Therapists in Springfield, MO

I'm not your typical counselor... You won't find me busy looking at my notes and only paying attention half the time you're talking. My style is very conversational and I'll share about myself any time it's pertinent, or when asked. I don't believe in dragging counseling out because it's expensive so why waste your time and money? You've got a problem so let's get to fixing it! The bottom line is your quality of life: it's not where you want/need it to be, and it's my job to help you improve it. My primary office is in Springfield, MO with a secondary location in Chesterfield, MO a few days a week.

You have a story. A very important and unique story. Sometimes your story keeps you stuck. It keeps you from being the best version of yourself. If your story involves trauma whether from sexual abuse, divorce as an adult or child, physical or verbal abuse, loss, relationship conflict, boundary confusion, religious confusion, natural disasters, accidents, etc, I can help you reprocess these memories and the negative things that you tell yourself. It takes a lot of strength to reach out and ask for help however, I will provide you a safe space to do just that.

I am the owner of the Robert Jason Grant Ed.D AutPlay Therapy Clinic. I am the creator of AutPlay Therapy. I work with children, adolescents, adults, and families dealing with a variety of mental health needs. Some of my specializations include addressing the needs of neurodivergent children, adolescents, and adults (autism, ADHD, trauma issues, and anxiety and depression struggles). I am neurodiversity affirming and informed and provide individual, family, and group therapy. I provide in-office and telehealth services. I also offer parent training, coaching services, and various trainings for professionals and caregivers.

I look forward to working with clients whose life path may have created difficulties for them that has led them not be the best of who they can be. Each individual's path may have been sprinkled with physical or emotional abuse, neglect, assault, grief and loss, domestic violence, marital or parental discord or a myriad of other situations. Sometimes these life paths create in my clients a feeling of hopeless and loss of self-worth, sometimes these path end with someone needing to determine a plan to leave an unsafe living situation. Sometimes these paths lead to turning to substances and illegal drugs to cope with the internal turmoil and pain. It is my privlege to work with clients to help them identify and bring forth the best of who they are and what they want for their life, their family and their future through their own individual strengths.

Hello, and welcome to my counseling and wellness practice. I have an office in south Springfield, MO. It is a warm and supportive space to learn, grow, think, and feel. Are you looking for something short term or are you wanting to dig deep? Perhaps you want to check in with a counselor once a month to help attain general mental wellness? My therapeutic mission is to help you find or strengthen your voice. My hope is for your inner light to shine bright. I have extensive experience in working with individual and complex trauma as well as shame, anxiety, general stress and wellness, grief and personal/professional self care.

Are you naturally good at helping, supporting and taking care of others, yet find yourself coping with things alone? During my 20 plus years as a therapist, I've developed a special interest in working with those who are people-pleasers- great at taking care of others, yet struggling to care for themselves the way they need to. If you end up often feeling overwhelmed, tense, moody, irritable, anxious, lacking motivation, and/or down and depressed, you are probably wondering where to turn.

Life is full of transitions. Changes in employment, relationship status, becoming a parent, the illness or death of a loved one, relocating or developing a health condition are some of the most challenging life transitions. Without adequate emotional support and healthy coping skills, the extra stress can lead to more serious physical or mental health problems. Depression, anxiety, insomnia, and relationship conflicts can appear or worsen as a result of not having knowledge of how to effectively cope with life changes. I educate and support my clients as we work to eliminate negative symptoms and develop a brighter future.

I specialize in working with adults who have experienced several trauma events. Trauma is a deeply personal experience that can affect every aspect of your life. It is the loss of control over safety. It can be a single event or a series of experiences that leave you feeling overwhelmed and powerless. Trauma can cause intense feelings of fear, anxiety, and even physical pain. It can make you feel like you are reliving the event over and over again, and it can affect your ability to trust others or feel safe in your own body. Trauma can also cause you to question your own self-worth and make you feel like you are alone in your pain.

My clients are successful, highly-motivated professionals who find that certain areas of life are becoming unmanageable. I am a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT®) specializing in sex/porn addictions, partners of sex addicts, multiple addictions, trauma, abuse, and PTSD. I trained under Patrick Carnes at the International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP). Under Dan Allender I earned an advanced counseling certificate in trauma-focused narrative therapy. Addiction, abuse and trauma are viewed as symptoms rather than defining characteristics. I seek an approach to recovery that embraces positive, proactive, sustainable change.

I enjoy working with children and adults, meeting with individuals, couples and families. Prior to joining the team at Synergy Counseling Center, I worked for a Community Health Center and an Indian Health Services Center in Alaska working across the lifespan. I approach therapy from an attachment-focused lens and believe we find healing through an integrated, wholistic approach to therapy.

I believe counseling is a partnership in which we work together in developing and implementing a plan to reach the clients treatment goals. Each client is unique and different, and I adjust according to the clients needs. I work well with clients who are ready to do the work to heal and grow. The client and I are active throughout the counseling process. I have found that this process is a journey towards healing and thriving in all areas of life.

Life becomes too difficult; you need an objective someone to talk to, listen to your story, and provide encouragement that you can not only survive what you are going through, but work to find purpose and meaning in the midst of the storm. The most important aspect of therapy is the Client-Therapist relationship. Once it is determined that the Client is comfortable with me, then it is a collaborative effort to help facilitate the healing process through the life changes the Client faces. My job is to provide a safe place for change and growth to happen.

As a therapist, my goal is to provide an empowering structure so that my clients can flourish and heal.

Hiroko Arikawa is a Clinical Psychologist in the state of Missouri. She has experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings in which she treated individuals with various conditions such as depression, anxiety, grief, psychological issues associated with medical illnesses and disabilities, and adjustment difficulties. At college counseling centers, she often had clients who were in therapy for personal growth. In therapy, Hiroko incorporates a client-centered approach with the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and a solution-focused approach.

I strive to help clients feel accepted and supported while providing a safe space to work towards mental health goals in Missouri and Florida. I use an evidence based therapeutic approach to construct healthy solutions to life concerns. We will work on discovering your coping abilities, resources, skills and strengths to help you navigate success in life.

It takes courage to be vulnerable enough to ask for help. You've already taken your first steps towards growth simply by identifying that something feels wrong and looking for a solution. My main focus as a counselor is to help my clients understand themselves, as well as their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In this understanding can come acceptance, change, and healing.

There is no universal blueprint for getting through life without a scratch. Life gets hard and sometimes it can feel like your entire world is spinning out of control. As your fellow human, I too, know feelings of pain, suffering, and disconnection. The heartache and confusion that often comes with broken relationships, addiction, and life transitions. The sense of emptiness, and lack of identity and direction that ebbs and flows as we move through our existence. None of us are exempt, but I’m here to tell you that you are not alone and that there is hope.

I have worked with a wide array of clients, especially in my past career in Adventure Based Counseling. I have walked therapeutic, and literal, paths with people from all walks of life and with concerns ranging from depression and anxiety to personality disorders and trauma survivors. My ideal client is one that shows up physically, mentally, and emotionally for themselves. Healing, repairing, and integrating can be hard work. I'm here to join with you and walk the path hand in hand.

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” —Mary Oliver I use EMDR, CBT, and client-centered therapies with my clients. My approach is grounded in the belief that you are the expert on you! It is an act of courage to allow someone into your world. I will always be respectful of your unique experience. I'll help you navigate the terrain that is you and your life, but you will be the guide.