Therapists in Kansas City, MO

Life can be hard, overwhelming and filled with obstacles. You do not need to navigate your journey alone. I am here to walk along side you regardless of the current season. I can help unearth experiences, explore unconscious thoughts and help create a new route to mental health. You are more than just your situation.

Life is unpredictable, it's messy. We all are learning as we grow, and with the right skills we can learn to tackle any obstacles that are thrown our way. It's important for all of us to have someone to lean on, talk to, help us grow through personal struggles, and that is how I view the therapeutic relationship. Primarily, I work with clients 18+ who struggle with trauma, anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, grief, personality disorders, and overall life stressors.

Are you feeling gloomy, stuck or unmotivated? Do you find it difficult to shut your thoughts off at night because of scattered thoughts? Does the harmony in your love relationship need a reset? Is achieving work-life balance difficult? Are you transitioning out of a relationship and want support? Perhaps you are a survivor of narcissistic abuse by a partner, parent or employer? Whatever it is, your goal for happiness is important and it's OK to receive care on your journey.

Being a human can be tough and life gets heavy sometimes, but you don't have to do it alone. If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected, I can help you process these complicated feelings and find a way forward.

I believe we can heal and grow if given the appropriate environment. As a therapist, trauma specialist, and speaker, I take on a collaborative, multi-faceted approach that incorporates neuroscience, attachment, and trauma-informed resources. I am committed to working with individuals from all walks of life to help them gain clarity and achieve goals, while identifying and integrating trauma that may be keeping them stuck. Whether you're coping with an identity crisis, narcissistic abuse, life transitions, and/or chronic "stuck" patterns, you are not alone. You are not broken in need of fixing, you may be injured in need of healing.

Are you living with anxiety, depression, trauma, attachment and relationship challenges, or major life changes? Maybe you're feeling stuck in a storm of negativity and pain with no ray of hope in sight. Life can be extremely hard AND you are not alone. Connecting with a well-trained therapist is one of the best investments that you can make in yourself. I will help you explore life patterns, heal wounds from the past, and teach skills needed to build the life and relationships that you are seeking. Counseling is a healthy way to uncover the past, embrace the present, and pursue your best path forward. Regain control of your life!

You will not go where you have not yet been without learning to do what you have not yet done. Many seek wellness, peace, joy, and such believing they must discover it for themselves, by themselves. Yet we see example after example that the most successful have guides, coaches, mentors, or counselors.

What it’s like to come in for therapy? Therapy is about sharing vulnerability that you may not have experienced before, or at least not experienced positively before. We’re not friends, but we have a connection that we build that is professionally intimate and caring. Therapy is about analysis and making meaning of things that you have gone through and are presently dealing with. Sometimes that presents challenges to a person, things that are occurring with us are tough to look at and face- that’s why I’m here. I will help you look at things that are hard to take in and help you to either accept and appreciate or accept and change.

I possess the magic, fast-acting cure for it ALL... just kidding. As a lifetime therapy participant myself, I know this path isn't short, shiny, or easy, but my job is to walk it with you once you are ready to take the first step. My work focuses on challenges in our relationships with ourselves, others, and how we navigate the world. In addition to life transitions, trauma, and grief, I specialize in perinatal mental health, mood disorders, & adolescent/student athlete issues. I am an LGBTQI+ ally, and eager to work with humans of all backgrounds, orientations, preferences, identities, cultures, & ethnicities.

Maybe you're feeling stuck. Maybe you are seeking answers but not able to see through the darkness. Maybe peace feels impossible. Maybe you're questioning who you are or going through a life transition. Maybe it's your relationship or parenting or past hurts. This life experience is filled with highs, lows, and in-between moments. At times, we all want someone to join in our journey and walk alongside us so we can feel supported. I am here to meet you where you are in your life right now. As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I believe that all of life is relational, whether that is within or outside with family, friends, society.

Dr. Benito brings with her a wealth of experience. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker originating from New York City with 10+ years of experience working with culturally diverse and at risk populations across multiple settings. Dr. Benito earned her Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California focusing her capstone work on designing innovative healthcare solutions that combine the power of behavioral health and advancements in neuroscience to address the lifelong, adverse effects of childhood adversity and developmental trauma.

We are not meant to live life alone, but rather deeply involved in relationships. Some of these relationships are highly successful, while others have come with great loss, significant struggle or just the every day difficulty of learning to live and enjoy life with another person. I believe in the value of working through personal problems in the context of building stronger relationships. I will help you work through this on a personal level or with whomever you are needing to have a restored relationship with.

My ideal client seeks self-exploration & understanding, facing issues like anxiety, depression, or relationship difficulties. They need a supportive space for personal growth, aiming to gain insight, develop coping strategies, improve communication, & foster healthy relationships. They aspire to enhance mental well-being, achieve a better life quality, & unlock their full potential.

Every person has their own history and their own struggles. They have their own ways of dealing with these struggles and sometimes they simply need help. I find great joy in helping people through difficult times. I specialize in trauma related issues such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression. I like to work with clients at their own pace, gently and compassionately. I offer both in person and online appointments. I like to think of the first appointment as a time for you to decide if you think that we might be a good match.

I dedicate my time to finding ways to help individuals, couples, and families grow. Through my non-confrontational, straight-forward approach I seek to help you and your loved ones identify personal strengths, achieve goals, have improved relationships and effective communication patterns. With all clients I strive to help you have "ah-ha" moments of clarity while dealing with current feelings of frustration in life. Within couples and families I aim to help you understand each other's needs; emotionally, physically, and spiritually. It is my goal to work with you and your loved ones to find solutions that fit your needs.

Change is possible. Just because you've done the same thing over and over, doesn't mean today can't be different. Most of us know what change that we'd like to make. However, our instincts are to cling to what gets us through the day and avoid meaningful change. The good news is that we can learn to act effectively to welcome change instead of push it away. At times, we need help to face the places where we need to improve. Positive change does not happen overnight. My goal is to find what what works. I focus on evidence-based and practical strategies to help my clients improve their lives and emotional well-being.

I believe compassion and empathy create the foundation for clients to develop greater insight and self-awareness. My approach to therapy is collaborative working to resolve mental and emotion stressors that impede one's ability to achieve their goals. I work with clients to identify maladaptive communication patterns, resolve conflict, transition to a new stage in life or career, and foster each individual’s innate skills, knowledge, and growth.

Mental health is part of your physical health. You cannot have one without the other. No one is exempt from facing mental health struggles at one time or another in their life. It is not uncommon during times of mental health struggles, either it be an isolated incident of panic, short-term and long-term anxiety, tragedy, situational depression, or circumstances that were out of your control that caused you to have a "new normal." Therapy will alleviate these stressors through a process of personal insight, change, and opening your eyes to a new way of seeing your life and how you react to it.

Do you want to feel better? Do you want to have more satisfying relationships? Within the first session, you will feel more hope and more possibility. In time, you will see your life become fuller. A focus in treatment is to clarify inner issues and to establish a more mindful approach to daily life