Psychoanalytic Therapists in Grandview, MO

I believe that most people at some time can benefit from talking with a professional about emotional problems that they are encountering, although many persons I see worry that there is something "wrong" with them and feel they should be able to improve their situations thembselves. Difficulties in relationships, problems concerning work or recovering from bad experiences can be painful parts of life and talking about them can hasten change and improvement. As we develop a relationship with one another and reflect about the problems together, over time, I have found that people discover new ways of meeting the challenges that brought them to me.

Knowing we can be loved exactly as we are gives us the best opportunity to grow into the healthiest people. I believe relational psychotherapy helps to restore hope and connection, even during seasons of immense pain and suffering. Having a place where you can be heard and feel known is essential while working through heavy feelings, emotions, thoughts, and processing difficult experiences. As therapy deepens, individuals I work with gain insight into presenting symptoms and patterns of behavior that initially brought them to see me.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Do you want to find solutions leading to greater peace of mind and contentment? I provide you a compassionate, safe environment to speak freely about your unique situation. Although we can address together any life issue, my specialties include couples counseling, premarital preparation for marriage, caregiver stress, and grief therapy. I can also teach you mindfulness techniques to handle daily stress and bring clarity of thought. Tinnitus can be treated, too. Having studied world religions, I can help you use your religious and spiritual beliefs to facilitate your life journey, regardless of your path.

Why, despite good intentions, do you repeat something that isn't good for you? How can you learn compassion for yourself and others - instead of judging or shaming? How can you think 'outside the box' and recognize your fear of risk? Psychotherapy provides a place to explore what needs to happen so you can feel mastery in life. I'll work with you to gain awareness and see alternatives.

I've provided therapy services for adults, teens, and children for over 8 years. I've found that the individuals who seem to flourish working with me are those who are particularly committed to understanding themselves and their struggles at a deeper level. I work to help facilitate meaningful insights and this often includes exploration of earlier relationships in a client's life. I believe that each person I work with is a unique and complex individual needing services tailored to them.

Making the decision to seek help is the the first step towards living a healthier, happier life. The second step is finding the right therapist. I believe that success in therapy is dependent on the strength of the relationship between the counselor and client. I view myself as an advocate, a catalyst for change, and an objective sounding board, rather than an expert who can listen to your problems for an hour and then magically know how to run your life better than you do. You are the expert on you! My job is to help you learn how to help yourself.

The decision to see a counselor may be intimidating or overwhelming. Sometimes we need to seek help outside family and friends. It is not easy to walk through the door and talk to a complete stranger. I want you to know, I have been where you are right now, and I hope you will reach out. I work with individuals who struggle with abandonment/trauma/abuse. I also work with couples who struggle with communication/infidelity/trust/conflict resolution. Investing in yourself and your relationships will be the most important investment of your lifetime.

I believe psychotherapy is a mixture of psychoeducation (providing information to help people develop new coping and relationship skills), emotional processing (learning to identify and work through uncomfortable feelings), and corrective emotional experience (using the counseling relationship as a safe place to experiment with new interpersonal skills). I utilize a mixture of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (addressing how our thoughts and beliefs impact our emotional experience, self-image, and behavior); Family Systems Therapy (helping people gain insight into characteristic relationship patterns); and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (understanding how ways of coping developed earlier in life may not serve us well in the present).

I see a variety of clients in various life situations and complexities, and I view the space you share with me an honor and privilege. It’s a big step in committing to understanding what's happening for you and reaching out for help. I respect your desire for understanding yourself and the situation you're in, for a deeper level of self-reflection, and a desire for implementing change. You're already doing hard work right now searching for the right fit, and in valuing personal growth and investing in yourself by reaching out. I look forward to connecting with you. I am committed to walking alongside of you every step of the way!

Finding a good therapist changed my life. Since becoming a psychotherapist in 2010, my goal has been to help my clients heal as they do the essential and difficult work of being human. I love psychotherapy and my clients can feel that. We meet inside my home office which has a private entrance. It's how psychotherapists treated patients back in the day and I have found the set up to be efficient at building rapport and safety. I really like myself and you can really like yourself too.

My clients find it empowering to not just talk about a problem but also to create ways of coping through learning new skills and allowing new perspectives. I help clients who want to be truly authentic. Sexuality and the pursuit of our sexual health is important as we strive to integrate our expression into our relationships. I help individuals incorporate their true selves into their relationships. My specialties are sexual problems, issues of sexual identity/orientation, consensual non-monogamy, out of control sexual behavior more commonly known as sex or porn addiction.

My aim is to help individuals and couples who are experiencing repetitive, entrenched patterns of problems or symptoms. These problems may appear in the realm of mood (emotions), behavior, or be physically lodged (psychosomatic). Disturbances such as these are often found to have their roots in templates formed earlier in life, but exert force upon present-day perceptions, emotions, cognitions, and interpersonal life. My role is to facilitate an in-depth understanding of the understructure of these mental and emotional constellations (usually out of awareness) which uphold and perpetuate the problems and patterns in need of modification or relief.

On the outside it seems like you have it all together, but inside it feels like you are falling apart. You’re tired of lacking confidence in yourself and feeling alone in your struggles. You feel guilty about the frustration and overwhelm you feel each day. It’s like you’re the one carrying all the weight. You’ve worked hard for success, but you aren't living the authentic life you hoped for, and you’ve basically resigned yourself to the idea that you may never find the fulfillment in relationships that you’ve found in your career.

If you're reading this, I want you to know how courageous it is that you've already taken the first step: asking for help. It's something no one wants to do, but I've been there, and it can be the change you need to live the life you were meant to. Being vulnerable and brave enough to tell your story is tough. But getting you to the place where you can actually own your story, and maybe even write a new ending, is totally worth it.

Life gets to us sometimes. Sometimes we need help. I'll be your coach, support, and cheerleader through this tough time in your life, and can provide you with the good constructive feedback that you need. If you're motivated to make positive change in your life, I might be able to help you. I find that seeking to answer the common question of "why am I doing this?" is very helpful and freeing for people, and reminds them that they can in fact make changes to get their lives back on track.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Missouri with 25 years of experience working in the Mental Health Care field. I have 15 years experience providing individual therapy, family therapy and couples counseling. My education, employment and life experiences provided me with skills and empathy to assist clients to manage and problem solve. Majority of my clients have anxiety, depression, family conflict, trauma, low self-esteem, and substance abuse. Understanding a client’s situation, symptoms and needs and then matching them with a diagnosis (when appropriate) and a treatment plan that will help them heal, grow and thrive.

Since 2015 Claire has been in private practice as a clinical therapist providing therapy to children (6 and up), adolescents, and adults of all ages. Her open nature and style of communication provide a dynamic in the therapist/client relationship which is often most important. Claire's clinical experience includes working with obstacles in life such as PTSD, complex trauma, anxiety, depression, attachment-based concerns, ADHD, stress, grief & loss, and difficulties that accompany developmental diagnoses such as autism which can affect entire families.