Therapists in West Virginia

Hello and thanks for taking a look at my profile! I know life can be tough, confusing, heartbreaking, unforgiving at times, painful, lonely, and even dark. I want you to know you are not alone in feeling this way, and that these feelings, your feelings, are valid and important. I want to be able to walk alongside you and climb out of whatever it is you are struggling with together. As a therapist, I specialize in PTSD, anxiety, self-esteem, coping skills, supervision and more. If any of this connects with whatever you are going through, reach out to me. I'm here to help!

I offer a holistic approach to outpatient counseling to both children and adults with an emphasis on problem-solving and searching together for solutions that support life success and positive personal development. I work together with you to help you to overcome depression, anxiety, and trauma toward a happy and fulfilling life, using cognitive behavioral therapy, existential and humanistic counseling, and practical, social work-based approaches.

My goal as a therapist is to help clients who are having difficulty in our fast-paced environment dealing with life’s stressors related to marriages/partnerships, families, friendships, social isolation, employment and finances. I provide a safe place where clients know they can share in a confidential environment without judgment. All of us have negative thoughts. Realizing that we are more than our thoughts, though, can be truly liberating and allow a person to live a full and meaningful life, even when faced with struggles that may seem impossible to overcome.

Now in Morgantown! Therapy is a place to pause, reflect on what you are seeking in life and explore the barriers preventing you from taking that next step in your journey. Life changes or chronic situations can throw us off course, leaving us to feel out of sync, confused, & disconnected from life. Whether you are looking to reconnect, find purpose, learn new coping skills, process trauma or loss, manage anxiety, deal with shame or make a life changing decision, therapy can be a safe place to discover the power you have within yourself to design your own solutions & find new ways to navigate challenging situations. Multisites!

Therapy is often described as a journey or an adventure through life's ups and downs. We're all on a quest to uncover the treasure of inner peace and well-being, and I'm here to be your trusted guide along the path. Together, we'll navigate the challenges and celebrate the growth. It will be difficult at times, but you will be wrapped in unwavering support, and it will be worth the time and energy to keep pushing forward.

My philosophy of healing is like working your way through a set of nesting dolls from the outer doll representing why you want to heal: trauma, attachment/relationship injury, depression, grief, and anxiety. The next doll holds the symptoms, thoughts, and feelings of the first doll. The next doll may may hold your negative beliefs you have perceived about yourself, others, and the world. The next doll may hold consequences and life impairments. The final doll represents your core and authentic self. The person you would be without all of the other dolls in relationship to the unity of mind, soul, heart, body and spirit.

With over two decades of experience as Licensed Professional Counselor in WV and Florida, I have assisted adults, adolescents, and families facing a broad spectrum of challenges. These include depression, anxiety, relationship issues, low self-esteem, self-harm, parenting difficulties, life obstacles, and lack of motivation. I have also worked extensively with individuals who have endured physical trauma or emotional abuse. As a specialized EMDR therapist in trauma, I employ various therapeutic approaches and proven techniques to support my clients effectively. These encompass CBT, DBT, EMDR, & more.

I have had good results treating clients of all ages and most mental health problems. I have worked with a lot of children, parents who are trying to get their families reunited after CPS has removed them. Many addictions issues and clients on probation. I have treated many veterans, rape victims, and children and adults who have suffered trauma in their childhood. I have great success using TF-CBT. Most of my clients suffer from Bipolar Disorder (mostly depressive, mostly manic, and several mixed. I have worked with many Psychoses and in Forensics. I love my work and have a wide variety of experience and advanced training.

Are you feeling stuck, alone, lost? I can help. Everyone struggles with navigating a world that's often unkind, confusing, and overwhelming. I get it, it's hard to be a human. Having lived all over the world & moved 19 times, I know life can be tricky to navigate. Sometimes you need someone from the outside to help you make sense of life's messy stuff. I can. I've worked in prisons, with veterans, mil-families, trauma victims, govt officials, celebrities, moms, dads, college students, people like you and me, just trying to do life. I'm confident that together, we can shift, adjust, adapt and thrive. Breathe, then get unstuck.

Life is full of ups and downs. It can be overwhelming, confusing, challenging or just plain hard! We all need support to maneuver our way through the uncertainties that life can bring - traumatic experiences, loss of a loved one or even struggles with self esteem.  Having a safe space to sort out these thoughts and feelings is key. I will use my holistic approach to focus on healing the whole person. We will work together to build resilience and develop skills to help you on your journey so you can feel confident while facing life's challenges.

Contrary to what many people believe, not all adversity is bad. Through an intentional and concentrated effort, our challenges can be turned into strengths. Trauma occurs when adversity in life outweighs our available resources. As a EMDR and Trauma Certified therapist, I also incorporate techniques informed by the Polyvagal Theory, Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Somatic Experiencing (SE) for a bottom up approach. However, my main goal is to remind you of what we all intuitively know - that healing can only happen within the context of emotionally safe relationships. You are safe here.

I am a member of the LGTBQ community. I specialize in treating other members of this community and I also specialize in treating trauma/PTSD with EMDR. Unfortunately, many of us in the LGBTQ community have experienced a good deal of trauma through abuse, rejection, dysphoria, religion, etc. You are safe with me. I am here to help and happy to do so.

It takes insight to make the decision to seek counseling for an improved sense of wellbeing, healing, and growth. I have enormous respect for your willingness to begin that journey. I enjoy my work as a helping professional and it would be a pleasure to work with you. Together we will work towards towards building self-awareness, meaning and purpose, and to address your areas of concern such as depression, anxiety, trauma reactions, self-esteem, and challenging externals such as in your relationships, your work, and your academic pursuits, as well as health challenges.

In my practice I provide a comforting relaxing non-judgmental atmosphere in which to process thoughts and feelings at your own pace. I also believe you are the "boss" because I don't live in your head or walk in your shoes. I will make suggestions as to how to cope, challenge, manage thoughts, and feelings while improving relationships through the process. I will never tell you what to do because it is up for you to decide as to what works best. My time with you will be focused on how I can help you become the best version of yourself.

Welcome to Gaining Clarity Counseling Services! All are welcome here! I take pride in being real. While techniques and interventions are important, the relationship between therapist and client is essential for positive outcomes. I have particular interest and experience in working with those impacted by traumatic experiences. I have come to recognize that much of client distress stems from unresolved trauma (grief, abuse, mistreatment, etc.). Together, we will address root causes and equip you with the tools necessary for sustainable lifestyle change.

With background and advanced training in both mental health counseling and sport, exercise, and performance psychology, I enjoy collaborating with people from diverse backgrounds who are motivated to find a deeper sense of purpose, meaning, and peace, gain insight, and more adaptively respond to life experiences. Clinically, I specialize in the treatment of chronic and acute stress and trauma, particularly as it relates to adverse childhood experiences. From a sport psychology perspective, I work with performers to cultivate resilience, respond more adaptively to sport-based stressors, and find enjoyment in sport and exercise.

I provide a safe and compassionate atmosphere to support awareness and acceptance so that change can then happen. I focus on my client’s strengths to assist them in living a life worth living, and achieving the life they want. Our work together can target ineffective thinking and behavior patterns, painful emotions, and conflicted relationships. We can work on developing healthier coping strategies and ways of looking at ourselves and the world around us. I am also trained in EMDR, which is an evidence-based trauma treatment option.

Kathy Jones earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from West Virginia University. She has over 20 years experience working with children and families as a social worker. Kathy has worked in a variety of therapeutic settings: outpatient, inpatient, and residential treatment, as well as a working with clients ranging from children, adolescents, and adults. She generally treats clients who are seeking to address trauma, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, behavioral issues, life transitions, and/or everyday life challenges.

My approach in counseling is somewhat holistic and eclectic. I believe a supportive counseling environment works to help a client achieve awareness, thus leading to healing and personal growth. My role is to help clients explore their emotional needs and provide feedback. Hopefully, the value will be realized in both behavioral and emotional changes. Under all circumstances, my mission is to treat the client with the utmost regard and honor the human condition as it is. Counseling hours are available most days at your convenience. Often clients are able to schedule an appointment with 24 hours of calling my office.