Since 2005 I have worked with people struggling with addiction, depression, bipolar/mood disorder, stress/anxiety/fear, relationship problems, psychosis/schizophrenia, grief, anger, and communication problems. Let me help you - I have a relaxed but professional approach, and I prefer a solution - focused approach. The goal is to help you figure out how to get where you want to be in the here and now, not ruminate about what happened years ago. I utilize several evidence based approaches and techniques in my practice. If you have questions about specifics, please feel free to contact me to ask. It is essential to keep in mind that counseling is not a magic pill. Counseling is a process that requires participation and work from the patient and counselor alike. Change may not happen overnight, but it shouldn't take years, either. Making small changes to self-defeating behavior and coping with feelings of sadness, fear, and pain can bring life-altering results, as long as you are committed to the process and the work.

While my first career was in the business world, my subsequent careers were being a Lutheran pastor, working as a social worker in child protective services, and being a mental health therapist. I have 24 years of experience in social work and mental health. As a pastor, I have served 5 theologically conservative Lutheran churches in 3 states. My experience as a therapist has mostly been with community mental health clinics that provided services under the auspices of the state department of mental health. At community mental health clinics I provided therapy to clients of all ages, many having the full range of serious mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma from sexual abuse and post -traumatic stress disorder. My experience in community mental health was invaluable in honing my skills as a therapist. At one clinic I was part of the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy team that provided DBT therapy to clients suffering from borderline personality disorder. I believe that psychotherapy is a marvelous thing. It brings healing to people only through words. It is work, and to be successful in therapy one must work harder than the therapist. My therapeutic approach is cognitive behavioral, which means that I help the client to change beliefs that are false (example: "I believe I am worthless due to my history of sexual abuse as a child."), and change behaviors that are unhealthy and which stand in the way of a life that has joy and peace. That means that the key factor in my approach is CHANGE. My successes have been with clients who are willing to do that. I look forward to working with you!

I chose to be a licensed therapist and clinical social worker because of my life mission to make a difference and care for others. Combining a degree in Art Education with a specialization in Art Therapy, a degree in Counselor Education, certification as a Criminal Justice Specialist, and over forty years of experience in the field, I have developed a unique expertise in creatively helping a diverse clientele. With special emphasis on being trauma-informed, using client centered approaches, and focusing on cognitive behavioral techniques, I have worked with child & adult survivors of sexual abuse, at-risk youth in juvenile detention and residential settings, experiential learning settings, and children & adults in faith-based services. I have experience working with those who are struggling with anxiety, depression, anger management, and many other life challenges. Combining years of experience with current evidence-based interventions, I am able to use my acquired wisdom and youthful spirit to help clients find the “healthier self” that lies within. If you have decided to reach out for help, or if you are curious about how your life could be better, I am ready to be the support you are looking for, so let's talk!

Hello, my name is Michael Cundiff. I am a therapist with BetterHelp, and look forward to getting to know you. You have taken a bold first step by contacting BetterHelp, reflecting a strength and a good beginning. I enjoy working with people and look forward to speaking with you. My background information is available on my profile along with hours and availability. Forty-five minute sessions seem to work best for most clients, but we can be flexible if you have different expectations. Video, email and chat are the virtual formats, and clients are encouraged to go at their own rate. If you have questions, please ask, but feel free to do so should any come to mind later. I check for messages several times daily and try to respond as quickly as possible. My counseling approach is essentially client-centered, which is to say relationship based, and it is my belief that client and counselor should work together in establishing goals and strategies for solutions. You may have some thoughts on this as well which we can process. Looking forward to speaking with you. Michael Cundiff

Hi, my name is Matt Daues and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the States of Missouri and California. I help others with a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, and older adult issues. My counseling style is pretty laid back. I take a holistic approach to helping individuals which means I take the whole person into consideration including emotional and physical health issues, and social-economic issues. I collaborate with individuals to help you make your own choices and develop your own goals to improved health. I use aspects of Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Solution-Focused Therapy and relaxation techniques. Mindfulness and meditation exercises can even be done in session. My job as a therapist is to listen to you, help you develop goals and assist you in finding solutions and feeling better.

I am an experienced and skilled therapist. I am straightforward and I work for my clients. I will accompany you on your journey to feel different/feel better. If you want to change and work at it, I am the right person for you. I use a strengths based approach and we will examine your strengths and how to use them to assist you in changing behaviors. I believe everyone has a unique story and I believe in listening to yours. Lets work together so you can achieve your goals.

My name is Melissa Teasley, MS, LPC. I am a therapist licensed in Missouri with over 10 years of experience working as a counselor and life coach. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, substance abuse and addiction, OCD, ADHD, PTSD, etc. In addition to my education, I also have personal experiences that have increased my resilience and understanding of difficult situations in life. I believe in a warm, comfortable, and laid-back counseling environment. I personally don't believe that I have to wear a dress or suit to make a good first impression. I am a regular person, like everyone else, who just happens to have educational and professional experience in the therapy career field. I would like my clients to feel safe and comfortable speaking with me. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and I don't believe in stigmatizing labels. My approach combines cognitive-behavioral, mindful, and person-centered therapies. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek for a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. If you are ready to take that step I am here to support and empower you. I look forward to working with you!

I began my journey to becoming a therapist when I entered Mizzou as a freshman in August of 2004. I continued to further my education and pursue my passion of helping others in a myriad of ways throughout the years. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies in 2009 with a minor in Psychology. After taking a break to work in the People Management field, I then completed a Master of Education in Professional Counseling with a dual emphasis in Marriage and Family Counseling through Stephens College in 2012. Attending to multiple demographics and having the opportunity to work in diverse settings throughout my educational and professional experience has allowed me to provide individualized care to those I work with. I have had the privilege of serving individuals throughout their lifespan, including those with developmental disabilities, severe and persistent mental illness, and in various transitional phases of their life. I believe that fostering and developing relationships are important components of leading a well balanced and healthy lifestyle. My role as a therapist is to guide and support those who seek out my services. I do this in a way that allows them to explore, process, learn techniques, gain perspective and follow through on ways to achieve those goals. I have a passion for helping others and enabling them to grow and develop by providing resources and assistance that aids in meeting those goals. My specialties and experience include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectic Behavior Therapy, Solution Focused, PSB-CBT, Illness Management and Recovery, and IDDT. I am skilled in Career Development, Individual and Family Therapy, Couples/Marriage Therapy, Coaching, Conflict Resolution, and Training

Hello! Thank you for taking time to read my profile. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker licensed in the state of Missouri with 20+ years of clinical experience. I love to lead, empower, help people become who they want to be, and reach their full potential . I followed my passion to assist people in thriving by obtaining a Bachelor's in Social Work in 1998 from Columbia College and a MSW in 2001 from Saint Louis University. I have worked in several clinical settings including nonprofits, hospitals, prisons, and schools. I have experience in counseling couples, individuals (adults and children) and facilitating groups. I have received specialized training in , cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Play Therapy and trauma treatments. Congrats for taking the 1st step towards change to improve your well-being. My desire is to help you achieve your goals by providing a safe, authentic, and compassionate clinical setting with an individualized therapy experience. Please let me know how I may assist. SPECIALTIES Depression Stress, Anxiety Relationship issues Family conflicts Trauma and abuse Grief Also experienced in: Addictions , LGBT , Intimacy-related issues , Parenting issues , Anger management , Self esteem , Career difficulties , Bipolar disorder , Coping with life changes , Coaching , Compassion fatigue , ADHD , Abandonment , Attachment Issues , Codependency , Communication Problems , Control Issues Clinical approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy Years of Experience: 24

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker licensed in the state of Missouri with over 15 years of clinical experience. My passion is to partner with, empower, lead and assist clients to help them reach their goals and full potential. I have worked in a variety of clinical settings including hospitals, clinics, in patient addiction treatment, prisons, schools and suicide intervention organizations. I have experience in counseling couples, individuals (children and adults), facilitating groups and crisis intervention. I have received specialized training in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), solution focused therapy, motivational interviewing (MI), trauma therapy and play therapy. I received my undergraduate degree in social work from the University of Central Missouri and my masters degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis. My therapy style in warm, engaging and interactive. I believe in treating others with respect, compassion and without judgment. It takes courage to seek help and take the first steps toward change. I look forward to working with you!

I am licensed in Missouri with 3 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with lgbt-related issues, relationship issues, intimacy related issues, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

I am licensed in Missouri with over 20 years of clinical and counseling experience. Also 25 years teaching teaching social work and human services. I have experience in helping people cope with life changes as well as with relationship issues, family conflicts, and parenting issues as well as anxiety, depression, and stress. My clinical approach is the use of Cognitive Behavior Therapy with positive psychology approaches as well as mindfulness, and aspects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Depending on your needs. You can read a description of Cognitive Behavior Therapy from the America Psychological Society from their web site here: https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral Neuroscientist Rick Hanson discovered that our brain has a natural negativity bias to internalize negative experiences more deeply than positive ones. According to Dr. Hanson, the brain is like velcro for negative experiences and teflon for positive ones. However we can learn skills to help us work with that bias in a more positive way. I find it useful to explore not only what you want to accomplish in therapy, but also what is going right since they are the foundation you will be building on. I often provide clients with the opportunity to do "homework," which can include both activities, and reading. You are the expert of your story, and we all have strengths that can assist us in dealing with challenges. Our individual strengths that are the foundation we all build on. Michael Perkins, MSW, LCSW ******* Are you in crisis? If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, you can access free support right away with these resources: 988 Suicide & Cris Lifeline – call 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call the Lifeline at 800-273-8255, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Crisis Text Line. Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741. The Trevor Project. LGBTQIA+ and under 25 years old? Call 866-488-7386, text “START” to 678678, or chat online 24-7. Befrienders Worldwide. This international crisis helpline network can help you find a local helpline.

I am licensed in Missouri with 21 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am licensed in Missouri with 25 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with coping with addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, & trauma and abuse. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

I’m Brenda Swift. When I’m not working, I like to take my dog for long walks in various parks and binge watch shows. I also look forward to the reading challenges offered through the library, because it forces me to make time to read at least 20 minutes. I have a passion for working with clients having difficulty navigating life’s situations and wanting to hide from society, I help clients who have stress and anxiety, relationship issues, need to cope with grief and loss, & depression. I understand what it’s like to struggle in life, because life has not been easy for me. I’m skilled in creating a trusting environment that allows clients to share openly and freely, that allows them to express their reasons for seeking professional help. I look forward to meeting you, so we can help you find contentment in your life.