I am a professional counselor licensed in the state of Missouri, with about seven years of experience, and over a decade and a half of experience working with addiction and mental health. I have worked with a range of clients, from children to elderly, who have come to me for a variety of issues, including anxiety and stress, depression, relationship issues, addiction, and lack of motivation. There are times in our lives when we need a new vision and someone to help us create strategies to overcome old challenges and take life to the next level. Seeking this change can be a daunting task, but I am here to help support you in your success. My counseling style is rather eclectic, based in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, with strong influences from Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused techniques, and existential psychotherapy. I look forward to working with you!

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Missouri. I have twenty years of therapeutic and mental health coaching experience. I support individuals to become successful who suffer from anxiety/depression, professional/academic problems, interpersonal conflicts, codependency problems, and much more. My modality of treatment is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-focused Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Mindfulness, and I use behavioral interventions. Together we will explore underlying thoughts and beliefs that contribute to lowered self-esteem and self-confidence. We will identify self-sabotaging, behaviors that hinder your success academically/professionally, and derail interpersonal relationships. Every person struggles with issues. At some point in life, we all need support. The answer to your specific problem depends on you more than the problem. Your beliefs, personality, character, and environment all play a part in finding the correct solution. We will travel together, and you will find the best answer for you. I do not give you an answer to your particular issue or problem. Instead, I journey with you and explore new ideas and methods so that you can overcome difficult situations.

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 have about twenty years work experience in the field of mental health services, I have worked as an adult case manager in community support services. I have also been an intake specialist; but the one area I have found the most rewarding is working as a mental health counselor. I enjoy working with people in helping them to see issues and problems from different perspectives and helping them to make better choices that will help them with feeling better about themselves and to overcome their personal problems. I hold advanced degrees in psychology and mental health counseling. From my education and work experience, I have found CBT and positive center approaches along with solution based therapy to be effective in helping clients to become more mindful along with helping them to build coping skills that they can utilize to help them to be more empowered in making healthy decisions in their lives.

Hi :-) I am an experienced licensed mental health provider and . I work from a holistic approach, to support your healing of mind, body and spirit. In addition to healing we will work toward feelings of gratitude, abundance and joy. I have supported individuals with depression, trauma histories, self image, life challenges and parenting of infants and young children. I have worked in community mental health, private practice and spent the past many years working with military members and their families. I am respectful, non-judgemental and kind. I keep your goals and needs as priority in the work we do. It takes effort to put yourself out there and I hope to be able to support you with your growth and healing. I look forward to meeting you. Denise Tompkins

I have practiced as a counselor in Southeast Missouri for 18 years, working initially as an crisis counselor and then in an outpatient setting and I am also an Instructor of Psychology. I also previously worked as a therapist in a residential treatment center for children and teens. Over the years I have had the pleasure of working with children, teens, and adults. Most recently I have provided individual, couple and family counseling in the home. Together we have addressed concerns regarding relationship issues, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, loss, as well as parenting problems and family conflict. As a college instructor I also interact frequently with young adults and have served to counsel individuals through various transitions. My counseling style is client-centered as I believe in the power of each individual to grow with the right help and support. I draw from a Christian faith foundation and aim to facilitate insight and hope, highlighting one's strengths and positive steps toward change...change in thoughts and change in behaviors. The relationship developed with a person is a gift and can serve as a spring board for a solution-focused plan for change and improvement in emotional state and motivation. The various ways that we can achieve this together include cognitive-behavioral exercises, mindfulness and relaxation exercises, and narrative activities. Drawing from the Humanistic perspective, I believe that every person deserves a safe space where they can be heard without judgment and aim to work collaboratively with each client to develop treatment goals that will move them to reaching their full potential. I believe in your unique strengths and I will work alongside you to establish a plan and facilitate growth. If you have read this, you have already taken an important, courageous step toward improving your mental and emotional state. I would be happy to help you take those next steps. I look forward to getting to know you on this journey.

My name is Julie Downs and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Missouri. I earned my Masters Degree from the University of Missouri/Columbia in 2000. I earned my Certification from the University of Indiana in career counseling in 2012. I have worked in various settings over the past 26 years that include outpatient mental health and private practice settings serving children, families, and adults. I have also worked in educational settings from higher education to elementary and secondary education. My areas of expertise include trauma, depression, anxiety, family conflict, relationships, and parenting. I enjoy working with children, but have also worked with adults, specifically when addressing family needs. I definitely take a holistic and systemic approach when looking at family dynamics, relationships, interactions, and functioning. I look at my relationships with clients as a partnership. I am very resourceful and creative in my approaches so if I do not have the knowledge or information, I will locate it for my clients. I take a non-judgmental stance because I believe diversity is what enriches my life and those around me. I also adhere to my professional code of ethics where taking an unbiased approach is a necessity. I am extremely energetic and creative in my approach with therapy. I strive to keep my clients engaged providing various options and encouraging them to overcome challenges, fears, or reservations about trying new things. I do regular check-ins to make sure my approach is having a positive impact on my clients' lives and that there is a continuation of progress towards goals. My clients are treated with dignity and respect, but I will be assertive in a respective manner when addressing patterns of behaviors that are impeding progress. Cognitive behavioral approaches are the foundation of my therapy, but I also use eclectic interventions through trauma, solution focused, and client centered modalities, making adjustments that fit my clients' communication and personality styles and needs. I am also a trained Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist. I believe continuity of care and ongoing support is crucial in therapy services and check my messages minimally three times a day. I look forward to working with you and forging a partnership in helping you reach your goals!

Hello! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Missouri. I have ten years of experience in the mental health field. I have worked in a variety of settings, including residential, acute inpatient, in home, and in schools. I have the most experience working with children, teens, adults, and families experiencing anxiety, major life changes, and trauma/abuse history. I also have experience working with intellectual disabilities, depression, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. LGBTQ+ individuals have been a large part of my experience over the past 3 years. My passion for the field comes from working with others to help them become the best version of themselves. I always tell my clients that I am walking alongside them in their journey-not leading the way. I firmly believe that we are all the experts on ourselves and I work hard to meet clients where they are on their own journey. My style could be described as caring and validating, with a holistic approach. I am warm, supportive, and down to earth. I enjoy sharing mindfulness skills and other calming strategies as well as communication skills. I believe in practicing skills and promoting confidence in individuals. I believe that gaining positive views of self, practicing skills, and working through any sort of trauma takes time to heal and I want to be able to help you in any way that I can. I check and respond to messages regularly during the week and will respond as quickly as possible! On the weekends, I do take the time for my family and will not respond to messages from Friday at 4 pm until Monday morning.

Hello, My name is Mat Crawford. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor licensed in Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Louisiana. I have a master's degree in counseling from Arizona State University. I have been working as a counselor since 2008. I have worked with clients in a number of areas. I am most experienced in career counseling and coping with significant life changes. Career counseling includes work/life balance, career/vocational exploration, career transitions, workplace issues (getting along with coworkers, bosses, etc.), and other workplace related stress/anxiety. Significant life changes can cover just about any change in your regular routines and/or support system that is leading to difficulties with grief, a sense of loss, burnout, increased stress, anxiety, or depression. I am a big advocate for self-care and enjoy helping others establish a plan to make self-care part of their regular routines. While I hesitate to label myself as any sort of faith based counselor because it wasn't something I specifically sought out in my training, the experiences seem to have sought me out. As a result I have an extensive background working with clients on incorporating their faith and spiritual practices into their mental health care. I very much enjoying learning about how people's personal spiritual/religious beliefs and practices impact their lives and helping them reconcile beliefs and behaviors. I am fully open to working with people of any spiritual persuasion but have a particularly extensive background working with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My style is warm and compassionate. My focus is to understand your unique situation. You are the expert on your life and I'm here to help you find solutions that will work best for you. I am a client-centered therapist and believe in treating others with respect. I enjoying meeting you where you are in life and moving along at a pace with which you are comfortable. Seeking help to initiate or cope with change in life is a significant step. I am honored each time someone trusts me to open up about their lives and discuss the changes they would like to make. I commit to taking that journey of change with you and giving you a safe place, void of judgement, to try new things, think out loud, and work toward becoming more of the person you want to be.

I am a licensed clinical social worker with 15+ years of experience. I have worked with parents, caregivers, siblings and patients impacted by chronic, life threatening illness, coping with healthcare related traumatic experiences and through grief and bereavement, as well as crisis intervention. I have also worked with individuals working through anxiety, depression and those looking to increase self-esteem. My practice has lead me to engage with others in the healthcare setting, not for profit realm and private practice. I strive to be a listener, collaborative and practice non-judgement in my interactions with those seeking support. It is my intention to build a relationship with those seeking support and create a space for goal setting and movement toward those goals as defined by those I work with therapeutically. I practice elements of cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, psychodynamic therapy, solutions-based therapy, family dynamics all while encompassing the strengths-based approach. Whatever the circumstances and motivation leading to seeking therapeutic support, it is important the have goodness of fit with the provider of your choosing. I look forward to the opportunity to engage and explore the thoughts, ideas and environment for healing, self-betterment and contentment.

How’s your stress level? If you’re anything like the millions of other people adjusting to significant changes over the last few years, it’s likely your stress has crept up over this time. With change and uncertainty as one of our only constants as of late, it makes sense that life might feel heavier now than it once did. I’m a Clinical Social Worker licensed in both Missouri (LCSW) and Kansas (LSCSW). I am active in the greater Kansas City area with over 18 years of experience in the field of human services. The people I have had the privilege of serving come from all walks of life and have encountered a myriad of personal and professional challenges. Over the course of my career, I have served adjudicated youth, children and families within the child welfare system, adults with identified substance use issues, and individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Most recently, I have worked with adults to develop employment goals as well as strategies to achieve them. I have recently transitioned to providing therapy on a full-time basis and I work exclusively using telehealth/virtual sessions. I am eager to support adults experiencing job satisfaction concerns, self-esteem or confidence issues, depression, anxiety, unpacking past trauma, communication and relationship issues, family dynamics, grief and loss, and individuals in the LGBTQ+ population. My approach is warm and supportive as I believe in the dignity and worth of every person. I most often utilize cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing techniques, and acceptance and commitment therapy, but am happy to tailor your treatment plan to your unique needs. Verbally processing the challenging things in life can make them significantly more manageable. Seeking therapy is such a vulnerable and brave thing to do and I'm inspired by that courage! Years ago as a young adult, I was drawn to the social work field out of a desire to help others. To me, nothing was more interesting in college than learning about people. One of my greatest joys is watching clients grow and evolve out of struggle. We all experience obstacles in life, and it is my honor to help you find new approaches to the many and varied problems that pop up. My commitment to you as a helping professional is to keep you and your values front and center and to leave judgment at the door. I believe therapy is a partnership and I’m so eager to partner with you! So, are you ready for this? I’m excited to meet you and I consider it a privilege to walk alongside you on your journey. I hope you’ll reach out so we can get something scheduled today!

I am licensed in Missouri with 4 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. 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 7 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. 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 23 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, & depression. I also have experience working with compassion fatigue. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

When we share a session together, we focus on your gifts and strengths as you journey towards wholeness and healing. My work as a therapist is guided by the idea that all humans are deserving of connection, acceptance, and nurturing support. Working with people who have experienced trauma, utilizing an eclectic therapy approach including play, building safer attachment, and exploring the parts that make us whole, has shaped my ability to help you process feelings of grief, anxiety, anger, and depression. I enjoy working with a diverse population including young people who are exploring their own identities, orientations, and cultures. I am a licensed clinical social worker, member of the LGBTQ+ community, and a third generation Mexican-American. What an honor it is to hold space as individuals explore their feelings and create their own sense of self. Outside of the therapy office, you can find me reading a romance novel, tending to our huge garden; or, spending time with my young daughter, husband (who helps me see the big picture) and our two Shih Tzus.