Therapists in Missouri

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Missouri. After almost 30 years of serving children, adults, families, and couples in a traditional Counseling practice in SW Missouri, I discovered that my client's really could get "Better Help" through this 24/7 online forum. Transitioning my entire practice to the "Better Help" platform says a lot about me as a therapist. Simply put, I am open to state of the art therapy. Whatever is "best for my clients" defines my practice. *In case you would like to read more about my considerations for making this major shift in my practice, I have included that information in a section following this introduction. Clinically, I am an interactive, solution-focused therapist. My therapeutic approach is to provide support and practical feedback to help my clients effectively address life challenges. I offer a highly-personalized approach tailored specifically to each of client's immediate needs and life vision. With professional expertise and life experience, I help individuals, couples, and families build on their strengths to bring peace to their lives. Rather than "just listening", I offer options for changing what is no longer working. I listen without judgement and I guide with state-of-the-art clinical accuracy. I generally offer a menu of ideas rather than absolute answers to help my clients personalize their journey. I teach therapeutic techniques to help my clients master their goals, and I believe, with all the tools and techniques available in the mental health field today, individuals can learn to cope with issues that bring them to therapy and when ready for personal growth, they can envision and create for themselves their best life from where they are at any given moment. I will add here that I enjoy my work as a Counselor now as much as when I first began my career.... mostly because I've come to realize there are real answers for real life problems and it is my distinct pleasure to help my clients find the answers that work for their lives. Personally, I believe in and encourage my clients to adopt "The Power of Positive Thinking,, which helps them to deliberately create their lives according to their life vision. I find a way to apply this principle to almost every life challenge. I am known for helping others recover, re-build, and rejuvenate their lives . Above all, I focus individuals and couples on "unconditional love and acceptance and on positive regard and mutual respect. I am especially recognized for my work in the areas of: LGBTQ+ Issues Depression and Anxiety in relationships Marriage/Relationship Resolution *Family Friendly Parenting Extended Family Issues Bereavement Healing wounds of infidelity Recovery from domestic victimization Life Transitions (physical; emotional; spiritual; career; geographical; etc)LGBTQ+ Issues Depression and Anxiety Marriage/Relationship Resolution *Family Friendly Parenting Extended Family Issues Bereavement Healing Childhood Trauma Recovery from Sexual Victimization Life Transitions I specialize in "The Power of Positive Thinking, and believe in life restructuring through "the art of deliberate creation". I teach my clients how they can apply these principles to almost every life-challenge. I am known for helping others recover, re-build, and rejuvenate their lives. Above all, I focus my clients on "Self-Love and Acceptance". From this vantage point, all of life's best becomes possible. Couples can mend the hurts that stand between them and the happiness they seek. Parents can grow deeper relationships with their children, and individuals can "Deliberately Create" the life they desire. So log-in, settle into your easy chair, and click "Work with Me". I am right here to take that first life-changing step with you. Gail *WHY I SHIFTED FROM TRADITIONAL PRACTICE TO ON-LINE: A few considerations for choosing the Better Help platform for my clients include the amenities of the 24/7 message page allows for on-going therapy between live sessions. The "journal option" makes it possible for my clients to easily do their personal work and then share it with me if they choose, or keep it private otherwise. The menu of session modes meets each client at their comfort level and availability. My clients can select for phone or live chat or video on a session by session basis. There is a library of worksheets and information available to therapists that are beneficial to my clients. Plus, my clients can print or upload their messages and worksheets and maintain their own record of their therapy experience. These are all amenities generally beyond the scope of traditional therapy, and is the reason I selected "Better Help" for my clients. Gail

My name is Walter Barron LCSW, and I have worked with many different client issues, stress management, ptsd, depression, anxiety, grief, major SMI diagnosis and marital/family relationship problems. I have been in the mental health field for 35 years, and my counseling experiences have included inpatient/outpatient, military employment for 11 years, veterans administration outpatient community services, and as a private contractor. My therapeutic approach is best described as client centered therapy with a warm non directive systems approach, having an emphasis on family individual dynamics. In addition I used the cognitive behavioral approach with the underpinning being the models of Dr. Beck, and Dr. Ellis. however; I do not impose any treatment modality on a client until there is a thorough assessment and a client therapist relationship with the client indicating what change they desire. I respect client self determination, and realize that entering into therapy is a big step. I hope you will find therapy rewarding, and I look forward to working with you.

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!

We all face challenges in life. Reaching out for help requires strength and courage, and as a therapist, it is important to me to provide an environment where the client can feel heard, validated and safe. My name is Gabby and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I will provide a supportive and compassionate environment that allows space to explore challenges, intense emotions, and trauma. With over 20 years of clinical experience, I provide support for clients living with depression, anxiety, trauma and substance use. I also address relationship issues, anger management and self-esteem . In additional to providing an environment to process emotions, I feel it is imperative to explore and develop new strategies for managing intense emotions. This allows for forward progress, by learning new skills to manage old behaviors and thought patterns. This encompass not only mental and emotional health ,but also overall wellness, including diet, exercise, sleep and self-care. I believe the client is the expert on their life and therefore my role as the therapist is to empower them to identify, utilize and build on their personal strengths. Through a strengths-based and solutions-focused lens, I collaborate with clients to develop personal treatment plans. Utilizing CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), I teach clients how to recognize the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors . I provide insight and encouragement as the client begins to challenge their thoughts, thus learning how to choose actions instead of continuing the cycle of reacting. Finally, I teach distress tolerance skills using Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), including mindfulness, grounding skills and breathing techniques as a way to manage intense emotions. Taking the step to seek therapy is a sign of strength. My primary goal as the therapist is to promote and encourage change within clients that bring peace and balance back to their lives.

Sometimes life is difficult. Life is especially difficult when we find ourselves dealing with situations, feelings, and moods that we don’t understand and don’t know how to handle, leaving us with profound doubt about ourselves and others. While we all have to deal with these challenges for ourselves, since we are human beings, we don’t have to do that by ourselves. In situations like these, the most responsible thing we do is to ask for help. I’m Michael, and I’m really glad you’ve taken this first step to seek help from a professional. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, with post-graduate training in various approaches to clinical therapy, including various trauma-focused therapies, cognitive and behavioral therapies, to fit a variety of preferences and challenges, figuring out how to move forward into living the life we really want to live. I have experience in helping people with challenges connected to moods, behaviors, relationships, parenting, and many other kinds of challenges that were holding them back from living the life they really want. My work experience includes child-focused family therapy, working with law enforcement, first responders, people adjusting to life after prison, people struggling with relationships, and people needing to process and resolve memories of traumatic experiences that continued to cause great pain and difficulty. My basic approach to therapy is called Reality Therapy, which helps to clarify what we really want and what we’re doing, to figure out whether what we’re doing is helping us get what we really want, and then to make adjustments to our thinking and acting that help get us what we really want. I also have been trained in a number of trauma-focused approaches, and primarily use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for resolving trauma and other persistent cognitive problems, as well as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which helps with developing a balanced way of seeing reality, along with skills to act more effectively in response to the various situations in our lives. I regularly draw from all these approaches to meet the unique needs of each of my clients, and enjoy sharing my clients’ journeys of healing and growth. I welcome the opportunity to work with you, and if this is your first attempt at therapy, I say you’re in for more fun than you could imagine at this point. Let’s get started at building the life you really want!

I am licensed in Missouri with 7 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, & relationship issues. I also have experience working with motivation, self esteem, and confidence. 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 seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

Hello, and welcome to my practice! As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I am committed to providing a safe and supportive space for you to explore your thoughts, feelings and experiences. I believe that everyone has the capacity to heal and grow. I am here to support you on your journey towards greater mental health and wellbeing. I have experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression and relationship issues. My approach is grounded in evidence-based techniques, and I tailor my approach to meet the unique needs of each individual I work with. I understand that seeking help can be a vulnerable and courageous step, and I honor the trust that my clients place in me. I strive to create a warm and collaborative therapeutic relationship, where you can feel heard, seen and validated. Together, we will work towards your goals and help you develop the skills and insights you need to navigate life's challenges. I look forward to partnering with you on this journey towards greater wellbeing.

I am licensed in Missouri with 23 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with coping with addictions, marriage & family challenges, depression, anxiety and personal development . 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. 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.

Hi I am Veronica Besch. I’m licensed in Missouri with 5 years of professional work experience in social services and foster care. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, & coping with grief and loss. 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 am licensed in Missouri and Kansas with 8 years of professional work experience. I have a background in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, & family conflicts. Additionally, I have experience working with adolescents who suffer from chronic pain. I will provide a safe, healing space for you. Therapy is not a one size fits all approach. I hope to work together and determine what could be helpful for you. I believe in the mind-body connection and learning how to listen to our bodies. A regulated nervous system can lead to feeling more calm and content, a quieter mind, and a clearer outlook on life. I am excited to get to know you and find ways to help you move towards healing.