
Richard Tragasz
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!

Wesley Hirst
As you search for just the ” right” counselor, the task may seem overwhelming. ” Will I like them?” ” Will they like me?” ” Will anyone ever understand?” ” Will they really be able to help me?” The list of concerns may seem exhausting. I have over thirty years of experience but I don’t have all the answers. I have never met YOU. I have never heard YOUR hopes and dreams and life story. What I do know from my training, professional experience, and life experience is that counseling works. There is no magic pill to ” fix ” your issues but with honesty, understanding, empathy, and proven methods, we can work together to make positive changes. Probably the most important element in a client/counselor relationship is trust. I want you to feel secure in the knowledge that you are entering a safe place. You will not be judged. I will treat you with compassion, understanding, and respect. I have been a son, brother, husband, father, employee, employer, and friend. I know how complicated life and relationships can be because I’ve been there. In my spare time, I enjoy camping, backpacking, music, biking, and photography. I have frequent visits from wildlife and I’m a pet lover. I have a Master’s degree in Psychology and have extensive training in trauma. substance abuse disorders, marriage counseling, mindfulness, and adolescent behavior disorders. I look forward to meeting you.

Michele Lewis
I'm Michele and I am excited you are taking steps to feel better about yourself and are interested to learn more about me. I'm a licensed clinical social worker in Missouri and Iowa, and a qualified mental health professional. I am a certified clinical tele-mental health provider and a certified clinical trauma professional and grief professional. I've been a therapist for more than 25 years and I absolutely love what I do. I help young people learn to live authentically in spite of experiencing trauma in their past and help them express their true inner self. I counsel adult children who care for their aging parents to cope with caregiver stress and work through grief and loss as they witness the change in their parent's mobility and cognition. With my years working in geriatrics, I help aging adults process feelings about aging gracefully. My certification and experience working with grief and loss lends my ability to help people of all ages work through the deep impact of sadness, emptiness, and stress from losing a loved one or going through an upsetting life change. My therapy approach is synergistic, warm and accepting. Therapy in my practice is a place of no judgment. It's a place of self-discovery. It's a place of speaking your mind feely, sharing your true thoughts and feelings that maybe you've been hesitant to say aloud before. It's a place of trying new things and thinking about solutions in new ways. In therapy, you get to explore what is holding you back or causing unhappiness at work or in your relationships. As you become more comfortable talking to me and exploring your inner self, you get to build skills and strategies that allow you the freedom to express who you are to those in your life. You discover how to build authentic connections with friends and family. You learn to use strategies to shrink depression and anxiety and become confident in the person you are and who you really want to be. I utilize a variety of techniques, such as, cognitive behavioral therapy, positive psychology theory, stress management with mindfulness, empowerment work, mind / body / spirit connection to increase emotional expression and wellness, mood management, anxiety reduction, and finding your path to work / life balance. I have a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas, in Lawrence, KS with a concentration in mental health. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from William Jewell College in Liberty MO. I am excited to begin our work together!

Randi Brewer
I am licensed in Missouri with 5 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, & depression. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. 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!

Lara Kelso
I am licensed in the states of Missouri, Arizona, and and Oregon with over 7 years of professional work experience as an LPC. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & parenting issues. 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!

Amy Louder
I am licensed in Missouri with 6 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with grief and loss, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. 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.

Dorcas (Didi) Lombardo
Hi! My name is Didi, and I am licensed in Missouri with 9 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, motivation, self esteem and increased confidence, & coping with life changes. 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.

Billy Johnson
I am licensed in Texas and Missouri with 5 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & 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. 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.

Shannon Thomas
Hello and welcome. Thank you for reaching out! My name is Shannon Thomas and I am a compassionate and empathetic Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Missouri. In addition to being an LPC, I have been a school counselor for 17 years and a classroom teacher prior to that. I am very excited to join you on your journey of healing and growth. I have experience in helping clients with anxiety and depression, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, & coping with grief and loss. My approach to counseling is integrative and holistic, drawing from various therapeutic modalities such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based techniques, solution-focused and especially person-centered therapy. 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. I am committed to providing a safe and non-judgmental space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I value authenticity, empathy, and collaboration in the therapeutic process. Together, we will work towards enhancing your self-awareness, building resilience, and fostering a greater sense of well-being. 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. Thank you for considering me as your counselor. I look forward to working with you! * Life and my full time job sometimes limits availability on my schedule. Feel free to ask me about an evening or weekend time that works for you if you are unable to find an appointment time.

Dr. Grace Monterubio
I am a Psychologist licensed in Missouri with experience working with eating disorders, anxiety, depression, OCD, and other life stressors. I also have experience in virtual therapy where I provided support to clients working through guided self-help apps. I try to meet clients where they are to help them reach their goals in a way that works for them. I have been trained with a cognitive-behavioral therapy orientation, but also include value-based and emotion-focused practices when I work with clients. I offer about 5 live sessions a week, usually in the early evenings. I aim to frequently engage with my clients via the messaging platform to keep our therapeutic work going outside the live sessions.
Find a therapist serving clients in Missouri
Types of therapists available to clients in Deepwater
Understanding the type of therapy you'd like to search for is crucial before finding a therapist or psychologist. Be sure to narrow your search for therapists in Deepwater that can offer psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), talk therapy, group therapy, marriage and family therapy for individuals or couples, or couples therapy depending on your needs.
Licensed therapists & mental health professionals available through BetterHelp's online platform
Mental health therapists in Deepwater available through BetterHelp are accredited to help individuals and couples. Deepwater therapists' credentials can include licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), and clinician or doctor of psychology (PsyD). Regardless of their licensure, Deepwater therapists are trained in any type of therapy in the Deepwater region and in the state of Missouri.
How a therapist can help you destress, manage your emotions, and guide you towards the life you want
Therapists in Deepwater can help clients in improving healthy relationships, communication skills, working through life transitions, couples challenges, managing a mood disorder, improving coping skills, self help tips, offer life coaching, family life, or change in negative thinking patterns. A therapist in Deepwater may also provide a safe place and validation for clients experiencing emotional pain, or that simply want a psychological assessment.