Therapists in Emerald Beach, MO

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor based in Missouri. For over ten years, I have been offering counseling and life coaching services to individuals, couples, and families. Some of my specializations include working with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, relationship difficulties, emotional trauma, work-related problems, arousal dysregulation, OCD issues, self-sabotaging thought processes, clinical mental health issues, career struggles, and many other significant life challenges. As a mental health specialist and performance consultant, I also enjoy the challenge of working with athletes, businessmen/women, musicians, teachers, artists, and members of the military forces. My professional orientation centers on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and solution-focused counseling. I believe that therapy is much like a beautiful choreographed dance step. Client and counselor work together to achieve success through a reciprocal relationship built upon respect, trust, and positivity. Entering into the counseling relationship takes extraordinary courage and strength of character. I pride my practice on being welcoming, positive, genuine, and client-centered. This responsibility to help my clients is a sacred trust not taken lightly. Counseling sessions are generally a combination of talk therapy, discussion, problem-solving exercises, and experiential activities designed specifically to help each client overcome their unique challenges. Some of the tools used in the counseling process include mindfulness training, cognitive reframing, goal setting, positive self-talk, communication skill building, introspection, motivational interviewing, and traditional narrative discourse. In addition to the more traditional approaches, I carry specializations and certifications in performance psychology, clinical hypnotherapy, wellness coaching, and career counseling. I have spent many years living in Europe, Asia, and North America. As such, I enjoy the opportunity to work with clients from very diverse backgrounds. I truly look forward to working beside you through the counseling relationship. I truly count it as an honor and a privilege to share your life experience.

Hello! My name is Shantelle and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Missouri and Kansas. I have been working in the mental health profession for over 15 years. I enjoy working with people and enjoy seeing others smile while trying to figure out this thing called life. I believe change only comes when we learn how to be comfortable being uncomfortable. As the saying goes, change does not come from old comfort zones. I believe therapy allows you to share your deepest, darkest secrets, allows you to be vulnerable and provides a judgement free space. I wholeheartedly believe in meeting people where they are and supporting them along their life journey. Allow me to help you put your pieces back together, one by one. Together we can work to restore peace, restore hope, restore joy and restore YOU!

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Missouri with a Masters degree in Community Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy. I have over 10 years of experience working as a Licensed Professional Counselor with individuals, couples, families, adolescents and children. I have worked with clients with Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia and other severe mental disorders and personality disorders. I also have experience working with children with ADHD and learning disabilities with a special interest and training in Dyslexia. I'm skilled in working with clients with relationships issues and family conflict, along with depression, anxiety and OCD. I have helped many people who have experienced physical trauma or emotional abuse. My counseling style is warm and interactive and when providing marital therapy, I don't ever take sides. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and I don't believe in stigmatizing labels. My approach is solution-focused, client centered (humanistic), psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral. 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! Kerrie Blair, MS, LPC

I am licensed in the state of Missouri and Tennessee with 11 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with depression, anxiety, & addictions. 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!

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.

I am Dr. Jerome Anderson, an advanced-practice clinical professional offering a wide range of clinical services. I am licensed as a clinical social worker (LCSW), nationally board certified as an advanced practice clinical social worker (BCD), certified as a clinical forensic social worker/psychotherapist (CCFC), and certified as a correctional health care professional (CCHP). As such, I provide services focused on severe and persistent mental health concerns as well as mild mental health conditions, such as professional counseling, psychotherapy, and consulting services for clinical assistance in mental health symptom management, behavioral redirection, life-style adjustment, and crisis abatement. All therapeutic approaches are scientific & evidence based. The treatment modalities utilized but not limited to are cognitive-behavioral principles and strengths-based theory. I am licensed to provide these services in the states of Missouri and Illinois. Most recently, I worked as a clinical psychotherapist, Behavioral Health Consultant, and Flight Commander of Behavioral Health Services for the United States Department of the Air Force. I also have a history of working as a criminal justice clinician and director of the mental health departments within large metropolitan jails and correctional facilities. I have also worked in maximum-security prisons as a forensic clinician. In all capacities, I have experience evaluating, diagnosing, and developing appropriate treatment goals. I also have experiences working with the judicial systems where I have developed and implemented recommendations based on patient competency levels as well as led the therapeutic treatment process. Along with this experience, I have worked as a full-time law enforcement officer. Lastly, I am an Active Duty Commissioned Officer (Lieutenant Commander) in the United States Public Health Services Commissioned Corp (USPHS-CC) where I operate as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) and Coordinator for Employee Relations/Officer Advocacy for USPHS. I look forward to working with you!!

I am licensed in Missouri with 23 years of professional work experience. I have training and experience in both DBT and CBT. I also very experienced in working with the Sanctuary Model which focuses on trauma work. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety. I help young people develop effective coping strategies to manage the demands and stress of their current situation. I have worked in a school setting for the 20 years and can assist in various school related challenges. I have also worked with young people struggling with substance abuse issues. 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!

Dr. April Abrego, PsyD., LPC, is an experienced psychotherapist with advanced training in strengths-based and goal-focused therapies. She has her masters degree in Mental Health Counseling from Texas A & M University and a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from Our Lady of the Lake University. She has specialized experience in several areas including Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Employment Issues and in working with individuals who have experienced trauma such as sexual abuse, neglect, and physical abuse. She also has expertise in helping individuals with disabilities who may be struggling with adjusting to life with a disability, or a loved one's disability. Dr. Abrego primarily uses Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Focused Therapy. She loves to work with couples and parents resolving family and relationship issues that may bring them into therapy. She is also passionate about providing psychoeducation or coaching couples, parents, and individuals about the issues they may be having and how these issues are related to development, biological or social causes. Furthermore, Dr. Abrego is an affirmative therapist that enjoys working with the LGBT community and strives to hold a safe, affirmative and accepting space for all who come seeking services.

I am Michelle Pendzimas and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Missouri with over 20 years of professional work experience. I can help clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, parenting issues, & coping with life changes. I know that change is hard and it takes courage to admit that what you are doing now is not working. My philosophy is that healing happens through relationships and resilience, because we can’t always change our environment. Sometimes we can only change from within. Thank you for taking this first step and I am here to support you through this process.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology. I value therapy as being a collaborative process and strive to create a warm, welcoming and non-judgmental environment for my clients. I use a holistic approach and aim to be culturally sensitive, catering to each individuals’ unique worldview. Through therapy, my goal is to help clients feel empowered and validated so they can increase self-efficacy, decrease problematic symptoms, gain insight and self-awareness and learn how to heal in order to have a more positive life experience. I use a strengths- based, person centered approach. I am interested in helping people who struggle with anxiety, grief, depression, self-esteem issues, emotional disturbances (including anger management concerns), and/or are trying to cope with situational life stressors. I use a blend of compassion-focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy as well as a solution focused model where appropriate. I also have years of experience working with adults with severe and persistent mental health disorders.