The people I love to work with are often anxious overachievers striving for perfection, people who feel like they have to “do it all” but are experiencing burnout from helping others. These people struggle with creating deep relationships because they constantly seek approval from others.
Because these clients are good at fixing other people’s problems, it is difficult for them to recognize their own needs, values, or desires. Instead of finding a quick fix in therapy, we dig deep to uncover the root source of their symptoms, acknowledge the stories that formed this root, and cultivate change for their present and future self.
While anxiety, burnout, and people-pleasing are distinct issues, it’s common for clients to experience more than one. I’ve found that these clients are often very self-aware and empathetic towards others. Their relational strengths are admirable, but it’s crucial that they learn to extend the same care and compassion to themselves. Regardless of their specific situation, the clients I work with are ready to roll up their sleeves and work. They’re tired of the status quo and they’re eager to see real shifts in their lives. They may not have a clear picture of what those shifts should look like just yet, but they’re certain that change is necessary.
At the core, my approach is relational, and to me, therapy is collaborative rather than prescriptive. I have a holistic, strengths-based approach. I don’t like to pathologize. I believe that anxiety and depression are nervous system responses indicating a lack of safety or control. Whether behaviors are adaptive or maladaptive, I believe in looking at our emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through curiosity and compassion. This can help us find patterns, identify limiting beliefs, and pave a path toward understanding and healing. I know firsthand that therapy works, and I am genuinely invested in every client I work with. At the end of the day, you are just wanting a therapist who gets it, and I get that. In sessions, I incorporate Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Mindfulness as a roadmap to creating lasting change for my clients.
I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychological Science and Nonprofit Leadership Studies from William Jewell College, and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling from MidAmerica Nazarene University. MidAmerica Nazarene University’s counseling program is CACREP-accredited, meaning it has achieved the highest standard in the field of counselor education.
License:
I am a provisionally licensed professional counselor in the state of Missouri, which requires me to work under the supervision of a qualified clinically licensed mental health professional. I am currently practicing under the supervision of I am currently under the supervision of Josh Cress, LPC 2014041735 (MO).
Fees:
My rates are $100 for individual sessions and $120 for couples sessions.