I have over 16 years of combined therapy experience at the professional level and believe in the profession that I am licensed in which is social work. I believe in a client-centered perspective and derive my approaches from a variety of treatment modalities. Cognitive behavioral is a significant framework that I utilize but I believe that other approaches are also effective as sessions need to be tailored to the unique needs of the individual or clientele being served. I believe in true empathy, truly trying to understand my clients' perspectives and their insight into their lives. Each person I have done therapy with over the years and will be doing therapy with has inherent worth, dignity and I believe in their abilities to improve in areas of self-direction and self-efficacy. Therapy is all about the client who is reading this right now, the therapist is simply a conduit to improve a person's ability to reorganize their life, to improve their internal locus of control, to help a client engage in goal-oriented behavior and be conscientious of the choices one is making in life on a regular basis. Cognitive behavioral methods consider irrational thought paradigms and help to counteract these cognitions or thoughts with more rational, counterbalancing, self-esteem enhancing thoughts and help a person to see the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behavior.

I’m Brenda Swift. When I’m not working, I like to take my dog for long walks in various parks and binge watch shows. I also look forward to the reading challenges offered through the library, because it forces me to make time to read at least 20 minutes. I have a passion for working with clients having difficulty navigating life’s situations and wanting to hide from society, I help clients who have stress and anxiety, relationship issues, need to cope with grief and loss, & depression. I understand what it’s like to struggle in life, because life has not been easy for me. I’m skilled in creating a trusting environment that allows clients to share openly and freely, that allows them to express their reasons for seeking professional help. I look forward to meeting you, so we can help you find contentment in your life.

I am a licensed LPC in Missouri with 16 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, LGBT-related issues, & relationship issues. 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 a Licensed Professional Counselor licensed in Louisiana, Missouri, and Georgia. I have worked in various areas including substance abuse, co-occurring, and general practice counseling centers for over 10 years now. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, career challenges, OCD and ADHD. I also helped many people who have experienced physical trauma or emotional abuse. My counseling style is warm and interactive. I believe in treating anyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. My approach is cognitive-behavioral therapy. 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!

My belief and approach to therapy begins with the idea that humans are generally self- correcting. This follows the teaching of both Carl Jung and Milton Erickson. We can get stuck for a variety of reasons and if able to get past that point, it can lead to us moving in a healthier direction. I believe that our value systems are extremely important to finding direction and solutions. I have studied comparative religions and cultures to be able to understand and work with a wide variety of people. I have worked in many different settings with a wide range of cultures and values. Currently my greatest strength is in working with individuals and couples. I started my career by creating and running an outpatient clinic as part of a runaway and homeless youth shelter. I did this for my first 18 years. We provided case management, individual and family therapy to youth and their families. We did this both in the shelter and in the community. My personal approach includes brief family therapy, problem solving therapy, structural and strategic systems theory, hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioral, communication theory and addiction therapies. I trained and supervised paid staff and graduate students. I worked in conjunction with a local university to conduct research which enabled us to improve our working therapy model and process. During this time, I completed 29 hours towards a PH. D in family therapy. I was offered a fellowship with Washington University's Ph. D program. I worked part time for New Life Christian Counseling, an outpatient therapy group, providing professional Christian therapy. I then worked 18 years for managed care helping members utilize their mental health benefits, providing phone therapy and crisis intervention. My other experiences were in outpatient office settings.

As a licensed therapist with extensive experience serving individuals across Missouri, I specialize in supporting clients through complex emotional landscapes. My practice focuses on addressing challenges like depression, anxiety, stress, family conflicts, and grief. I offer a compassionate, nuanced approach that helps individuals navigate difficult personal experiences, including issues related to guilt, shame, trauma, and interpersonal dynamics. My therapeutic style is adaptable and respectful, recognizing that each person's journey is unique. Whether working with clients seeking faith-based perspectives or those preferring a more secular approach, I strive to create a supportive environment that honors individual beliefs and experiences. I have deep expertise in helping people work through mood disorders, relationship challenges, and personal growth obstacles. I am committed to providing thoughtful, evidence-based guidance that empowers clients to understand themselves more deeply and develop meaningful strategies for emotional wellness and personal transformation.

I am licensed in Missouri with 5 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, coping with grief and loss, & 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. Right now summer availability is Monday mornings only.

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.

I am a Licensed Psychologist in Missouri with 30 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, motivation, self-esteem and confidence, mood self-regulation challenges, interpersonal communication issues and depression. I work with my clients to create an open and safe counseling 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 fully support and guide you in that process.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience working with individuals of all ages. I am licensed in Illinois, Missouri, Florida, Georgia and Arizona with over fourteen years of experience in helping individuals of all ages with depression, stress, anxiety, anger management, self-esteem, and relationship issues. I use a variety of modalities, for example, client centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy. I practice as a Christian Counselor, however, I work with individuals from all faith backgrounds with a non-judgmental approach. I know that taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage. I am proud of you for taking this step and look forward to walking along side of you on your journey.

I am licensed in Missouri with 11 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. 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 Illinois and Missouri with 35 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with grief and loss, depression, & coping with life changes. 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. I specialize in Christian-based counseling and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. 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 with multiple years of experience working in different fields of social work: from women’s health, to alternative sentencing to hospice. I also have connections to the special needs and lgbtq+ community. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, coping with grief and loss, & intimacy related issues. 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, time, and support to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I look forward to helping you find your path.

I am licensed in Missouri with 15 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, coping with addictions, family conflicts, & depression. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. 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.