Grief counselors and therapists in Columbia, MO

Have you spent years trying to meet someone's expectations, avoiding conflict, or striving for perfection just to feel worthy? Many of us struggle with not-enoughness. Early childhood experiences, family dynamics, high pressure environments, and past relationships can all contribute to the belief that you must earn love, safety, or acceptance. When your nervous system has learned to stay on alert trying to please, perform, or stay in control it makes sense that self-doubt and anxiety would follow. Those patterns you learned can be unlearned and self-acceptance can be cultivated through getting curious about your inner world. My focus is treating anxiety disorders, complex PTSD, and adjustment disorder. If you are searching for a therapist who has a lot of education, training and patience, a half a century of life experiences, is a fan of Grace and Frankie, hikes and loves dogs, then you have found her.

My name is Vanessa Cox. I'm the Founder and CEO of Extensive Prevention Intervention Counseling Services (EPICS) LLC, a professional counseling practice, and the Founder and Board Secretary of EPICS J. R. Foundation. The driving force behind my lifework has been a personal mission to live with integrity and make a difference in the lives of others. With over 30 years of clinical and administrative experience,

I have extensive experience working with people in crisis. I am challenged to get them unstuck and out of the crisis.

I am a Christian counselor. I like to watch the Lord transform lives and bring order to the chaos in our lives. I am a grief specialist. I've been helping people walk through grief for almost 15 years. It's not 'goodbye' forever, it's just 'goodbye' for now. There is peace in knowing Jesus and that faith brings comfort in all types of struggle.

I have 26 years of experience dealing with individuals, couples, families in therapy. We will work together to develop plans that are unique and right for you.

I have been practicing for 17 years, primarily seeing adults and senior citizens. I operate from a person-centered, emotionally-focused basis. You are the expert on your life, and my goal is to help you with that. I utilize experiential and psychodramatic techniques.. These methods allow for role plays and visualizations. Such techniques increase your ability to get more deeply in touch with your issues and see situations clearly. When you reenact what happens at home, in the safety of the therapy office, solutions become clear and your voice becomes strong.

I believe everyone has the capacity to grow, heal, and create meaningful change in their lives. I work with adults navigating alcohol and substance abuse, trauma, depression, stress, and relationship challenges in a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where they feel safe being fully themselves.

Many of the clients I support feel emotionally exhausted, overwhelmed by stress, disconnected in relationships, or stuck in unhealthy coping patterns. My goal is to help clients better understand themselves, strengthen emotional resilience, and move toward healthier, more fulfilling lives.