Grief counselors and therapists in Independence, MO

My clients seek to understand and accept themselves and their life experiences. Together we will explore how your past is impacting your present, so you can ultimately move toward a better future.

I work with individuals, couples and families from an attachment and systems perspective, knowing we experience many wounds through relationships but through the right relationships we can also experience healing.

It is important in my work that I allow the client's cultural context inform my treatment.

Life has a way of bringing us to crossroads. You may be feeling stuck in anxiety, depression, unhealthy relationship patterns, addictions, grief, or simply sensing that the life you're living no longer fits who you're becoming. Perhaps you've spent years taking care of everyone else and now find yourself wondering, "What about me?" I specialize in working with adults navigating life's transitions, especially midlife and beyond. I often describe this season as "middle-escence". Like adolescence, it can bring enormous change-changing relationships, aging parents, launching adult children, career shifts, retirement, health concerns, questions about identity, purpose, and meaning. While these transitions can feel unsettling, they also offer an opportunity for profound growth.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor. I earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 2003 and a master’s degree in counseling in 2005, both from Missouri State University.

For the past 20 years, I have had the opportunity to work with students and parents, in high school, middle school and elementary settings, as an educator and Professional School Counselor. Over the years, I have also worked with many struggling youth during my role as a Missouri Options Liaison, as well as a Community Service Liaison, providing outreach in the community. More recently, I received court mediator training, which provided new insight into conflict resolution procedures. Prior to counseling, I was an elementary teacher, working with students to help them achieve academic goals, while also facilitating emotional growth, and social awareness as well.

For over 20 years I have worked with students of all ages, as well as many parents and families. I specialize in helping one navigate the neurodivergent brain, anxiety and depression in adolescent youth, family counseling, couple’s counseling, emotional and social struggles, as well as adults working through childhood trauma.

With a career spanning nearly two decades in child welfare and clinical social work, Laura provides a specialized safe place for youth (ages 3–26) navigating life’s most difficult experiences. Her practice focuses on building inner coping and resilience by enhancing bodily awareness and active curiosity, ensuring that healing isn’t just a cognitive process, but a physical one.

Specialized Clinical Focus:

Childhood Trauma: Expert in childhood sexual abuse, abuse and neglect, grief, bullying, complex medical diagnosis/complications, and all the BAD, SAD, and SCARY things in-between.

Specialized Sexual Behavior Work: Extensive experience facilitating therapy for children and adolescents with inappropriate and illegal sexual behaviors.

Systemic Support: Navigating foster care, adoption, divorce, family and/or sibling dynamics, behavioral struggles, and school avoidance.

As a licensed therapist serving Missouri, I specialize in supporting individuals who are navigating through complex emotional landscapes. My professional approach centers on understanding the unique challenges of communication, family dynamics, and personal growth. I have worked with clients to address depression, anxiety, trauma, and interpersonal conflicts. I strive to create a compassionate and affirming therapeutic environment.