Find a Therapist in Independence, MO

Hello there! Thank you for stopping by! My mission as a clinician is to provide trauma-sensitive, compassionate care that allows you to have agency in treatment, as well as in your life. If you are looking to laugh and feel warmth while working toward your goals, we may be a good fit. I look forward to working with you and supporting you through grief, anxiety, depression, stress, and relational trauma. You deserve a life that feels safe, peaceful, and empowering. You do not have to do this alone! My goal is to support you in creating a life that feels sustainable, meaningful, and authentically yours. I use an integrative, collaborative approach to help you identify generational trauma, develop healthy tools, and feel empowered to break the cycle. I operate from a place of sincerity and accountability. I believe a therapist’s role is to remain nonjudgmental while providing honest feedback and guidance. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and I may be the right therapist for you if you are looking to identify and process trauma, build self-esteem, create and maintain healthy interpersonal relationships, establish safe and functional boundaries, manage stress and anxiety caused by major life changes, or simply have an unbiased person to talk to in a safe space.

If you are looking for a down-to-earth counselor to help you reach your goals, then that's me! I work with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, or family issues. Clients frequently come in with concerns that are often related to trauma or relationships. I use a mix of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), trauma-informed therapy, and coping skills to decrease distress and help people find happiness. I want to help you succeed by offering support and compassion as you find your way. If you are ready for a positive change, I am ready to help!

My own experiences have taught me that no amount of preparation can spare me from the realities of being human. If you're ready for a change, I will collaborate with you to set goals and identify practical next steps to help you reach them. My focus is on treating anxiety disorders, abuse and trauma, and working with people who identify as empaths or highly sensitive. My role is flexible depending on your needs. I enjoy helping clients improve coping skills, develop boundaries, increase self-esteem, and process trauma and abuse. You can expect me to fully listen and build a genuine relationship with you. In therapy, I want to remove the pressure to feel like you have to be anybody other than yourself. Feeling the energy in the room when a client discovers the strength, courage, and power that they have had within them the whole time is why I love my job. I’m excited to share those moments with you. I am currently accepting new clients. If you are ready to feel your best, reach out via phone or email and I can explain the process or any answer any questions you have.

There is a place of peace within you, the beginning of a new and richer life. If you are ready for change, and ready to find your way once more, let my thirty years of meditation and fourteen years of experience counseling others help guide you to your path. I am a validating and dynamic counselor, ready to meet you on your journey. Together, we can enter a meditative space for healing, for discovering answers and knowledge to help you on your path, to bring you back to yourself again. I specialize in helping women on their journeys, and anyone else open to the feminine ways of life. I am convinced the world needs these ways again in order for us to be more human and loving, and whole. Answers may come from honoring the feminine within to experience a joy and a freedom in living life. I am drawn to the spiritual path in life, having walked deeply in Christian, Buddhist, and Hindu traditions. There is a peace to be found, which leads to an understanding of love. If you are seeking answers on your journey, needing to find your way again, please feel welcome in reaching out for my guidance. I am available Tuesdays through Fridays during the week. Please feel free to visit my website to find out more about myself and what I offer: www.marknewlon.com

I became a therapist because I experienced firsthand how powerful therapy can be. My own journey in counseling changed the course of my life, and I saw how understanding and working with my emotions—rather than against them—opened doors I didn’t know existed. That experience stayed with me, and I realized I wanted to help others discover that same possibility for themselves. I enjoy using Emotion-Focused Therapy, helping teens and adults learn to understand, process, and regulate their emotions effectively. While EFT is my foundation, I draw from multiple evidence-based approaches—including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Dialectic Behavioral Therapy- and tailor treatments for each client.

I help individuals, families, and couples who struggle with relationships and life transitions, as well as depression, anger, fear, and anxiety. I use a goal-oriented style, offering a comfortable, safe and compassionate setting where my clients can learn to manage life's challenges.

I'm a Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist (LCP), an ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP), and hold a graduate certificate as a youth development specialist. I utilizes a strengths-based approach incorporating principles from solution-focused therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and positive psychotherapy. I have training and experience working in community mental health centers, juvenile corrections, as well as inpatient psychiatric facilities, and have been working in the private practice setting for the past 7 years. I enjoy working with adolescents, adults, and families, and primarily work with issues related to depression, anxiety, oppositional behavior, ADHD, self-esteem, and career planning. I aim to meet all of my clients where they are on their path to mental health and well-being, and to encourage and empower them to achieve their goals and personal potential. I also offer coaching for parents of children with ADHD around executive functioning, along with career coaching for youth and adults. If you want more solution-focused approach, and are motivated and ready to make change, consider personal coaching as an option.

I strive to provide my clients with an accepting, judgment-free space to explore their feelings, as well as gain the tools to break away from the repetitive thoughts and expectations that are suffocating them. My clients describe themselves as perfectionists and people pleasers who want to learn how to create balance and consider their own needs.

I believe people are capable of incredible growth and lasting change when they feel understood, supported, and equipped with the right tools. Whether I am working with a child, teen, or parent, my goal is to help each person better understand themselves, build on their strengths, and develop practical skills that create meaningful change in everyday life. No two clients are the same, which is why I don't believe in one-size-fits-all therapy. Every treatment plan is thoughtfully tailored to the individual, their family, and the goals that matter most to them. When working with children, I believe play is their natural language. Young children often communicate thoughts and feelings through play long before they can put them into words. Through play therapy, I am able to meet children where they are, helping them process emotions, build resilience, and learn new ways to navigate life's challenges in a way that feels safe and engaging. I also believe that parents are one of the greatest agents of change in a child's life. Therapy is most successful when families feel confident carrying the work beyond the therapy office. I spend time helping parents understand why their child behaves the way they do and providing practical strategies they can use at home to strengthen connection, improve communication, and support lasting growth. Over the past 15+ years, I have had the privilege of helping hundreds of children, adolescents, and families facing challenges such as anxiety, ADHD, OCD, trauma, emotional regulation, behavioral concerns, school struggles, and family conflict. My approach combines evidence-based therapy with compassion, creativity, education, and a genuine belief in each person's ability to grow. My passion for educating families extends beyond my therapy office. I am also the host of the Accidental Experts podcast, where I interview leading experts in child development, parenting, and mental health. The podcast was created with one goal in mind: bringing the wisdom of the therapy room to families everywhere so parents have the knowledge and confidence to raise healthy, resilient children. Above all, I want every client and family who walks through my door to feel heard, respected, and hopeful. Together, we'll create a plan that not only addresses today's challenges but also builds the skills and confidence needed for a healthier future.

My ideal client is anyone who feels that they are under-resourced and who have difficulty with stress, anxiety or depression due to traumas in their lives. I am ex-military (Army) and have personal experience with PTSD. I am also familiar with the patterns of risky behavior that often attend people with trauma, such as drinking or drugging and other risky behaviors such as gambling, sex addiction, etc. Many of my clients have been misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder because they feel so anxious that they feel hopeless and they crash into a depression. I take my job very seriously and if I can't help you, I'll find someone who can. I have been where my clients are. I was diagnosed with PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Panic. Thanks to Somatic Experiencing (SE), I would no longer qualify for these diagnoses. I practice the kind of therapy that helped me through it. Are you hurting, worried, mind buzzing with thoughts, feeling alone and tired of all the stress? Feel you can barely keep your head above water? I've been there. One thing I've learned is that what worked for me can work for you. Let me help. Together, we can get you through this.

I am a sex-positive couples therapist. I practice Gottman Method Couples Therapy, which integrates empirical evidence on what makes love last. Based on 40 years of relationship research, the Gottman approach takes the guess-work out of how we can cultivate strong & lasting relationships. When working to increase sexual & emotional intimacy, I practice Imago Relationship Therapy. I use Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT or “Tapping”) to help clients reduce stress, panic and anxiety. Tapping is a confluence of mindfulness, self-compassion, exposure therapy, and accessing the body’s ability to down-regulate our stress response through acupuncture points. Tapping is also highly effective in healing traumatic experiences and desensitizing both context specific & interpersonal triggers. You can learn more about Tapping in this Ted Talk & Research Article. Folks are getting hurt by the misuse of faith-based power. Adverse Religious Experiences can have long-term impacts on our psyche, emotions and self-worth. I understand the impact religious trauma can have on our day-to-day lives. I can appreciate the importance of finding a safe place to process these wounds and discover internal resources necessary to heal.