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Individual Therapy in Kansas City, Missouri

Psychotherapy is a unique relationship between client and therapist in which the client is the focus of both parties' full attention. Emotions, thoughts, and behaviors are reviewed in order to understand — and, where useful, to change. Private sessions are usually held weekly at a regular time.

Although perceptions are changing, many people still have the misconception that therapy is only for people who are in crisis. In fact, while psychotherapy is used effectively to treat mental illness, it is more commonly sought by individuals looking for new ways to address everyday life stressors — people who have noticed patterns of thinking, behaving, or relating that are no longer working, and who want to understand and change those patterns.

What Individual Therapy Addresses

Our clinicians work with adults experiencing a wide range of concerns, including:

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Depression and low mood

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Anxiety, worry, and panic

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Trauma and PTSD

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Grief and loss

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Relationship and family difficulties

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Life transitions — career change, divorce, retirement, parenthood, relocation

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Low self-esteem and self-worth

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Identity development and personal growth

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Anger and emotional regulation

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Physical disability and health concerns

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Spirituality and meaning-making

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Men's issues and masculinity

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Women's concerns and development

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Neurodivergence, including ADHD and autism spectrum

Some of the reasons individuals seek psychotherapy are listed below. If you are experiencing distress from any of these, psychotherapy may be helpful for you:

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Current Research Also Shows:

Untreated psychological distress can lead to hypertension, increased risk of heart attack, dementia, and other serious physical health problems. Depression is the second leading cause of disability worldwide. For those who take medication for psychological symptoms, research consistently shows that psychotherapy combined with medication is more effective than medication alone.

Our Approach

Hutchinson & Associates is a group of seasoned and experienced psychologists, counselors, and social workers. We offer a range of evidence-based approaches — cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, person-centered, insight-oriented, mindfulness-based, and more — and we tailor the approach to each individual client.

We will match you with the right clinician based on your specific concerns, background, and scheduling needs. Depending on what you want to address, therapy may be completed in a short or extended time period.

Our Clinicians for Individual Therapy

All clinicians at Hutchinson & Associates provide individual therapy for adults. Specialties include trauma (Kiran Azielle, Dr. Lester Blue, Dr. Denise Gulledge, Laura Dixon, Dr. Lauren Richerson), anxiety (Dr. Arnold Abels, Dr. LaVerne Berkel, Dr. Abigail Geiger, William Gates, Amaya Ballard-Traylor), depression (all clinicians), grief and loss (Lisa Prosser-Dodds), neurodivergence and LGBTQ+ concerns (Laura Dixon), and more.

Evening and weekend appointments are available. Telehealth is available for Missouri and Kansas residents.

  • What happens in the first therapy session?

    The first session is an opportunity to discuss what brought you in, your background and history, and what you hope to achieve. Your therapist will explain how they work and answer your questions. You don't have to have everything figured out before you come.

  • How long will I need to be in therapy?

    It depends on what you're working on. Some concerns can be addressed in 8–16 sessions. Others benefit from longer-term work. Your therapist will discuss an estimated timeline and check in with you about progress regularly.

  • Is therapy confidential?

    Yes. Everything discussed in therapy is strictly confidential, with limited legal exceptions (imminent safety concerns, mandatory reporting of child abuse). We comply fully with HIPAA and both federal and Missouri state guidelines. See our Privacy & Confidentiality page for more information.

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Contact us at (816) 361-0664 or request an appointment online. Evening and weekend appointments available.