gokc Healing Center

A Kansas City Mental Health Counseling and Nature Therapy Practice

Life can get better. We will help you believe it can.

Life can get better. We will help you believe it can.

At gokc, our Therapists encourage & challenge you to thrive!

We’re a creative, fun & thoughtful group here to help you!

Are you ready to get your spark back?

Call or Text us at (816) 237-8330

Featured
Therapy for Highly Sensitive People: Finding Strength in Sensitivity
Therapy for Highly Sensitive People: Finding Strength in Sensitivity

You walk into a room and immediately notice the flickering light overhead, the subtle shift in someone’s tone, and the fact that the person next to you seems... off. You're not imagining things. You're just highly sensitive—and no, that's not a bad thing.

If you're someone who feels everything deeply, gets overwhelmed easily, and has been told more than once to “toughen up,” this post is for you. Being a highly sensitive person (HSP) is a temperament trait, not a flaw. And good news? Therapy can help you thrive with your sensitivity, not in spite of it.

Let’s dive into how therapy—especially Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)—can help HSPs like you or your clients harness sensitivity as a strength rather than a struggle.

How EMDR Therapy Works (And Why It Might Be Exactly What You Need in Kansas City)
How EMDR Therapy Works (And Why It Might Be Exactly What You Need in Kansas City)

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a loop of negative thoughts or traumatic memories you can’t seem to shake, first of all—welcome, you’re in good company. Second of all, let’s talk about a therapy that’s been changing lives (without needing to talk everything to death): EMDR.

Whether you're based in downtown Kansas City, Overland Park, Lee’s Summit, or just passing through Westport looking for a killer cup of coffee and a good therapist, this post is your deep-dive into the how, what, and why of EMDR therapy.

Healing Trauma with EMDR: Your Path to Recovery
Healing Trauma with EMDR: Your Path to Recovery

Trauma has a way of lingering, shaping our thoughts, emotions, and even our daily lives. Whether from a car accident on I-70, childhood experiences in Overland Park, or past traumas from military service, traumatic memories can hold us captive. Fortunately, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy offers an effective treatment for trauma recovery. EMDR therapy, endorsed by the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association, is a proven method to help individuals in Kansas City and beyond heal from traumatic experiences.

Welcome Rachel Jaggard, MA, LPC - newest Therapist at gokc
Welcome Rachel Jaggard, MA, LPC - newest Therapist at gokc

It’s my pleasure to welcome Rachel to gokc. Rachel and I (Aaron) go back a decade working together in the KC helping community. She is a terrific & compassionate therapist who is easy to know, like and work with. Her clients consistently love working with her and are grateful to have Rachel in their lives. Thank you for joining our team & offering your supportive space to our KC neighbors.

 

our values 

 

Get to Nature

Nature therapy is really simple: outdoor activities with a little guidance & structure from a health professional or nature guide. Farming, gardening, landscaping, nature walks, shinrin-yoku (or forest bathing for those of us with minimal Japanese language skills) & so much more! Do you garden? That’s Nature Therapy! Do you hike? Backpack? Stroll around the block? All these things can be forms of Nature Therapy if practicing these helpful skills. Sometimes we need to get out of our little boxes and adventure outdoors.

Intentional Movement

Purposeful exercise is a wonderful healer & can be implemented at many levels for most. Some of us are managing chronic pain or fatigue, chromosomal dysfunction, injury recovery or hormonal changes that limit our ability to exercise in all ways. Thankfully, we believe there are purposeful movements we can all practice to increase our moods & decrease anxiety…all while maintaining safety for our bodies.

Connection

In December of 2015, I began writing year-end tangible goals with clear, reachable objectives. A re-occurring theme in that process was my strong need for connection. With myself. With nature. With others. And then it hit me like a brick: backpacking! Outside: check. No screens: check. Meaningful quality time with close friends: check. Then the planning & gear acquisition phase took off. And before you know it, I was taking off into the Ozark woods on a weekend adventure to rejuvenate & re-connect.