Aaron Shore, LPC, LCPC
Nature-Based Therapist & Trauma Specialist in Kansas City, MO · 20 Years of Experience
You've been thinking about calling.
You just haven't made the call yet.
Maybe you've been carrying something for a while — grief, anxiety, a transition that's harder than you expected, or a general sense that life isn't quite fitting the way it used to. Maybe you've tried therapy before and it didn't quite land. Maybe you're not even sure what you need — just that something has to change.
That hesitation makes sense. Starting is the hardest part. And you don't have to have it figured out before we talk.
What you should know is this: healing rarely looks the way people expect it to — and that's okay. There's no formula here, no checklist to complete. The work is finding what actually fits for you.
We are not meant to live in our struggles. We are more than them.
Aaron Shore is the founder and owner of gokc Healing Center — a Kansas City therapist with 20 years of clinical experience supporting adults through trauma, grief, life transitions, anxiety, depression, and the complicated work of figuring out who you are. He is also one of the only therapists in Kansas City offering nature-based therapy — including walk-and-talk sessions and outdoor therapeutic work.
Who Aaron Works With
You might be a good fit if any of these feel familiar:
- You're going through a major life transition — a new relationship, a breakup, becoming a parent, an empty nest, or a quarter-life moment where the path ahead feels unclear
- You're carrying grief — sometimes we move through loss without ever pausing to honor it. We can do that here, at whatever pace feels right
- You're a young adult figuring out who you are — the post-college, early-career years can feel disorienting in ways nobody warned you about
- You're dealing with anxiety, depression, or trauma — some of Aaron's deepest areas of experience. You don't have to be in crisis to deserve support
- You're a man or father navigating depression, identity, or the weight of what it means to show up for yourself and the people you love
- You've tried talk therapy before and it didn't stick — a different setting or approach can make all the difference. Nature-based therapy is one of those options
- You want a therapist who is queer-affirming and understands LGBTQ+ experiences with genuine depth
- You feel more like yourself outside — and want therapy that meets you there
Aaron works with adults throughout the Kansas City metro — including clients in Brookside, Waldo, Midtown, Westport, Overland Park, Leawood, Lee's Summit, and surrounding areas — as well as via telehealth across Missouri and Kansas.
Related services at gokcNature-Based Therapy in Kansas City
This is something Aaron feels strongly about — both as a therapist and as a person.
There's real evidence that time in nature supports mental health. Being outside lowers cortisol, quiets the nervous system, and can make it easier to talk about hard things. For many people, sitting across from a therapist in an office is the hardest possible version of therapy. Walking side by side on a trail can change everything.
What Nature-Based Therapy Can Look Like
Aaron offers walk-and-talk sessions, grounding practices outdoors, and even gardening together as a way into the therapeutic work. If you're someone who feels more like yourself outside — this is for you.
Aaron's vision is to expand gokc's green space so more clients can experience the healing power of nature firsthand. This is an active, ongoing part of the practice's future — stay tuned.
Nature-based therapy is available for individual sessions in the Kansas City area. Reach out to learn more about how outdoor sessions work and whether it might be a good fit for you.
Clinical Specialties & Approach
Aaron brings an eclectic approach built on 20 years of clinical experience. That means he doesn't have one method he applies to everyone — he pays attention to who you are and how you think, and you build something together that actually fits.
EMDR Therapy for Trauma & PTSD
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is one of the most well-researched, highly effective approaches for trauma and PTSD. It helps the brain process stuck memories and experiences so they lose their emotional charge — allowing you to move forward rather than reliving the past. Aaron is an experienced EMDR clinician with deep expertise in trauma recovery. Learn more about EMDR therapy at gokc →
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
CPT is an evidence-based approach that helps you identify and reframe the thought patterns that keep painful experiences alive long after the events themselves have passed. It's particularly effective for trauma, PTSD, and the kind of stuck thinking that makes it hard to move on. Aaron uses CPT as part of a broader, personalized treatment approach.
Grief & Loss Therapy
Grief doesn't follow a timeline — and it doesn't always look the way people expect. Aaron has deep experience supporting clients through grief and loss of all kinds: the loss of a person, a relationship, an identity, a version of the future you'd planned. Sessions offer a space to honor what you've lost and build stability through recovery at whatever pace feels right. Learn more about grief counseling at gokc →
Men's Issues, Depression & Fatherhood
Men are often the last to seek help — and the first to suffer in silence. Aaron has specific expertise in men's mental health, including depression, identity, relationship challenges, and the particular weight of fatherhood and what it means to show up well for your family while still taking care of yourself. This is a non-judgmental, practical space built for men who are ready to do something different.
20 Years of Experience. One Focus: What Works for You.
Aaron's approach is eclectic, warm, and grounded in genuine clinical depth. He uses humor, practical skill-building, and gently challenges the beliefs that are keeping you stuck. He believes in leaning into your strengths and cultivating a "good enough" mindset in the areas that feel hardest — because perfection isn't the goal. Progress is.
He draws on EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), trauma and grief recovery frameworks, and 20 years of paying close attention to what actually helps people heal. Sessions are collaborative and real — built around you, not a protocol.
"We are not meant to live in our struggles. We are more than them. Whatever brings you here — you don't have to have it figured out before we talk."
— Aaron
Not sure if Aaron is the right fit? Try the gokc Therapist Match Maker — it takes two minutes and connects you with the right person on our team.
Founder, Therapist & Kansas City Native
Aaron Shore is the founder and owner of gokc Healing Center — a Kansas City-based mental health practice built around the belief that therapy should be accessible, real, and genuinely helpful. He has been a therapist in Kansas City for 20 years, and brings that depth of experience to every client he works with.
Aaron's vision for gokc goes beyond the therapy room. He is actively working to purchase green space to share with clients — expanding the practice's capacity to offer nature-based healing as a core part of what gokc does. It's a vision rooted in his belief that we heal better when we're connected to the living world around us.
Outside the office, Aaron is a nature person through and through — someone who genuinely believes in the outdoors as a place of restoration, not just recreation. He is deeply grateful to be part of Kansas City's community of helpers, and takes that responsibility seriously.
Aaron is a proud member of the Queer Affirming Therapist Guild of Kansas City and listed on TherapyDen.
Insurance & Payment Options
Aaron accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield for individual therapy, and private pay for clients who prefer flexibility or don't carry BCBS coverage.
Using Insurance
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) accepted for individual therapy.
Not sure if your plan qualifies? Reach out and we'll help you verify before your first appointment.
Private Pay
Available for individuals without BCBS coverage.
Private pay offers flexibility in session frequency and approach. Contact Aaron to discuss current rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is nature-based therapy and how does it work?
Nature-based therapy uses the natural environment as part of the therapeutic process. With Aaron, this can mean walk-and-talk sessions on a trail, grounding practices outdoors, or even gardening as a way into the work. Research shows that time in nature lowers cortisol, calms the nervous system, and can make it easier to open up. For many people, being outside feels less clinical and more human — and that changes everything. Learn more about nature-based therapy at gokc →
What is EMDR and is it right for me?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a highly researched, evidence-based therapy for trauma and PTSD. It helps the brain process difficult memories so they lose their emotional charge — allowing you to move forward rather than reliving the past. Aaron is an experienced EMDR clinician. If you're not sure whether it's a good fit, that's a great question for a free consultation. Learn more about EMDR at gokc →
Do you specialize in men's mental health?
Yes. Aaron has specific expertise in men's issues — including depression, identity, fatherhood, and the particular challenges men face in seeking and staying in therapy. His approach is practical, non-judgmental, and built for people who aren't sure therapy is "for them." It is. And it works.
I've tried therapy before and it didn't help. Why would this be different?
That's one of the most common things Aaron hears — and one of the most important. Therapy not working often has less to do with you and more to do with fit: the wrong approach, the wrong setting, or the wrong match. Aaron's eclectic approach, 20 years of experience, and nature-based options mean there's more room to find what actually works for your specific mind and life. A free consultation is a no-pressure way to explore that.
Are you a queer-affirming therapist?
Yes. Aaron is a proud member of the Queer Affirming Therapist Guild of Kansas City and is committed to providing genuinely affirming care for LGBTQ+ clients. This isn't a checkbox — it's a core part of who he is and how he practices.
Do you offer telehealth therapy in Missouri and Kansas?
Yes. Aaron offers online therapy sessions for clients throughout Missouri and Kansas, in addition to in-person and outdoor sessions in the Kansas City area.
How do I know if Aaron is the right therapist for me?
The best first step is a free 15-minute consultation — a low-pressure conversation to see if it feels like a good fit. You can also try the gokc Therapist Match Maker to explore the full team. Reaching out is often the hardest part — and you've already done that by being here.
Ready to Take the First Step?
Reaching out is often the hardest part — and you've already done that by being here. No pressure, no commitment, and no wrong way to start.
Schedule a Free 15-Minute Consultation →Meet the full gokc therapy team — or use our Therapist Match Maker to find the right fit.
Hi, I’m Aaron Shore, Therapist and Owner of gokc. My vision is to help people heal by building intentional connection with nature. Our plan is to purchase green space for our office to share with you all. Keep an eye out for future plans!
Aaron is a proud member of the Queer Affirming Therapist Guild of Kansas City
