gokc Healing Center
A Kansas City Mental Health Counseling and Nature Therapy Practice
Starting therapy can be tough - for everyone. You can text, email, call or schedule your first visit. Totally up to you.
We can’t wait to meet you!
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 therapy team here to help you.
Are you ready to get your spark back?
Call or Text us at (816) 237-8330
We’re making a difference
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.
As the winter months settle in across Lee’s Summit and Kansas City, many parents notice a shift in their teen’s mood. The once-chatty kid becomes quieter. Motivation drops. Irritability rises. Homework feels harder. Getting out of bed feels like a full-contact sport.
So the question creeps in: Is this just the winter blues… or is something deeper going on?
The short answer (and the good news): winter mood changes are common, understandable, and treatable. The longer answer is more nuanced. For some young people, seasonal changes affect brain chemistry, sleep, and energy. For others, winter can amplify existing mental health conditions, unresolved traumatic experiences, or emotional dysregulation tied to past traumatic events.
This guide is here to help parents understand the difference between typical winter mood changes, seasonal depression, and trauma-related responses—and when it might be a good idea to seek professional help.