Therapists in Manhattan, KS

Hi there! I believe establishing a strong therapeutic relationship based on trust and mutual respect is essential for fostering growth and healing. Above all, my goal is to provide a safe and nurturing space to help empower you, offer a listening ear, and help you discover your inner strength and resilience. Each client should feel heard, valued, helped, and understood. I specialize in a variety of areas including, trauma, relationship issues, family conflict, bullying, social skills, anxiety, OCD tendencies, grief, stress, self esteem, and loss.

I'm a mental health therapist who assists people to feel better and function more effectively in their lives. My skills cultivate the intrinsic, lasting mental health that is in each person. I also help people resolve psychological trauma so that it no longer negatively affects their life. I lean toward methods like mindfullness based stress reduction and acceptance and commitment therapy to cultivate innate mental health in each client. I also use Somatic Experiencing and EMDR to resolve trauma. I expect you will find our relationship together to have unconditional positive regard, openness, curiosity, wisdom and compassion.

I work with clients who are struggling with anxiety, depression, personality and mood disorders, marital difficulties, and grief and loss issues. I am invested in working with clients interested in learning skills to manage issues presented and invested in cultivating change in behaviors.

I most often work with clients who experience impacts from grief, trauma, anxiety, and depression.

We all know how it goes, life is nothing short of a rollercoaster with twists and turns that are very sudden. Sometimes you feel there is no end to the unfortunate surprises. But I am here to tell you there is more to life and there are many ways to turn those unforeseen surprises into something optimistic. Reasonably, it can feel very overwhelming and vulnerable to share your story with someone new but with a collaborative effort, we can focus on your strength and resilience to life circumstances. My intention is to meet individuals where they are in life and offer a safe space to grow.

I have 8 years of experience in providing mental health and substance use therapy to diverse populations of all ages, including military Veterans, immigrants, students, LGBTQ+, parents, and working professionals. It is my passion to assist clients in recognizing and building their strengths, then identifying and meeting their goals in manageable ways.

I utilize an integrative approach to therapy. My primary treatment approach is client centered therapy which allow me to follow my clients lead in session. This approach also assists clients with self-actualization and growth. One of the most important primary needs of individuals is to have secure emotional attachments. Therefore, I utilize a systems approach and attachment processes in my work with couples and families. I have a special interest in working with veterans and active duty military couples and families.

I see you trying your best today. Maybe you feel alone in your journey and need a listening ear. I can be that person for you. Is comparing yourself to others making it difficult to recognize your strengths? I see you! Did you sleep well last night? Are you worried about tomorrow? I see you! Do you dwell on the past? Are you missing someone? I see you! Are you holding back tears? Do you wish life was not such a struggle? I see you! Do you cope with life in unhealthy ways you wish you didn't? Are you avoiding something? I see you! Are you feeling lonely? Do you need support? I see you! I want to help you.

You may feel as if you are at a crossroads, feeling stuck or seeking more fulfillment in your life. On difficult days, it may seem as if the smallest tasks are nearly impossible or that you are just going through the motions, unsure of where you are headed and if it is even worth it.

Clients can expect a genuine therapeutic space for encouragement, healing, and clarity when coming to see me at Curtis-Baker Therapeutic Services, LLC. I am empathic yet direct, and offer a range of treatment modalities depending on the client's goals and needs. I have extensive experience working with clients in the LGBTQIA+ community including writing letters for HRT and gender confirmation surgeries, foster care and adoption cases, agency and court involvement, military service members, self-harm and suicidality, teenage behavioral issues, depression and anxiety, and domestic violence.

Do you often feel overwhelmed, confused, or frustrated with your life? Do you feel you have little support? Perhaps you feel on edge and don’t know how to relax? Do you feel there isn’t enough time in the day? Or your world runs on chronic stress? Maybe you’ve noticed these feelings and have even tried ways to challenge them. Jumped into yoga, didn’t work. Read a self-help book, didn’t work. Sought advice from friends. They didn’t understand. Googled your symptoms. Yeah, that was a bad idea. If you find yourself saying yes, then you're looking at the right profile. Let me be your guide to balance and mental wellness.

My speciality is helping adults move past painful experiences, and helping couples who want to improve their communication.

I firmly believe in the philosophy that "it is okay to be human." All of us struggle to navigate the balance between emotional well-being and the demands of daily life. We all grapple with establishing healthy boundaries and find ourselves stretched thin by the responsibilities we shoulder. This can lead to stress, both at work and in our personal lives, as we strive to meet societal expectations and our own aspirations. My goal is to guide you in navigating life's complexities with confidence.

Not all clients arrive to therapy with the same issues or the same rooting point, so therapy needs to be unique to each individual. I provide a space to establish how clients see therapy happening and I am there to help guide the process in a healthy manner. The space belongs to the client, not me.

"It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness." This famous Eleanor Roosevelt quote can be applied to many situations. When we get stuck -- in a rut at work, in a stormy relationship, in a lukewarm marriage, with our children -- we suffer but are often pulled to focus on the problem rather than finding a solution. Sometimes, we're not aware of what the actual issue is. All we can do is try to avoid the pain, skirt problems, even pretend we are fine. We are blocked by fear -- another word for anxiety. Together, we can walk slowly through that fear, and find that light.

"Everyone faces struggles at some point in life, and it is courage which allows us to seek help during those times. Common issues such as depression, anxiety, relational conflict, behavioral and emotional problems, and difficulty adjusting to life transitions can all be very oppressive, yet we can often work toward more helpful ways to manage these challenges. Asking for help can be hard, and it is usually the hard things that are worth doing."

Therapy, to me, should feel like coming home to yourself. My idea of therapy is to partner with you as a cheerleader, an encourager, a challenger, someone who will fight for you to show up for yourself and for you to take up more space in this world. I am comfortable working with many different concerns and transitions. I am genuinely excited to journey alongside you.

Trauma is common and over half of all people will have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. It does not have to continue to disrupt life. My mission is to help people find their power again and move past their trauma so they can live their best life in accordance with their values and goals and fully live and enjoy their lives. I use trauma informed care first and foremost along with a blend of other modalities in order to help clients find their own strength in managing their symptoms, learning self-compassion, and regaining their internal locus of control.

I help kids, teens and adults learn to be kinder to themselves. Most of my clients come to my office having spent years trying to be perfect, talking negatively to themselves and feeling loads of shame. Perhaps they suspect they have anxiety, depression or PTSD from some of the things they have been through. If this sounds like you, please know, you are worthy of a life that is joyful and authentic; I would love to help you work through whatever roadblocks are standing in the way of that!