I'm Barry Johnson, a licensed therapist serving Missourians throughout the state. I help clients navigate relationships, life transitions, career/school problems, age & health concerns, parenting frustrations and more. As a former therapist at the U.S. Army and Veterans Affairs, I helped service members with their mental health journeys. Whether it was combat trauma from Iraq or marital troubles at home, I provided a space to heal. Today in my private practice, I'd be honored to put that experience to work for you.
Counseling is not always easy. Still, I hope you leave our sessions feeling more heard and closer to the person you want to be. We'll build rapport, dive into the presenting issues (what brings you to counseling) and begin to explore some themes and patterns that have led you down your unique path. Your voice will be the most important one in the room.
My style is warm, empathetic, reflective and above all -- present. If we can laugh together, all the better.
Many of us fall into the category of the so-called "worried well," meaning we function OK in the world but may get bogged down or frozen by life stressors. That's where depression or anxiety can creep in and really complicate things. Talking to a therapist can help. I offer evidence-based approaches along with person-centered talk therapy.
I attempt to foster a supportive and accepting therapeutic environment where you can explore your thoughts and feelings, gain self-awareness, and work towards personal growth and positive change.
We may draw from components of DBT, such as increasing emotional regulation skills and distress tolerance techniques.
This is a proactive, action-oriented approach to therapy focused on helping people identify and manage irrational beliefs that lead to emotional distress and unhealthy behaviors.