Together We Can Do So Much
Therapy for Individuals, Couples, Families, Teens, and Children
Offering In-person and Online Counseling for all Missourians and Kansans
Just another morning.
Christopher* grabs his morning coffee, kisses his wife’s cheek, tells his kids he loves them, and heads to the garage.
Right before the door closes, his wife calls out, “Have a good day at work, hun!”
Over his shoulder, Christopher calls back, “Thanks.”
Except the morning is a lie.
Christopher knows he is not going to work today. He lost his job three weeks ago and has been keeping up appearances by following the same routine. Today’s plan is to drive 30 miles away and spend the day sitting in a coffee shop and napping in his car.
He is to ashamed to tell his wife he lost his job. He is even more ashamed to tell her it happened because of the browser history on his work computer. If his wife finds out, she’ll be devastated. He’s fearful she will leave him. Christopher experiences the shame of his lies and wonders every day if this will be the day his wife discovers the truth.
Christopher feels alone.
It is 3:41 am, again.
Emily* wakes up, and her thoughts and mind are already racing. She knows she should be sleeping, but she is worried about today and tomorrow. She wonders how the loss of her beloved mother will affect her marriage, kids, and family. Her chest feels heavy.
She looks over at her husband, who is sleeping deeply. The kids are sleeping. The house is silent. She wonders if this heartbreak will ever end. Emily tosses and turns, picks up her phone to scroll, and tries to go back to sleep until her alarm goes off at 6:30 am.
Her heart continues to hurt.
Her eyes are tired from crying. She is impatient with everyone, including herself. Emily knows this will be another day she is unable to focus at work and believes she is letting her manager and coworkers down.
Emily feels sad and inadequate.
First day of senior year.
Aaliyah* is already feeling stressed. Everyone kept telling her all summer how great her senior year would be, but she had doubts then, and the pressure to perform is back.
She is worried about her grades, her friends, and her future. Aaliyah sees peers in the hallway laughing and joking. She wonders how they can be at such ease when this feels so excruciating for her. She hides in the bathroom, crying after her calculus class.
Is the stress even worth it?
Aaliyah feels the pressure from her parents, friends, school, and even the undecided college she will attend, but mostly from herself. Aaliyah expects straight A’s to get into the college she wants to attend.
She feels she is the only one who understands the pressure and sadness. She wonders if this is what the rest of her life will feel like and if it is worth it.
Aaliyah feels overwhelmed.
Not a smiley guy.
Raquel* and Adam* describe their son Jack* as different. Jack is six years old. He is not a smiley guy and has a hard time following directions. During every parent-teacher conference, Raquel and Adam are afraid of how the teachers will describe Jack.
Both parents know Jack can be difficult in class. He “blurts” out answers, struggles to walk in the line to lunch, has a hard time not touching others, and argues with his teachers. If something does not go as Jack planned, he yells, screams, and may even become physical.
Alone without friends.
Jack is not talking about other kids when he comes home. When Raquel attends class parties, Jack is always standing alone. His parents are fearful he will never experience friendship.
Raquel and Adam’s hearts break for their son.
Is their marriage over?
Alice* sits at her desk, thinking about her husband William* and everything that seems to be falling apart in their marriage. She wonders, “How did we get here? Will we make it?”
William has spent several days wondering if Alice still loves him. He misses hearing her laughter.
They want to figure it out.
Neither can envision their life without the other person. But neither can picture another 20 years of their current relationship – terrible communication, months gone by without physical intimacy, the dreams they shared drifting away. They both secretly wonder if they can find their way back to each other.
Both Alice and William feel lonely, scared, and uncertain about their future.
we do not share client names and information publicly.
The highs are easy.
It’s the difficult emotions that knock you off balance.
You may be feeling stuck, and the worry just won’t stop. You ask yourself, “How did my life turn in this direction? Why am I so sad. Will I ever find joy or peace again?”
You wonder if you will always feel scared, invisible, and alone.
When you experience both the highs and the lows, there are things to learn, leading you to move forward and create healthy changes you need and want for your life.
Therapy can help.
Research supports that establishing a relationship with a supportive and accepting therapist in a safe environment will help you gain self-insight. Therapy can help you identify and resolve the difficult feelings and situations in your life.
You will feel empowered as you heal and will learn how to make healthy choices for your life. Your relationships with yourself and others will improve by strengthening your communication skills.
Self-reflection and knowledge will give you the ability to manage your problems better and lead you to acceptance.
Hi! We Are Witzki Counseling.
At Witzki Counseling, we know that taking that first step to seek help takes courage.
Guess what? You have taken that first brave step by being here. However you are feeling now, whatever changes you are contemplating, you are welcome here. Helping people create change and feel better is why we do this work.
When you reach out, we will connect you with a therapist who will walk alongside you. You may be desiring a quick tune-up in your relationship, or navigating exciting (and challenging) life transitions, or looking for the right person to help your child through the rough patches of childhood and adolescence.
We will provide you with a safe, trusted environment and introduce you to proven tools to help you achieve your goals. Whether you are struggling alone, as a couple or family, parent, child, or teen we have the education, training, and experience to help you in life. You can find healing, happiness, and love.
Now is the time to continue your momentum and take the next step to move forward.
Stacy Witzki, LPC, LCPC
Founder of Witzki Counseling Group
For things to be different, you have
to do something different.
For Christopher, Emily, Aaliyah, Jack and his parents, Alice and William that something
different was reaching out to us. Here’s a peek at how they are doing now.
Christopher – Found Freedom
Christopher’s life changed when he took the first step and made a phone call to our office. He was able to tell his wife everything. She was hurt and angry but loved Christopher and decided to try to heal the relationship. It took several months of therapy, but today he feels loved, and his relationship is thriving. He started a new job and is not fearful of old behaviors causing problems in his marriage or workplace. Christopher found freedom.
Emily – Feels Understood
Emily sent us an email to schedule her initial appointment. She met with our therapist and began to process the loss of her mother. Her heart will always know the sadness, but the anxiety no longer keeps her awake. Sharing the story and the pain with her therapist allowed her to also share it with her family. Soon she hopes to use her story to help others who also experience loss. Emily realizes the power of togetherness, connection, and feeling understood.
Aaliyah – Laughs with Friends
Aaliyah’s mom reached out to us. She was worried about her daughter. After the first session, Aaliyah began attending counseling on her own. We taught Aaliyah skills to manage her anxiety and release the pressure. She was able to find herself again and understand priorities. She learned that she was never meant to be what the world falsely deems “perfect.” Aaliyah now understands that she is “perfectly imperfect” and that she doesn’t need to ask more of herself than her best effort. By working together, Aaliyah has grown in confidence, and is no longer afraid of her future. Today Aaliyah is laughing in the hallways with her peers.
Jack’s Parents – Look to the Future
Jack’s mom, Raquel, made the call to schedule an appointment. Both parents and Jack attended the first session. Through play therapy, Jack learned social skills, emotional regulation, and how to work with others in a peer group situation, including turn-taking. Jack’s parents were provided a referral for psychological testing, where he received an autism spectrum diagnosis. Jack is now receiving services at his school through an IEP that is helping him reach his potential. Jack continues to receive play therapy in a safe environment while continuing to work on his goals. His parents recognize the road Jack is traveling will always look different than they originally thought because it is different. There may be unexpected challenges, but there will also be triumphs! Raquel has many dreams for Jack. Together, Jack, his parents, and his counselor formed a support system and a cheering squad for Jack. Raquel’s heart is no longer heartbroken and fearful for her son.
William & Alice – Feel Connected
On a Tuesday night after work, William went home and told Alice something in their relationship had to change. He suggested separation or couples counseling. Alice was glad one of them had spoken up; she agreed to try counseling. William called to set up their first appointment the next day. In that first meeting a week later, both left feeling they had made the right decision. Although their marriage was struggling, both recognized the investments they were each making by participating in counseling.
As the weeks went on, they were able to identify and discuss their hurt and create emotional corrective responses with each other. Within a safe environment, both felt heard and understood. They stopped being defensive and began to listen to the needs and the heart of each other. Their communication became more effective, and they began talking, laughing, holding hands, and enjoying both emotional and physical intimacy. They feel hopeful and connected. Together, they have dreams for their future.