Abby Voelker

Hi!

I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor (MS) based in Springfield, Missouri, running my own private practice. My clinical training and approach are grounded in relational, and trauma-informed work, I believe the therapeutic relationship itself is one of the most powerful tools for change, and that you have the best answers for yourself but I am here to help you uncover those.

I'm trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), which I use to help clients process trauma and "stuck" experiences that talk therapy alone hasn't fully resolved. Alongside EMDR, I also offer traditional talk therapy for clients who want space to process, reflect, and work through what's going on in their lives in real time.

I primarily work with teens and adults, and I especially enjoy supporting clients navigating anxiety, trauma, and relational or identity struggles. My style tends to be warm and collaborative rather than clinical or directive, you're the expert on your own life, and my role is to walk alongside you as you figure out what healing and growth look like for you.

How I Work with Clients

My approach is relational, somatic, and trauma-informed. I believe healing happens in the context of a genuine, attuned connection, and that you hold the best answers for yourself. I meet clients where they are, with warmth and without judgment, and I tend to work collaboratively, letting the pace and focus of our work be shaped by what each person actually needs.

Specializations & Focuses

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): I use EMDR to help clients process trauma and distressing experiences that feel "stuck," so they can move through them rather than staying activated by them. Sometimes we know something but we don't feel it, EMDR helps us actually feel and believe those positive things we want to be true.
• Talk Therapy: For clients who want space to think out loud, process what's going on in their lives, and work through patterns in real time, I offer a more traditional, conversational approach, grounded in the same relational, non-judgmental style.

Who I Work With

I primarily work with teens and adults, though my relational and somatic lens applies across ages. I especially enjoy working with clients navigating anxiety, trauma, and relational or identity struggles, and anyone who wants therapy to feel less clinical and more human.

Our first session is really about getting to know each other, there's no pressure to have everything figured out or to know exactly what you want to work on. I'll ask about what's bringing you in, what's been going on in your life, and what you're hoping might be different. You can expect a natural conversation. I'll follow your lead and slow down or shift focus any time something feels like too much, too fast.

I create a space that's warm, low-pressure, and judgment-free. You're welcome to bring whatever you're carrying , messy, unresolved, or hard to put into words, without needing to package it neatly first.

By the end of our first session or two, my goal is that we've started to build a shared understanding of:

• What's bringing you to therapy right now, and what you're hoping changes
• A little bit about your history and how it connects to your present
• What kind of pace and approach feels right for you (some clients want to dive into processing quickly; others need more time to build trust first)
• Any immediate goals, whether that's symptom relief, a specific pattern you want to shift, or simply having consistent support

From there, we'll collaboratively shape a plan, whether that's moving toward EMDR to target specific stuck experiences, or working through things more conversationally, or often a blend of both depending on what you need session to session.