Ben Livesay

I completed my Bachelor of Christian Ministry/Psychology and Counseling at Ozark Christian College in 2011, and I graduated with a Master of Social Work degree from Missouri State University in 2017. I have over 15 years of experience working in the mental health field, and have been an independently licensed clinical social worker for nearly 7 years. I have experience and training in working with a variety of adult populations to address multiple struggles including substance use, depression, and trauma, and I have training in CBT and EMDR. I like to use a relaxed, problem solving, strengths-based approach, to deal with problems step-by-step, and to use humor and metaphors to illustrate ideas and concepts. I love the moments that I see a new idea connect with someone and they experience a 'lightbulb moment', when everything changes for them in a second. I also love being able to sit with someone and help them review slow and steady progress despite setbacks in order to help them recognize how far they have come without even realizing it.

I work with you to explore your goals from the first session, and to write a treatment plan using your words, based on what matters to you. I reflect and reinforce successes back toward you at every step to emphasize your ownership of your progress to prepare you for future challenges. And you and I will continually measure your progress to stay focused on your goals. Depending on your unique needs, I can utilize skills from CBT, DBT, EMDR, ACT, and /or MI to help you get where you want to be.

We will complete an assessment to evaluate your treatment needs. Then. you and I will collaborate to develop an effective treatment plan that meets your goals. I want to help you turn and look head-on at the things that bring you down, and work to turn problems into opportunities. I view you as a whole person and as the lived expert on your own life, with valuable insight into where you’ve come from, where you are now, and how to get where you want to be in the future.