Grief counselors and therapists in Independence, MO

Mareayna is a licensed therapist with 7 years of experience specializing in anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and stress management. With a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Webster, she employs evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and trauma-informed care, to empower clients on their healing journeys. Fostering a warm, supportive environment, helps individuals navigate their emotions and develop effective coping strategies for lasting well-being.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience in both inpatient psychiatric settings and outpatient therapy. I earned both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work from Missouri State University, where I developed a strong foundation in evidence-based, client-centered care.

My background includes working with individuals across a range of needs, from acute crisis stabilization to ongoing therapeutic support. I have extensive experience helping clients navigate depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, self-harm, anger, aggression, and oppositional defiant behaviors. I am also trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which I frequently use to help clients better understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors while building practical coping strategies.

I care about real connection, steady progress, and creating a space where you can show up as yourself. I’ve spent years helping people sort through heavy thoughts, navigate big life changes, and rebuild a sense of direction. I won't rush you or force you into a mold, I help you understand what matters to you and take the steps to move towards it. I'm happy to be the calm, steady guide who will walk alongside you.

Partner 1: “I reach for you, but it feels like you’re already gone.” I’m left wondering if I matter to you at all.” Partner 2: “When you come close, I feel the pressure to be perfect, so I pull back to protect us both.” These unspoken messages leave couples lonely and stuck. I help break this anxious–avoidant cycle so partners feel safe, seen, and deeply connected again.

“I don’t understand why I want closeness so badly, yet feel disappointed when I have it. Why do I feel lonelier than others, even when I’m not alone?” Or: “I care deeply, but people say I’m distant or hard to read. When emotions get intense, I shut down—not because I don’t feel, but because it feels like too much.”

These quiet tensions live beneath awareness for many people. Longing and self-protection pull in opposite directions. Needs feel confusing, emotions feel overwhelming or unsafe, and core beliefs quietly form—I’m too much, I’m not enough, connection costs me something.

I help people loosen these patterns, reconcile the Self with more truthful and adaptive beliefs, and move toward self-acceptance and interdependence—where connection no longer threatens safety, but deepens it.

After nine years serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, I realized my deepest fulfillment came not from fixing systems, but from walking with people. Leaving the military was not a departure from service—it was a continuation of it. I pursued social work and theological training to better support people in their most important relationships. Today, my practice is devoted to couples counseling and trauma-informed care. Drawing primarily from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and EMDR, I help couples slow conflict, understand what drives disconnection, and emotional safety. As a veteran and seminary-trained therapist, I bring structure, compassion, and steady hope—meeting clients with respect, grace, and a belief in lasting change.

Welcome! I am so glad you are here and have taken this step for your health and well-being! My name is Susan and I am a licensed professional counselor in the state of MO. I have a Masters of Arts in Counseling degree (Colorado Christian University, 2018) and have over 5 years of experience as a counselor. I have experience providing therapy to children, teens, and adults in a variety of settings including community behavioral health, residential treatment center, private practice, and hospital clinic. I look forward to meeting you and supporting you in your journey where life has you right now.

Hello! I am a seasoned clinician at The Foundry Counseling Center. We believe in forging a new future together. Each of us go through experiences that can act as a crucible for change.

I believe in meeting my clients where they're at. They are the expert in their own story. I'm just here to listen, help process, maybe challenge, and encourage them in their journey. I went to Newman University for my Master's Degree and went on to get my Clinical License. I have worked with varying populations including teens, adults, geriatrics, the prison population, couples counseling, and Christian Counseling. I enjoy working with people who have been through trauma or grief or have experienced anxiety or depression.