Kansas City Marriage Counselors and Couples Therapists
Sally Hodges
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
I am a graduate of the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Kansas State University. I have broad experience working with couples, families, and individuals. I believe that strong relationships are the foundation for a thriving life but for a variety of reasons, life sometimes gets in the way of thriving. My goal is to help clients have passionate and connected relationships while also growing as individuals. I believe therapy can be the place where you build the courage to be more of who you want to in your relationship. In doing so, individuals and couples have the potential for a fulfilling, connected, passionate, and fun relationship.
In addition to my education in marriage and family therapy, I have a graduate certificate in Gerontology. I use my education in geriatrics to help couples navigate the process of aging and what it means for their emotional and sexual relationship. I also help families navigate the waters of decision making and caring for aging parents. I have done research on factors related to older adult sexuality and the impact of an affair on the relationship. I also teach on culture change in long term care administration.
I grew up in central Oklahoma and completed my undergraduate degree at Oklahoma State University. Outside of work, you can find me spending time with my husband, being outside, cooking and eating good food, reading, and gardening.
Dr. Michelle Washburn-Busk
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
I believe that all humans have an innate capacity for growth, but that growth is often thwarted by a lack of self-awareness, self-compassion or self-confrontation. I aim to help couples and individuals heal from pain and anger, to examine the values and motives driving their actions, and to access new levels of joy and fulfillment by honoring the most authentic version of themselves. I will work collaboratively with you to make new meaning of pain, betrayal, mental illness, or everyday trials, and I will guide you through examining the ways you exert or resist influence from your partner. I specialize in working with couples where one or both partners feels helpless or disempowered, often resulting in disconnection. I also help clients navigate shame and the residual effects trauma can have on relationships. I research and teach about how partners influence one another to navigate fairness in their partnerships.
I completed my Master’s degree and PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy at Kansas State University. My husband and I love kayaking, gardening, camping, trying new food, and exploring new cities together. We adore and spoil our two dogs.
Paul Busk
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
Keeping passion and connection in relationships while also thriving as individuals is a goal that many of us have. Balancing these aspects of life can be difficult, especially when life stressors, mental or emotional disorders, or trauma present themselves. My goal is to help clients achieve their goals of connection and personal growth, while challenging them to act on the best parts of themselves. I am passionate about working with couples struggling with intimacy and desire issues. My approach in working with couples centers on differentiation based therapies and encourages both individual and couple growth.
I have experience working with families, individuals and adolescents struggling with issues related to depression, anxiety, personality disorders and sexuality, using emotionally focused family therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. My approach in working with families aims to create an environment conducive to understanding and being understood.
Christina Wilson
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
I am a high-energy, warm therapist who believes in helping clients invest in themselves and those they love. My goal is to help individuals and couples, from adolescents to older adults, explore and implement ways to live an empowered life that feels genuine, emotionally open, and relationally fulfilling. I want to help clients take ownership of all parts of themselves including their strengths and growth areas through humor, transparency, vulnerability, self-confrontation, and letting go of the detrimental messages that make them feel inadequate. I aim to be collaborative and flexible while providing enough structure so that clients don’t feel lost and can begin to get unstuck.
I love working with relationships which have experienced hurt in a variety of ways and are struggling to figure out how to make things better, and I am excited to be a guide through that challenging process. Ultimately, my hope is to help my clients develop into the person they desire to be, individually and in their relationships, rather than waiting for that to happen.
I grew up in Georgia and earned my Master’s in Couple and Family Therapy at Kansas State University. After graduating, I decided to stay in the Midwest and have truly enjoyed it. While therapy is a huge part of my life, I also love marshmallows, working out so I can eat more marshmallows, and spending time with my handsome partner.
Megan Hiser
PLMFT
I think we are all wired for and worthy of love and connection. Whether that is connection to ourselves or to others, I believe the desire to belong lives inside each of us. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, though. There can be so many places where shame, doubt, old wounds, and miscommunication disorient and disconnect us. As a therapist, I consider it a great privilege to partner with you as we collaboratively work through some of the things that might be keeping you stuck.
To my core, I am a hope-holder, passionate about meeting you where you are at and helping you figure out how to get to where you want to go. I believe that the process of therapy challenges each of us to grow and change so that we can become the best versions of ourselves and ultimately lead healthier, more authentic lives.
I completed my degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Seattle Pacific University and while I love all that the mountains and water have to offer, Kansas City will always be home for me. I have experience in working with individuals and couples and am passionate about working with issues of intimacy, identity exploration, grief, trauma, and infidelity. Outside of work, I love reading and writing, playing guitar, and getting outside when it’s not too cold. If you feel like I might be a good fit for you, I’d love to connect.
Dr. Aimee Hubbard
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Associate Member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
My passion is helping couples and families discover the best versions of their relationships. In addition to passion, I have the skills and knowledge to help. I hold a Master’s in Couple and Family Therapy at Kansas State University and a Ph.D. in Couple and Family Therapy from the University of Minnesota. I am also trained in several approaches focused on helping couples and am certified to provide pre-marital and relationship education (PREPARE/ENRICH). Â
To help you decide if I am the therapist for you, I primarily work with couples, helping them resolve new and ongoing problems. Whether you have felt stuck, disconnected, or unhappy in your relationship for years or just months, I am here to help you find a new path forward.
My goal is to help you and your partner have a different experience with each other in our session. Through this work, I hope to help couples find the best versions of themselves and their relationships. It is always scary to ask for help, so if you have any questions about my approach free to reach out and ask questions.
Brady Eisert
MS
Do you find yourself stuck in the same patterns day after day, whether in a particular relationship or your own life? Are there parts of you that feel terrified, suppressed, dead, or buried? Perhaps you even dread that you will never be able to live a meaningful life. Life is too short to allow trauma, depression, anxiety, self-hatred, or existential crises to prevent us from living genuine, meaningful lives. Relationships are too fundamental to our wellbeing to let fester.
As a couple and family therapist, I specialize in relationships (and yes, that includes your relationship to yourself!). My primary therapeutic goal is to create a safe, compassionate environment that allows those I work with to continue discovering who they are and to integrate that authenticity into their lives and relationships. I believe that healing takes many forms and that hope can be found at the most unexpected times. Whether you are struggling in your relationship with your partner(s), with your family, with yourself, or even with religion/worldview, I would be honored to join you as a fellow traveler on your unique life path.
I grew up in the Western United States, where I received my master's degree in marriage and family therapy. I am currently a doctoral student at Kansas State University. Outside of work and school, I enjoy dancing, movies, fantasy books, nature, and pizza.
Addie Cutler
MS
I believe that we all deserve the opportunity to be active participants in our lives and partnerships. In therapy, we can work toward this goal by noticing patterns and themes while building the confidence to make meaningful change. My client-centered approach means that you define your own goals and I challenge you to achieve them, offering support and understanding along the way.
When working with clients I bring systemic issues into the room by acknowledging the negative impacts of a society that was made to empower far too few of us. In my sessions, you are invited to acknowledge shame and choose vulnerability by discussing sexuality, gender, power, desire, race, religion, disability, relationship structure, body size, money, and beyond. I will meet you with acceptance and curiosity as you process experiences, set boundaries, and examine beliefs.
After growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I spent almost a decade learning and exploring in Colorado before graduating with my master’s and moving to Kansas City. I have a charming husband and three adorable pets.
Eileen Kerrigan
PLMFT
I believe that relationships are one of the best resources that we have. It can be overwhelming, frustrating, and hopeless when our relationships feel like an additional stressor on top of an already busy, and sometimes isolating life.
My goal is to increase personal growth and fulfillment in the lives of each partner and couple by creating a space for openly sharing and addressing patterns that detract from connection. I am passionate about helping clients understand and work through the barriers that prevent effective communication and explore the influence of our families.
I was born and raised in the Kansas City area and moved back after I completed my Masters from Oklahoma State University. Outside of work I love trying new recipes and taking my dogs for a walk!
Dr. Jared Anderson
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
I have been working in the field for 20 years as a therapist, clinical supervisor, teacher, academic, researcher, and author. My passion is to help individuals become more of who they want to be and to help couples build satisfying, passionate relationships that are worth wanting. I believe that when we are each operating from the best in us our relationships have a better chance of flourishing. I also teach in the areas of couples and sex therapy and human sexuality and I conduct research on factors related to healthy couple relationships.
I completed my Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Kansas State University and my PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Minnesota. I grew up in the Kansas City area and I have been married to my high school sweetheart for twenty years. We have four kids and we enjoy sports, hiking, camping, international adventure travel, reading and spending time together as a family.
Kelsey Ellis
PLMFT
I embrace a humanistic existential approach to guide you on your journey towards a more fulfilling and authentic relationship. I understand that relationships can be complex, and – sometimes - we find ourselves feeling disconnected, misunderstood, or overwhelmed by challenges in our lives. My goal is to create a safe and supportive space for you and your partner to explore these difficulties and discover new ways of relating to one another.
My approach encourages open dialogue, empathic listening, and mutual understanding as fundamental building blocks of a healthy partnership. I recognize that each person brings their own experiences, beliefs, and values into the relationship, and I seek to explore these aspects to better understand the dynamics at play. Through collaborative exploration, I aim to uncover the underlying issues, patterns, and conflicts that may be hindering your relationship's growth and satisfaction. To do this, I focus on the exploration of themes such as freedom, responsibility, authenticity, and the search for meaning – individually and relationally.
My goal is not to provide quick fixes or impose our own beliefs upon you, but rather to support you in discovering your own unique path towards a more fulfilling relationship. I assist you in deepening your self-awareness, fostering empathy, and understanding, and cultivating a sense of purpose and shared meaning in your partnership. Together, we will explore the depths of your experiences, nurture your personal growth, and facilitate the transformation of your relationship into a source of joy, intimacy, and mutual support.
I am currently a student at the Marriage & Family Therapy Masters of Science program at Friends University and upon graduation this fall will be joining the Kansas City Relationship Institute full-time. Outside of the therapy room, I’m often found doing needlework, visiting museums, and experimenting with new recipes.