What is Metis?
The name “Metis” is derived from Greek mythology, where Metis was said to be the goddess of good counsel, advice, planning, and wisdom.
Therapists are verified by Psychology Today and GoodTherapy.org
Partners
Melissa Wright, MA, LPC, RPT-S
Ages: 4–17
Specialties: Anxiety • Depression • Trauma • Grief & Loss • Gifted Children & Teens • Divorce & Family Transitions
Services: Play Therapy • Individual Therapy • Parent & Family Support
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) • Play Therapy
Insurance: Aetna • BCBS • Cigna • UHC/UMR
Sessions: Primarily in-person; telehealth available
About Melissa
I have been providing outpatient counseling at Metis Counseling for the past 16 years and bring over 25 years of experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the Kansas City area. I work with many gifted children and teens, as well as children adjusting to divorce, two-household families, and changes in family relationships.
As a Registered Play Therapist–Supervisor (RPT-S), trained through the Kansas City Play Therapy Institute, I use play therapy and structured activities to help kids process their emotions, build important coping skills, and find healthier ways to manage difficult situations. My approach is designed to meet your child where they are and give them tools that will serve them for a lifetime.
Throughout my career, I have worked in outpatient and in-home therapy, provided clinical supervision, and taught graduate-level courses on counseling children. These experiences have given me a broad understanding of how to support children and families through a variety of challenges.
Education & Credentials
- MA in Counseling, Webster University
- BA in Psychology, University of Missouri–Columbia
- Licensed Professional Counselor
- Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S)
- Certified Trauma Specialist
Nicole Rich, MA, LPC
Ages: 10+
Specialties: Anxiety, depression, grief & loss, and life transitions
Services: Individual therapy
Approaches: CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy), Person-Centered Therapy, and ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy)
Insurances: Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, UHC/UMR
Sessions: Primarily in-person; telehealth available
About Nicole
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with more than 20 years of experience providing counseling services in the Kansas City area. I have spent the past 16 years providing outpatient therapy through Metis Counseling, where I have had the privilege of supporting individuals and families through a wide range of challenges and life transitions.
My approach to counseling is warm, compassionate, and collaborative. I strive to create a safe and supportive environment where clients feel comfortable being themselves, exploring their concerns, and gaining a deeper understanding of themselves and their experiences. Together, we work to develop practical coping skills, build on existing strengths, and create meaningful change. I believe therapy is most effective when clients feel heard without judgment and supported in discovering solutions that fit their unique needs, values, and goals.
Throughout my career, I have largely worked with teens and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, grief, and trauma. The experience I have gained over the years has shaped my understanding of the challenges clients face, strengthened my commitment to providing thoughtful, individualized care, and continues to influence my approach to counseling today.
Education & Credentials
- MA in Counseling – University of Saint Mary
- BA in Psychology – Park University
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Independent Contractors
Independent contractors that provide counseling services at this location include the following.
Dr. Wendy Barnes, Ed.D., LPC
Ages: 16+
Specialties: Anxiety • Grief & Loss • Faith-Based Counseling
Services: Individual Therapy • Couples Therapy
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Insurance: Aetna • BCBS • Cigna
Sessions: Primarily in-person; telehealth available
About Wendy
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, educator, and devoted Christian who is passionate about helping individuals discover hope, healing, and purpose. With more than 25 years of experience in education, I have served as a classroom teacher, school counselor, and educational administrator. Throughout my career, I have been committed to supporting the emotional, social, and personal well-being of adolescents, adults, and families.
As a counselor, I provide compassionate, evidence-based care for clients navigating anxiety, grief and loss, relationship concerns, and other life challenges. For clients who desire it, I also offer faith-based counseling that thoughtfully integrates biblical principles with therapeutic practices.
I provide individual and couples counseling using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), helping clients identify unhelpful thought patterns, develop healthy coping strategies, strengthen relationships, and build resilience. My goal is to provide a supportive environment where clients can work through life’s challenges, experience healing, and move forward with greater confidence and purpose.
Education & Credentials
- Doctorate in Educational Leadership, University of Kansas
- Master’s in Counseling, University of Missouri–Kansas City
- Master’s in Education, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Brittany Hursh, LCSW)
Ages: 7+
Specialties: ADHD • Depression • Anxiety • Trauma • Interpersonal Relationships • Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) • Family Changes • Life Transitions • Neurodivergence • LGBTQ+ Concerns • Substance Use • Conflict Resolution
Services: Individual Therapy • Couples Therapy • Parent Support & Education
Approaches: Person-Centered • Strengths-Based • Trauma-Informed • Solution-Focused Therapy • Mindfulness • Motivational Interviewing • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) • Play Therapy • Sandtray Therapy • Executive Functioning Development
Insurance: Aetna • BCBS • Cigna • UHC/Optum
Sessions: In-person and telehealth available
About Brittany
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with more than 10 years of experience in mental health and over 7 years of experience providing individual and group counseling. My experience includes working with children, teens, adults, and families across a range of clinical settings, including community mental health, substance use treatment, juvenile justice, K–12 schools, and hospital-based crisis services.
My background also includes research, advocacy, case management, group facilitation, crisis intervention, and specialized training in suicide assessment and intervention. This broad range of experience allows me to approach each client with flexibility and an understanding that every person and family brings a unique set of strengths, needs, and experiences to therapy.
My therapeutic style is collaborative, strengths-based, person-centered, and trauma-informed. I believe meaningful change begins with feeling understood, respected, and supported. I meet clients where they are and work alongside them to identify goals, develop practical coping and emotional-regulation strategies, strengthen relationships, and gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their experiences.
Education & Credentials
- Bachelor of Social Work, University of Missouri
- Master of Social Work, University of Missouri
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Faith Casel, MA, LPC
Ages: 6+
Specialties: Grief & Loss • Anxiety • Life Transitions
Services: Individual Therapy • Sandtray Therapy
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) • Mindfulness-Based Therapy • Person-Centered Therapy
Insurance: Aetna • Cigna
Sessions: In-person and telehealth available
About Faith
I have worked in a variety of counseling settings for the past seven years and currently work as a middle school counselor in addition to providing outpatient counseling at Metis Counseling.
I work with children, teens, young adults, and adults, with much of my experience working with adolescents ages 11–16. I use cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness-based, and person-centered approaches tailored to each client’s individual needs. I also have a particular interest in sandtray therapy and incorporate it into my work with both children and adults.
Throughout my counseling career, I have taken pride in providing a warm, empathetic, and professional environment where clients can feel comfortable and supported. It is a joy and a privilege to work with people of all ages and support them through life’s challenges.
Education & Credentials
- MS in Secondary School Counseling, Northwest Missouri State University
- BS in Psychology, Northwest Missouri State University
- Licensed Professional Counselor
Crystal Richardson, MA, PLPC
Ages: 9+
Specialties: Anxiety • ADHD • Depression • PTSD • Trauma • Abuse
Services: Individual Therapy • Family Therapy
Approaches: Humanistic/Client-Centered Therapy • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) • Family Systems
Insurance: Aetna • Cigna
Sessions: In-person and telehealth available
About Crystal
I have been a therapist at Metis Counseling for over three years, working with children, preteens, teens, and adults. I work with clients experiencing anxiety, social anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, PTSD, grief, and self-harming behaviors.
I have a particular interest in working with survivors of domestic violence and trauma. I completed my graduate internship and practicum at a local domestic violence shelter serving women and children, where I also received training in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI).
I also work with children, preteens, and families navigating anxiety, emotional or behavioral concerns, communication difficulties, and challenging life transitions. My approach is client-centered and tailored to each person’s individual needs, drawing from CBT, DBT, Family Systems, and other evidence-based approaches.
Education & Credentials
- Trained in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI)
- MS in Clinical Counseling, University of Phoenix
- BS in Psychology, University of Phoenix
- Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor
Sara Nicholson, M.S.Ed., CIT
Ages: 6+
Specialties: Anxiety • Depression • Trauma • Grief & Loss • Social-Emotional Learning • College & Career Counseling
Services: Individual Therapy • Parent & Family Support
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) • Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) • Art-Based Interventions
Insurance: Not currently in-network; Aetna and Cigna anticipated soon
Fees: Reduced-fee appointments available
Sessions: Primarily in-person; telehealth available
About Sara
I have 23 years of experience working with students from kindergarten through high school, including six years as a school counselor. My background is rooted in school-based mental health, where I have supported children and teens navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, family changes, and other emotional challenges. I am now expanding my work into outpatient counseling at Metis Counseling under clinical supervision.
My counseling style is warm, approachable, and collaborative. I use games, activities, and therapeutic techniques to help clients manage strong emotions, develop coping skills, build patience, and strengthen emotional regulation. I also help clients develop a growth mindset and recognize what is within their control. Together, we identify goals, build on strengths, and develop practical strategies for navigating life’s challenges.
My years working with students, parents, and educators have given me a broad understanding of the challenges children, teens, and families experience. I strive to create a supportive environment where clients feel heard, respected, and comfortable being themselves. I enjoy helping clients recognize their strengths, better understand themselves and their relationships, and move forward with greater confidence.
Education & Credentials
- Counselor-in-Training (CIT), Missouri
- Bachelor’s Degree in History, emphasis in Secondary Education, University of Northern Colorado
- Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in School Counseling, Northwest Missouri State University
- Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) in Mental Health Practices in Schools, University of Missouri