Gina can be reached at 816-694-5955.

Carpenter Counseling Service

Photo by Tracy Carpenter

I am Gina West, an LPC/Gerontologist, whose business, Safe Harbor Counseling, is affiliated with Carpenter Counseling Service.  For the past seven years I have developed and facilitated groups/workshops. Before working toward licensure as a Mental Health Counselor, I worked for myself as a life coach promoting personal development and mental wellness. Additionally, I’ve gained experience counseling individuals and families during my intensive internship as a requirement to obtain my Masters degree in Counseling. I have also successfully obtained my second Masters degree in Gerontology. In addition to counseling, I volunteer for The Dream Factory and Hope House. For the last two years, I was the Director of Community Outreach for the Ribbon of Worth Foundation. In this capacity I developed and facilitated psycho-educational and experiential workshops for other counselors, nurses, and teachers covering such self-worth topics as self-confidence, self-awareness, self-respect, and self-esteem: encompassing all that these topics include.

I am known as a passionate, dedicated, and sincere leader in my work and throughout my educational career. I have shown a capacity to endure difficulties, rise above and thrive through personal tenacity of purpose and common sense. I believe that “my wounds have served me well” and that I can use my experiences to assist others in successfully recovering from difficulties that they have experienced. I also believe that I can assist clients in making peace with their past and use it to promote their lives into a joyful and successful journey. I have achieved excellence in my many professional experiences such as: graduating with honors while achieving my Masters in Counseling and my Masters in Gerontology and guiding raising of scholarship funds as CEO of a Non-profit organization. I devote myself to the program I am engaged in with energy, purposefulness and honest responsiveness. I have a vision of serving the Greater Kansas City community through encouraging a deeper sense of collaborative effort by providing knowledge which can enhance personal power in healthy and rewarding ways. I have gained a level of wisdom earned through a variety of work opportunities and education, which has softened and solidified my sense of self, and gives me the power to reach out to help others with mutual respect for people and process.

The modalities I use include CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), Solution-Focused therapy, Positive Psychology, Expressive Art therapy, and Person-Centered therapy. In addition, I utilize Worth-Based counseling to increase my client’s self-worth by developing and fortifying their self-confidence, self-awareness, self-respect, and self-esteem. I specialize in women’s issues, marriage/relationship counseling, premarital counseling, trauma, domestic violence, depression, and anxiety. I take great care and pride in joining with my client in a mutual working relationship to promote their healing and growth.

I encourage you to reach out to me and receive help, healing, and guidance. You may reach me at 816-694-5955 or wellnessforu@hotmail.com. I look forward to meeting you.