Clinical Counseling Associates

03/05/2026

📢 Blog Alert! 🤱💙
Take a few minutes today to read our latest blog:
“When Baby Blues Become Something More” by Emily Androes, Master of Social Work intern.
Welcoming a new baby can bring joy, but it can also bring emotional challenges. While “baby blues” are common after childbirth, sometimes those feelings can develop into postpartum depression or anxiety. In this blog, Emily explains the difference between typical baby blues and postpartum mood disorders, highlights warning signs to watch for, and reminds parents that needing support during this transition is both common and valid.
💙 You are not alone, and help is available.
https://www.clinicalcounselingassociates.org/post/when-baby-blues-become-something-more

Becoming a parent is supposed to be one of the most joyful, fulfilling experiences in life, right? For many people, it is, but it can also be disorienting, exhausting, and emotionally overwhelming. Both experiences can be true at the same time.Many postpartum parents feel pressure to present as happ...

03/02/2026

💙✨ March is Social Work Month! ✨💙
This month, we celebrate the compassion, resilience, and dedication of social workers everywhere.
Here’s to the social workers who:
• Champion equity and justice
• Uplift voices that deserve to be heard
• Offer hope in moments of crisis
• Build stronger, healthier, more connected communities
• Show up — every day — with empathy and courage
At CCA, we are incredibly proud of the social workers on our team and the impact they make in the lives of individuals and families across our community.
Thank you for the heart you bring to this work and for the difference you make — not just this month, but every single day. 💙

03/01/2026

💚✨ Today is Self-Injury Awareness Day ✨💚
This day is about breaking stigma, increasing understanding, and reminding people that they are not alone.
Self-injury is often a coping response to overwhelming emotions. It is not a character flaw, weakness, or a bid for attention. Behind the behavior is usually deep pain that deserves compassion, support, and understanding.
If you or someone you care about is struggling, help is available and healing is possible. Reaching out can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to navigate it alone.
📞 Call or 📧 email us today to begin the process of getting support.

03/01/2026

✨🏛️ CCA Attended & Sponsored the Liberty State of the City Luncheon 🏛️✨
Clinical Counseling Associates was honored to attend and sponsor the State of the City Luncheon on Tuesday, February 24th at the Liberty Community Center.
Representing CCA were co-owners Sheena Kirkendoll (who also serves on the Liberty Chamber Board of Directors) and Dr. Jill Robinson, along with Lead Therapist John Clymore and HR Operations Manager Meg O’Connor.
Liberty is growing and this event offered an exciting opportunity to hear what’s next for our community. Attendees had the chance to meet the Mayor, City Council members, city staff, and connect with business leaders while learning about Liberty’s economic development progress and future plans.
We are proud to be part of the Liberty community and an active Chamber member. Staying engaged, informed, and connected allows us to better serve the individuals and families who call Liberty home. 💙
Chamber

02/28/2026

💛 CCA Service Spotlight: Play Therapy & Children’s Services 💛
In honor of International Play Therapy Month, we’re highlighting Play Therapy & Children’s Services at Clinical Counseling Associates! 🧸✨
Play is a child’s natural language. Through play therapy, children are able to express thoughts, feelings, and experiences in ways that feel safe, developmentally appropriate, and empowering. Our trained clinicians create nurturing environments where children can build coping skills, process big emotions, and strengthen confidence-all through the power of play. 🌈💬
✨ Play Therapy & Children’s Services are offered by our skilled clinicians across CCA locations. ✨
Play therapy can be helpful for children experiencing:
• Anxiety or excessive worries
• Behavioral concerns at home or school
• Trauma or stressful life events
• Grief and loss
• Social difficulties
• Emotional regulation challenges
• Family transitions (divorce, moves, new siblings)
• And more
👨‍👩‍👧 We also partner with parents and caregivers to provide support, education, and strategies that strengthen the whole family system.
💬 The length of services is tailored to each child’s unique needs. Some benefit from short-term support, while others engage in longer-term therapeutic work for deeper healing and growth.
Ready to learn more or schedule an appointment? Our office staff is happy to help!
📲 Call: (816) 781-8550
📧 Email: connectccakc@gmail.com
🧸✨

02/27/2026

Supporting the Battle Within: CCA at “Heroes Journey – A Leap of Faith Fundraiser
On February 26, 2026, the Clinical Counseling Associates leadership team and their partners had the privilege of attending “Heroes Journey – A Leap of Faith." It was an inspiring evening dedicated to supporting The Battle Within and its mission to expand access to critical mental health resources.
The event brought our community together to celebrate resilience, courage, and the ongoing journey toward healing. Through live and silent auctions, along with an impactful fund-a-need initiative, attendees helped raise essential funds to support mental health initiatives for the veterans and first responders who serve and protect our communities. 💙
CCA is proud to stand alongside organizations that prioritize the emotional well-being of those who give so much. We remain committed to expanding access to trauma-informed care and strengthening the mental health of individuals and families across our region.
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02/23/2026

🩵✨ Eating Disorders Awareness & Screening Week ✨🩵
📅 February 23 – March 1, 2026
Eating disorders affect people of all ages, genders, backgrounds, and body types, and many go unseen. This week is a reminder that these conditions are serious, but recovery is possible, especially with early awareness and support.
Taking time to learn the signs, reduce stigma, and encourage open conversations can make a meaningful difference. Screening is a simple step that can help individuals recognize concerns early and seek help when needed.
If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone, and support is available. In our local community, resources include:
• Children’s Mercy Eating Disorders Center
• EDCare Kansas City
• Bellatore Recovery
• Center for Discovery
Awareness leads to understanding.
Understanding can save lives.

02/22/2026

Meet CCA Therapist– Samantha Ruthie Gonzalez! 🎉
Ruthie is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in Missouri and Kansas with a master’s degree from the University of Kansas. She is licensed in Missouri and under the clinical supervision of Jill Robinson, LCSW. Ruthie is a gender-affirming and strength-based therapist who creates a welcoming and affirming environment where clients feel empowered to explore their strengths, values, and goals. She has a passion for creativity and a commitment to supporting individuals on their journey towards self-discovery and acceptance. Ruthie has experience serving youth and children at the Child Abuse Prevention Association and children at a domestic-violence shelter in Kansas City. Ruthie’s favorite self-care activities include making art, traveling, and meditating.
📞 Looking to schedule an appointment with Ruthie?
We’re here to help! 💙Visit www.clinicalcounselingassociates.org
and fill out the contact form or give us a call at 816-781-8550 to get started.

02/22/2026

🐾✨ Spotlight on Leadership & Learning ✨🐾
We are proud to share that Dr. Jill Robinson presented two trainings in February at The Sixth Annual International Animal Assisted Play Therapy® Online Conference, continuing to advance the field of Animal Assisted Play Therapy® (AAPT).
Presentation Titles:
🐾 Animal Assisted Play Therapy® and Eating Disorders: Exploring the Process of Integrating AAPT Into Eating Disorder Treatment
🐾 Playful Documentation: Treatment Planning in AAPT
Through these presentations, Dr. Robinson highlighted innovative ways to integrate AAPT into specialized treatment areas and provided creative, practical strategies for documentation and treatment planning within play therapy practice.
We are grateful for her ongoing leadership, expertise, and commitment to expanding trauma-informed, animal-assisted care. 💛

02/20/2026

📢 Blog Alert! 🌿✨
Take a few minutes today to read our latest blog:
“Surviving the Stillness: Practical Tips for Depressive Episodes, Anhedonia, Avoidance Coping, and More” by Hannah Bisges, LCSW.
Sometimes life feels like too much. When burnout, depression, grief, or exhaustion take over, even basic tasks can feel overwhelming. Motivation drops, joy feels distant, and shame can creep in when our capacity changes. You are not alone in that experience.
In this blog, Hannah offers compassionate and practical strategies for navigating these seasons from accepting shifts in capacity, reducing chore strain, and simplifying self-care, to building “mood momentum” through small, manageable intervals of effort. These tools are designed to help you preserve energy, reduce overwhelm, and gently begin rebuilding when you’re ready.
Recovery doesn’t happen through self-criticism, it begins with empathy and realistic expectations.
🔗 Read it now on our website!
https://www.clinicalcounselingassociates.org/post/surviving-the-stillness-practical-tips-for-depressive-episodes-anhedonia-avoidance-coping-and-mo

Sometimes life feels like all too much. Trying to balance aspects of wellness in addition to following through on our necessary responsibilities can leave people feeling spread too thin. For many, this can result in the body and mind “shutting down”. Things don’t feel enjoyable anymore, it’s...

02/20/2026

🎉✨ Big Congratulations! ✨🎉
Please join us in celebrating Wes, Susan, and Amy for graduating from the EMDR Certification Consultation Group! 👏
EMDR certification is a major professional milestone that reflects advanced clinical skill, dedication, and a deep commitment to helping clients heal. It has truly been an honor for Sheena Kirkendoll to serve as their consultant and witness their growth, confidence, and clinical depth throughout this journey.
They show up for their clients with integrity, compassion, and professionalism every single day. The world is a better place because of the work they do and the healing they help create. 💛
We are so proud of you!

02/16/2026

Happy President’s Day!
President’s Day invites us to reflect not just on leadership, but on perseverance. Progress, whether personal or collective, is rarely fast or linear. Growth often comes from continuing forward, even when the steps feel small.
At CCA, we believe mental health care is about honoring that steady movement forward—at your own pace, and with support along the way.💙