• You feel dissatisfied with your current life path

• You put other people’s needs before your own

• You want change but don’t know where to start

• You feel pressure to be someone you’re not

• You seek more motivation and joy

  …If so, I’m here to help.

Counseling for adults amidst life transition in-person in Kansas City, Missouri and online across Missouri.

Hi, I’m Katie Burnett. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor who works with adults navigating life transitions that struggle with change, find it difficult to put their needs before others, or want to leave a job or relationship that is tough to let go. My goal is to help you manage fear of moving forward and empower you to make the change that feels right for you.

My Journey To Becoming A Counselor…

My own growth through personal life transitions and accompanying anxiety has created a depth of experience and well of empathy that helps me to relate with my clients.

I began performing at the age of three in the gong shows at my father’s AA meetings. This humble beginning paved the way for my future as a professional actor and licensed counselor. I made a career as a theatre and voice actor for fifteen years before choosing to expand into the world of counseling. As an actor, empathy was my greatest tool and the skill I called upon the most to create a rich and dynamic character. As a counselor, empathy continues to help me understand what it may be like to walk in my client’s shoes. Whether it be transitioning from one character to another, one career to another, or one location to another, I have struggled with and navigated major transitions in my own life. Many of the life transitions I’ve navigated have rocked my sense of identity and purpose. I understand what it feels like to wade in the uncertain waters of anxiety and life transition. Counseling helped me through those times, and I am confident that it can help you too.

My life experiences are what lead me to become the counselor I am today.

Helping People Inspires Me.

Being a counselor is an honor. I love guiding people towards positive changes and watching them transform their lives. The most rewarding thing about being a counselor is seeing a person walk away lighter, more free, and excited about their life.

I am committed to encouraging and empowering you to make the change that feels right for you.

I Have Empathy For Others And Bring An Open, Non-judgmental Presence To Session.

I have a natural ability to:

• Collaborate with people to set goals and help them reach them

• Inspire hope for getting better

• Accept people for who they are and in their current life circumstances

• Help clients heal their past and manage the present

My clients know me as a good listener who can be fully present for their stories, even if they are difficult stories.

Our Sessions Are Focused On You.

Sessions will provide you with the space to explore your thoughts, feelings, and goals. In feeling safe and comfortable, you’ll gain clarity while being heard and understood.

It’s important to me to provide a non-judgmental space where you can be yourself and ensure that the process is collaborative. There isn’t a “one size fits all” approach to counseling. Our sessions will fit your specific needs and concerns.

As A Counselor, I Embrace The Following Philosophies:

• I believe that you are worthy of love and care

• I believe that change is possible when you allow yourself the space to do the work

• I believe that taking care of yourself and holding yourself accountable is the most generous thing you can do for the world

• I believe that sometimes small steps in the right direction end up being the biggest steps in the end

• I believe that the biggest thing standing in your way is the fear that life always has to be the way that it is now

My Professional Background

I hold a BFA in Music Theatre from Illinois Wesleyan University and an MA in Counseling & Guidance with Mental Health emphasis from University of Missouri, Kansas City. A proud member of Actor’s Equity, I worked as an actor in Kansas City and around the United States for 15 years before expanding into the world of counseling. My clinical experience includes service in community mental health and university settings. I worked as a counselor at Community Counseling & Assessment Services, providing low-cost therapy to a diverse group of individuals in KC. I provided individual counseling for college students at Park University Counseling Center. Prior to beginning private practice, I worked as Suicide Prevention Clinician at Beacon Mental Health Services, providing therapy for individuals experiencing suicidal ideation. I have owned Limelight Counseling since 2020 and, in that time have had the pleasure of working with adults from many walks of life. I am both gentle and challenging in the therapy room. I utilize a process-oriented psychodynamic lens as a baseline, but also pull largely from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in my work. I am trained in EMDR and use this modality on occasion for both single incident and developmental trauma. I am currently pursuing a certification in Relational Life Therapy, based on the work of Terry Real, for couples and relationship work. I am currently a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Missouri with privileges to practice in Ohio. I see clients in person at my office in Kansas City and see residents of Ohio and Missouri online as well.