what products do you offer?

Individual Therapy, EMDR, DBT, TF-CBT

what is your business address?

302 Campusview Dr Ste 201, Columbia, MO 65201, US

what payments do you accept?

Cash, credit card, health savings account - We are "out of network" with insurance providers but can provide a superbill you can use to try to get reimbursed for part of your expense.

What do you know about my business?

Aspire Counseling offers individual counseling for preteens, teenagers & adults through retirement. Our therapists specialize in trauma therapy, anxiety treatment, Dialectical Behavior Therapy & grief counseling. We are LGBTQ+ affirming and work with clients of diverse gender, sexual orientation, culture, race & life experiences.

Do you accept reservations/appointments?

All counseling & therapy sessions are by appointment only.

How many employees work with your company?

We currently have 7 therapists at Aspire Counseling

What is Unique about your business?

We focus on providing high quality evidence based mental health services, because we believe you deserve counseling services that work so you can live life in a way that feels authentic to who you are as an individual.

What holidays are you opened for?

Each therapist decides their own hours and decides which days they will work. Therefore, while some therapists may see clients some holidays others may choose not to.

What insurance do you accept?

We are out of network for all health insurance plans but can provide a superbill upon request.

Are you taking new patients?

Yes! We have limited openings with some therapists right now. Please call our client care team at 573-328-2288 to find out if we have an opening with a therapist who might be a match for you.

Do you see patients on weekends?

We have very limited openings on weekends.

Is there a unisex restroom?

Unfortunately, there are only "male" and "female" bathrooms in our building. That said, we support you using whichever restroom you are most comfortable using.

Hello! At Aspire Counseling, we believe you deserve counseling that truly works. You can ask about what is unique about our business, our hours, what type of payments we accept, parking and more!

We're happy to answer all of your questions and help you figure out if Aspire Counseling is a good fit for your needs. Please call us at 573-328-2288 with any questions you aren't finding an answer to right away. Otherwise, you can ask our address, if we accept insurance, and other basic questions on here.

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Don't forget to check out our blog and social media for regular mental health tips and information!

Do you have any Deal/Coupons/Offers available?

We offer a very limited number of sliding scale appointment slots.

Do you have a wheelchair accessible restroom?

Our restroom is considered wheelchair accessible but does not have a push button to make opening the door easier.

Is your establishment kid-friendly?

While our business was originally designed to see kids 10 and older we now see a limited number of younger children, particularly if the main concern is anxiety or trauma.

Is your business pet friendly?

Generally no. However, clients have brought their pets in rare situations when it's relevant to the work being done in counseling sessions. We do have a dog that visits the office about once a week and of course welcome all service animals.

Do you offer free wi-fi?

We do not currently offer wi-fi for visitors.

Me Too | Sexual Assault Survivor in Columbia, MO | Aspire Counseling

Woman sitting on bench overlooking lake. We know that you may be going through a lot right now. Knowing where to go from here isn’t straightforward. If you’re looking for counseling for sexual assault in columbia, mo you’ve come t the right place. O…

Week after week we’ve heard more on the news about individuals who have been sexually harassed, assaulted and raped. Week after week I’ve sat in my office and heard the victims. Then, I’ve heard questions such as, “Is the problem really this widespread?” What does this mean? After mulling over these conversations for a few weeks, I feel it is time to share a few of my reflections with you.

Sexual Violence is very, very common

The problem IS widespread. I won’t even bother to post estimates about how common sexual harassment, assault and rape are, because every time I hear an estimate I immediately think about how under-reported these issues are. My mind drifts to everyone I’ve known who has been assaulted or raped and never reported it. Yes, I assure you, the problem is common.

Power Differentials make it hard for victims to report

It’s hard for victims to stand up to their assailants, because there is almost always an element of power involved. Victims feel like the perpetrator has power over them in some way. In the news we’ve heard about perpetrators of sexual violence that have power due to money or having the ability to make or break someone’s career. Other times the power differential could be a little more subtle like the perpetrator has a sterling reputation and the victim feels certain nobody would believe her. Maybe the perpetrator could influence others to not associate with the victim. Perhaps the perpetrator has a strength and size advantage.

Sexual Assault can cause PTSD

Being sexually harassed, assaulted or raped often impacts a person’s functioning and sometimes results in debilitating post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).The victims coming forward publicly are incredibly brave and strong. What you’re not hearing about, though, are the young girls who start failing classes because they are anxious each time they’re on their college campuses, or the woman who can barely make herself get out of bed at night, or the person who no longer wants any intimate relationships. As someone who bears witness to these stories over and over, I assure you that these actions that perpetrators may barely remember can have a devastating impact on the victim.

Survivors often needs help, but they can and do move forward

Help is available and healing is possible. The amazing part of this story is that therapy does work and people do get better. It’s hard. It takes dedication. You don’t heal overnight. But healing can happen. In fact, many victims even experience post-traumatic growth where they come out stronger in some area of their life. You may find new opportunities, become closer to someone who supported you through your recovery, discover your own strength, develop a stronger spiritual connection, or learn to appreciate something you took for granted before. A caring, knowledgeable trauma therapist can help guide you through the healing process and you can get unstuck.

It's time for widespread change

We need to see change at the society level.My hope is that all the current discussion will do more than raise awareness. I hope it will bring about widespread change. Companies need to enforce strict policies and take quick, immediate action when violations are reported. Respect should become the norm. Victims should feel empowered to seek help. Power of the accused (through money, gender identity, position, influence, size, or reputation) should not impact how people view the victim.

Counseling Help for Survivors of Sexual Assault and Rape

Photo of a woman on a bike on a path. This represents how a woman in counseling after a sexual assault is on a journey toward better mental health and emotional freedom. Our therapists help women in Missouri overcome and move forward after sexual as… — Photo of a woman on a bike on a path. This represents how a woman in counseling after a sexual assault is on a journey toward better mental health and emotional freedom. Our therapists help women in Missouri overcome and move forward after sexual assault, harassment or rape.

If you are look for help after rape or sexual assault, the good news is that healing possible. You don’t have to be miserable or stay stuck. What happened to you doesn’t have to define you. There are several types of effective trauma treatments that research has shown can help you find significant healing in only a few months. If you are experiencing PTSD symptoms, it may help to know what you can expect from trauma treatment.

Trauma treatment may sound scary and you may wonder if you really need counseling to help you move forward. Surely you can just pretend the sexual assault never happened? Chances are, you’ve already tried shoving down the memories of the assault and ignoring anything that reminds you of the rape. Unfortunately, avoidance plays a key role in the development of PTSD. You likely need the help of counseling to truly recover after any type of sexual violence. We are here and ready to help.

If you are ready to begin the healing process and live in the Columbia, MO area, please contact Aspire Counseling today. Several of our caring therapists specialize in trauma treatment. You don’t have to stay stuck. You can move beyond the sexual assault and it doesn’t have to take forever. Please, call us today at 573-328-2288 or send us a message. We want to help you move forward. Healing starts here.

About the Author

Photo of Jessica Tappana. She is the founder of Aspire counseling and specializes in offering trauma treatment to young women in Missouri who have experienced sexual trauma including harassment, assault, and rape.

Jessica is the founder of Aspire Counseling in Columbia, MO. She specializes in treating people who feel stuck in the past and held back by the negative experiences they’ve endured. She specializes in treating survivors of sexual assault and rape who have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)and believes in the healing power of counseling. If you live in the Columbia, MO area and would like to talk to someone about how counseling might help you move beyond surviving and toward thriving, please contact Aspire Counseling bye-mail or by calling 573-328-2288. You don’t have to stay stuck. You don’t have to let what happened to you define your life. Call today and let us help you move from victim to survivor and toward a fulfilling life. Healing starts here.