Journey Embraced LLC

05/07/2026

Journey Embraced Counseling is excited to introduce Coping Through Singing — a faith-based group for 5th & 6th graders who love music and are ready to build confidence, coping skills, social connection, and emotional awareness through song 💜🎶

Songs will be led by Aubree Smith, 2025 KC Superstar 2nd Place Winner and 2025 Miss Juneteenth. Aubree is currently pursuing a degree in Counseling Psychology at Avila University with a focus in Music Therapy.

Therapeutic facilitation and clinical oversight will be provided by Tanise Smith, MS, LCPC.

05/07/2026

Please join Journey Embraced Counseling in congratulating our own, Debra Richardson on being named a Semi-Finalist for Kansas City People’s Choice Awards — Best Therapist! 💜🏆

With over 30 years of experience as a licensed therapist, Debra has dedicated her life to helping others heal, grow, and embrace their journey with compassion, wisdom, and care. She is deeply honored and moved by this acknowledgment from the community she loves serving.
Her impact reaches far beyond the therapy room, and our entire team at Journey Embraced Counseling couldn’t be more proud of her! 🌟
Now let’s help push her through to the FINAL ROUND!

🗳️ Vote today at: KCPCAwards.com
Thank you for continuing to support mental health, healing, and the incredible work Debra has poured into this field for three decades. Every vote counts! 💜

03/29/2026

An injury doesn’t just impact your body—it can shake your confidence, identity, and mindset as an athlete.

Recover Well Series
Mental Recovery & Return to Sport
For Injured High School Athletes

This 6-part therapy series is designed to help athletes rebuild mentally and return to their sport stronger, more focused, and more confident.

✨ In this series, athletes will:
• Rebuild confidence after injury
• Strengthen mental toughness & resilience
• Understand their competitive identity
• Learn mental skills needed to return to play
• Develop effective routines & habits
• Track progress and celebrate small wins

This isn’t just about getting back in the game…
It’s about becoming a stronger athlete because of what you’ve been through.

🗓 Starts: Monday, April 20th
⏰ Time: 6:30 PM (6 consecutive weeks)

📍 Location:
Journey Embraced Counseling
12480 W. 62nd Terr, Suite 101
Shawnee, KS 66216

👨‍⚕️ Led by: Chris Gudjenov, MS, LPC
📩 To register: cstokes@jecounselingkc.com
⚠️ Limited to 10 participants

Stronger than the setback starts here. 💥

03/05/2026

Recover Well 💜🌱

03/05/2026

~Strong on the Outside. Under Pressure on the Inside.~

Athletes are often praised for their discipline, toughness, and drive.

But behind the pressure to perform, many athletes are quietly carrying:

• Anxiety about performance
• Fear of letting teammates or coaches down
• Identity tied closely to sport
• Pressure to push through stress or injuries
• Difficulty managing expectations on and off the field

This pressure affects adolescent athletes, college athletes, and high performers alike.

Mental health support isn’t weakness.
It’s training for the mind.

Developing mental resilience, emotional regulation, and confidence can make a powerful difference — both in sport and in life.

Send a message to learn more

03/03/2026

✨ Meet Debra Richardson ✨

Yesterday we talked about the hidden weight many women carry in midlife — aging parents, shifting identity, long-term marriage dynamics, career stress, and years of putting everyone else first.

This is the work Debra Richardson is deeply passionate about.

With over 30 years of clinical experience, Debra provides steady, grounded support for:

• Women navigating perimenopause and menopause
• Empty nest transitions
• Caring for aging parents and sandwich generation stress
• Late-life divorce or long-term relationship strain
• Grief and major life transitions
• Anxiety and depression in high-functioning adults

Debra also works with men navigating anger concerns, helping them develop healthier coping strategies and relational skills.

She accepts UHC, BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, Kansas Medicaid, and EAP referrals.

If you’re in a season of transition and looking for experienced, compassionate support, Debra is now accepting new clients.

Contact us to schedule.

03/02/2026

The Hidden Burnout of Midlife Women
No one talks enough about how heavy midlife can feel.
You may be:

• Supporting aging parents
• Navigating perimenopause or menopause
• Managing teenagers
• Holding a career together
• Trying to stay connected in a long-term marriage
All at the same time.

Many women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s describe feeling exhausted — not just physically, but emotionally.

This season often brings identity shifts, grief, changing roles, and quiet burnout after years of caregiving.
If you’ve found yourself thinking:
“I shouldn’t feel this overwhelmed.”
“I just need to push through.”
“Everyone else needs me.”

Pause.

Chronic self-sacrifice eventually turns into depletion.
Midlife is not a crisis.
It’s a transition.
And transitions require support.
You are allowed to need care too.

Send a message to learn more

03/02/2026

We currently have 2 spots remaining for our Connected: Mother–Daughter Pr***en Group.
If you’ve been considering joining, this is a great time to reserve your place. Space is intentionally limited to create safety and meaningful connection.

Email to register: tanise@jecounselingkc.com

02/26/2026

The pr***en years can feel tender.

One minute she’s your little girl.
The next… there’s eye-rolling, big emotions, and growing independence.

If you’ve noticed more tension lately — over phones, friends, tone, or attitude — you’re not alone. And it doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It means she’s growing.

✨ We’re excited to introduce Connected: Staying Close in the Pr***en Years — a 4-part small group experience created specifically for mothers and daughters ages 10–13.

This intimate group will help you:

• Navigate big emotions without constant power struggles
• Strengthen communication and mutual understanding
• Create emotional safety during this transitional season
• Protect and deepen your bond before the teen years

Space is intentionally limited to create warmth, honesty, and real connection.

Saturdays | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Shawnee, KS
$65 per session per mother–daughter pair

If this season feels harder than you expected, we would love to walk alongside you.

Message us or email tanise@jecounselingkc.com to reserve your spot.

02/25/2026

Not all wounds leave bruises.

If you’ve ever walked away from a relationship feeling confused, doubting yourself, or wondering how you lost your voice… you’re not alone.

Healing from narcissistic and emotionally abusive dynamics takes more than “just moving on.” It takes safe space. It takes understanding. It takes being around people who get it.

Recover Well is a small, intentionally intimate group where we slow down, rebuild self-trust, and gently untangle trauma bonds — together.

This is for you if:
• You’re tired of second-guessing yourself

• You’re ready to understand what really happened

• You want to rebuild confidence and healthy boundaries

• You’re craving connection without judgment
Small groups. Real support. Steady healing.
Spots are limited on purpose.

Send a message or email Tanise@jecounselingkc.com to reserve your space. 💜🌱

10/07/2025

✨ Meet the Newest Member of Our Team! ✨

We’re excited to welcome Jonathan Slade, B.Th., to Journey Embraced Counseling! 🙌

Jonathan is a pastor + life coach who’s passionate about helping men grow in clarity, purpose, and emotional wellness.

He brings years of experience walking with men through:
👉 Life transitions
👉 Goal setting & personal growth
👉 Faith, identity & leadership
👉 Becoming the man, husband, or father you’re called to be

He’s now accepting new clients for faith-based men’s counseling and life coaching!

📲 Call (816)974-3389 or visit the link in our bio to book a session or learn more!

Let’s give Jonathan a warm welcome 👏