Families go through difficult seasons, too.
Sometimes it's ongoing conflict, a major life transition, or the stress of trying to meet everyone's needs at once. Other times, communication has become strained, emotions are running high, or it feels like your family has fallen into patterns that
are hard to change.
Family counseling offers a space to slow down and better understand what's happening beneath those patterns. Together, we'll begin to understand the patterns your family gets caught in and explore different ways of relating to one another.
I'm Sarah Richardson, a family therapist in Kansas City, Missouri. I work with families of all kinds who want to better understand one another, strengthen their relationships, and move through life's challenges together.
Family counseling
Kansas City, MO
Every family is different — in structure, in culture, in what they need. I work with nuclear families, single-parent families, blended and step-families, multi-generational households, and any other configuration. You don't have to fit a particular mold to benefit from this work.
WHO THIS IS FOR
What brings families to counseling
- Persistent conflict between family members: siblings, parents and children,
or partners co-parenting - Communication that repeatedly breaks down or escalates
- A major life transition like divorce, remarriage, a new child, a move, illness, or loss
- A family member struggling with mental health, substance use, or a significant life event
- Blended family challenges, navigating step-relationships and new dynamics
- Estrangement or distance between family members
- A family that's doing okay but wants to be more intentional about how they connect
Family counseling can be helpful at many different moments — not just when things feel broken, but when you sense there's a healthier way to be together and you're not sure how to get there. Common reasons families reach out include:
my approach
My approach to family counseling
Working with families requires holding a wider lens than individual therapy. I'm tracking not just what each person says, but how the family moves together — the patterns, the alliances, the moments of connection and rupture.
Families are shaped by culture, religion, history, and identity in profound ways. I don't bring a one-size-fits-all model to family work. I try to understand your family's particular context and work with it, not around it.
Cultural humility
I approach families as living systems, where every member influences and is influenced by the others. Rather than focusing on 'what's wrong' with one person, we look at the patterns that have developed between people, and how shifting even small things in those patterns can create meaningful change throughout the whole system.
Systems thinking
Underlying most family conflict is some form of disconnection: people not feeling seen, heard, or valued by the people they love most. I work to create enough safety in the room that family members can move past defensive positions and speak from the more vulnerable place underneath.
Attachment & relational safety
Family sessions are 50 minutes, though for larger families or more complex situations we may occasionally schedule longer sessions. I typically start by meeting with all relevant family members together, though I may request individual check-ins along the way.
Depending on your goals, family counseling can be short-term and focused, helping you navigate a specific transition or conflict, or it can be longer-term relational work. We'll talk about what makes sense for your family as
we go.
Sessions are conversations, not lectures. I'm not going to tell your family how it should work. I'll ask a lot of questions, notice patterns, and help you find new ways to talk to each other both in the room and at home.
What to expect in family counseling
WHAT TO EXPECT
My office is at KC Well Co., 3130 Troost Ave, Suite 202, Kansas City, MO 64109, in the Midtown neighborhood — with easy access from Brookside, the Plaza, the Crossroads District, and surrounding Kansas City communities.
Sessions are $120 for 50 minutes. I'm an out-of-network provider and can provide a superbill for potential insurance reimbursement. HSA and FSA payments accepted. A limited number of sliding scale spots are available — please ask during your free consult.-network benefits. HSA and FSA payments accepted.
Ready to take the Next Step?
family counseling
in Kansas City
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My office is located at KC Well Co., inside the historic Helzberg Building.
There is ample street parking, or our private parking lot just south of the building entrance.
KC Well Co. | 3130 Troost Ave, Suite 202, Kansas City, MO 64109
sarah@sarahrichardsoncounseling.com | 913-601-7280
Let's connect
June 2025 | sarahrichardsoncounseling.com | Sarah Richardson Counseling, LLC
Our Commitment
Sarah Richardson Counseling is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We strive to improve the user experience for everyone and to apply relevant accessibility standards to enhance usability and inclusivity. We aim to make our website accessible and usable in accordance with generally recognized guidelines and best practices, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA (and/or WCAG 2.2 Level AA), as published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
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Website Accessibility Statement
Sarah Richardson Counseling, LLC
June, 2025
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN ACCESS THIS INFORMATION.
You may have additional rights under Missouri law. If you have questions about your rights, you are encouraged to seek advice from an attorney licensed in your state.
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), you have certain rights regarding the use and disclosure of your Protected Health Information (“PHI”). This Notice explains those rights and my legal duties.
I understand that your health information is personal and confidential. I am committed to protecting your PHI and maintaining its privacy. I create and maintain records of the care and services you receive to provide quality treatment and to comply with legal requirements. This Notice applies to all records of your care created or maintained by this practice. I am required by law to: Maintain the privacy of your PHI, provide you with this notice of my legal duties and privacy practices, abide by the terms of this Notice currently in effect, notify you in the event of a breach of unsecured PHI. I reserve the right to revise this Notice at any time. Any revision will apply to all PHI I maintain. The updated Notice will be available in my office and on my website.
I. How I May Use and Disclose Your PHI
The following categories describe ways I may use and disclose your PHI. Not every example is listed, but all permitted uses fall within these categories:
1. Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations: I may use and disclose your PHI without written authorization for: to provide, coordinate, or manage your care. This may include consultation with other healthcare providers, to obtain payment for services provided. This may include billing insurance companies or providing documentation required for reimbursement.To support business operations such as scheduling, quality assessment, supervision, licensing requirements, and administrative functions. Disclosures for treatment are not limited to the minimum necessary standard, as providers may need full access to records to ensure quality care.
2. Legal Proceedings: If you are involved in a lawsuit or legal matter, I may disclose PHI in response to a court order. I may also respond to subpoenas or lawful requests if proper legal procedures are followed.
II. Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Written Authorization
Certain uses and disclosures require your written authorization.
1. Psychotherapy Notes: I maintain psychotherapy notes as defined by HIPAA (45 CFR §164.501). These notes are kept separately from your clinical record. I will not use or disclose psychotherapy notes without your written authorization except: for my use in providing treatment, for training or supervision, to defend myself in legal proceedings initiated by you, for compliance investigations by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, when required by law, to avert a serious threat to health or safety.
2. Marketing: I will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes without your written authorization.
If you provide a testimonial or review and it contains identifiable health information, I will obtain a signed HIPAA authorization before publishing it. You may revoke authorization in writing at any time. Revocation will not affect prior disclosures made in reliance on the authorization.
3. Sale of PHI: I do not sell your PHI.
III. Uses and Disclosures That Do Not Require Authorization
Subject to legal limitations, I may use or disclose your PHI without authorization for: Appointment reminders, information about treatment alternatives or services, when required by federal or Missouri law, public health activities (e.g., reporting abuse or neglect), health oversight activities (audits, licensing), judicial or administrative proceedings, law enforcement purposes, to coroners or medical examiners, to prevent or lessen a serious threat to health or safety, workers’ compensation claims, specialized government functions
IV. Disclosures Requiring Opportunity to Agree or Object
You have the right to decide whether I may share information with family members, friends, or others involved in your care or payment for care. In emergency situations, I may share relevant information if necessary to prevent serious harm.
V. Your Rights Regarding Your PHI
You have the following rights:
1. Right to Request Restrictions: You may request limits on how I use or disclose your PHI. I am not required to agree to all requests. 2. Right to Restrict Disclosure to Health Plans: If you pay for services out-of-pocket in full, you may request that I not disclose related PHI to your health insurer. 3. Right to Confidential Communications: You may request that I contact you in a specific way (e.g., at a certain phone number or address). I will accommodate reasonable requests. 4. Right to Access Your Records: You may request an electronic or paper copy of your records. I will respond within 30 days. A reasonable fee may apply. 5. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You may request a list of disclosures made for purposes other than treatment, payment, or operations within the past six years. 6. Right to Request Amendment: If you believe your PHI is incorrect or incomplete, you may request a correction. I may deny the request but will provide a written explanation within 60 days. 7. Right to a Copy of This Notice: You may request a paper or electronic copy of this Notice at any time. 8. Right to Appoint a Personal Representative: If someone has medical power of attorney or is your legal guardian, they may exercise your rights. 9. Right to Revoke Authorization: You may revoke any authorization in writing at any time. 10. Right to File a Complaint: If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201, Phone: (877) 696-6775, Website: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.
VI. Changes to This Notice
I reserve the right to modify this Notice at any time. Revised notices will apply to all PHI maintained by this practice and will be made available in the office and on the website.