Ayanna Mills , LPC

Ayanna Mills is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Missouri with 13 years of experience in the mental health field. She earned a BS in Psychology from the University of Central Missouri and a MS in Mental Health Counseling from Walden University. Over the years she has supported people facing depression, anxiety, relationship and intimacy concerns, self-esteem difficulties, trauma and abuse, addictions, career challenges, bipolar disorder, and many other life stressors and diagnoses.

Her therapeutic approach blends evidence-based techniques with a warm, human connection. She draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Client-Centered principles, and mindfulness practices to tailor care to each person’s needs. Colleagues have called her a rapport-building therapist because of her ability to help clients feel seen and engaged in the work. She meets clients where they are in the stages of change and partners with them to address sensitive or difficult topics at a pace that feels manageable.

Mills emphasizes empathy, honesty, and genuine collaboration throughout the counseling process. She works with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds and focuses on practical strategies for coping, healing, and moving forward. When clients are ready to begin, she stands alongside them in the process of growth and change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Flexible Online Care

Ayanna Mills uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people clarify what matters most to them and build practical habits that support valued living, which can be useful for anxiety, stress, and motivation-related concerns. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop skills for changing behaviors and managing symptoms like depression and panic. Client-Centered Therapy informs her relational stance - providing a warm, empathic presence that emphasizes respect, active listening, and collaboration to help clients feel understood and supported.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Mills works collaboratively with each person to assess goals, preferences, and responses to different techniques, adjusting methods as needed so care aligns with the client’s needs and comfort.

Online therapy with Ayanna offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call or phone, and shorter exchanges can happen via live chat or text-based messaging. These options allow clients to access licensed professionals from home, balance therapy with work and family obligations, and continue treatment even when schedules or locations change.