Dr. Heather Smith, PhD
I have specialized training in anxiety and have had the privilege of training with national experts in anxiety and OCD.
I am a generalist at heart, very familiar with treating a range of difficulties. Everyone can benefit from evidence-based care whether struggling with a life transition, trying to be a “good enough” parent, or developing the best version of themselves. I have a special interest in helping families and couples, especially when anxiety plays a significant role in relationships.
I pride myself on being authentic, down-to-earth, action-oriented, accepting and empathetic. I believe blending evidence-based practice and individualized insight is the heart of effective behavioral health treatment. Let's find what works and what matters, and do more of that!
I am a KC Native, graduating from Shawnee Mission South. I live in KCMO with my two daughters, and count my lucky stars that my grown son and extended family live nearby.
I provide in-person and televideo appointments and am licensed to offer Telehealth in these 26 states: Psypact Participating States.
I offer the following gold standards of care: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Habit Reversal Training (HRT), and Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), Trauma-focused CBT (TFCBT), Integrated Behavioral Couples Therapy (IBCT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
Learn more about Dr. Smith’s training here.
Dr. Chris Sexton, PhD, MS-LCSW, LSCSW
What have you -- or your child -- given up in an attempt to control anxiety and other difficult emotions? People collaborate with me because they are tired of suffering through their lives and want to live more fully -- with passion, joy and satisfaction. I specialize in mindfulness-based CBT for children, adolescents, families and adults. I have completed specialty training in a range of evidence-based modalities, including CBT with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP); Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT); Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); Trauma Focused treatments, including Trauma focused CBT (TF-CBT) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT); Comprehensive Behavioral (ComB) Treatment for Skin Picking and Hair Pulling Disorders, and Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), including PCIT for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM). My therapy style is warm, genuine and direct. Drawing from the principles of cultural humility, I provide a welcoming space for people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community, including gender nonconforming children, teens and adults. You can learn more about my background and research consulting services on my individual website: www.drchrissexton.com.
Savanna Stevens, PLPC
Hello everyone! My name is Savanna and I am a graduate of Avila University’s Counseling Psychology program. Throughout my studies, I had the privilege of working with Dr. Smith for more than two years under her supervision and have continued my work at Brookside Anxiety while pursuing licensure. Over the past two years I have had the opportunity to practice evidenced-based-care across the lifespan while treating Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety, and related conditions including: Social Anxiety, Selective Mutism, and Panic Disorder. I offer the following gold standards of care: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
I look forward to walking hand-in-hand with you as we embark on this journey and work together to create life long changes. Let’s get started!
“There is no standard normal. Normal is subjective. There are seven billion versions of normal on this planet.”
-Matt Haig-
Dr. Paige Jardine, PSYD, M.S.Ed, LMLP-t
“In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety.” - Abraham Maslow
Hello! I am a post doctoral candidate working under supervision to obtain my licensure in clinical psychology. I enjoy working with individuals across the lifespan who present with a variety of mental health challenges. My focus and passion are in treating adolescents and children, specifically those who struggle with behavior disorders, anxiety disorders, and depression. My previous experiences range from working in schools, a child inpatient psychiatric hospital, and a community mental health center. I am solution focused while utilizing a diverse range of intervention including CBT, ACT, and ERP. No one person is alike, and their treatment shouldn’t be either.
I am a wife, mother to a sweet baby boy, and a KC native. I graduated with my master's in educational psychology and research from Kansas University and continued my education to earn my Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology from a Kansas City University.
I love my role as a psychologist as I get to instill hope and peace of mind to others. I am honored to serve this wonderful Kansas City community and look forward to working with you at Brookside Anxiety Center!
Dr. Jardine is accepting new clients starting in September 2024
Practicum Students
Dr. Smith has a passion for nurturing and developing a new generation of exceptional providers of evidence-based care. She always has graduate level students learning from her who provide affordable care under her supervision.
Our students practice evidence based care with all ages while treating various mental health conditions.
To learn more about working with a practicum student, contact Dr. Smith.