About Me: About Me

Colby Bruner (He/Him)

Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist | KS, MO, CO, IL

Navigating our relationships and mental health can feel overwhelming, and often, people feel hopeless and like things won't get better. As a narrative-based, attachment therapist, I'm here to help you find hope and offer you tools to better your relationship to yourself and the most important people in your life through story-telling, collaborative conversations, and identifying the tools that will help you get your life (and relationships) back on track. I have experience working with attachment injuries and/or instability, depression, anxiety, and neurodiversity. I also love working with folks navigating the dating and hookup scene, as well as those working to better their work-life balance and create a stronger sense of purpose in their life and career. Additionally, with couples, I am passionate about helping couples prepare for long-term commitment and pre-marital therapy. .

Session Fees:

Individual Therapy Session Fee per 50 minute session: $150 or Insurance

Aetna
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City | New Directions | Lucet
Optum (including United Healthcare)

Couples & Family Therapy Session Fees per 50 minute Session: $150

**Please note: I am not accepting new couples at this time, but can add you to a wait list**

Treatment Modalities:

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Attachment-Based
Collaborative Assessment & Management of Suicidality (CAMS-Care)
Contextual Family Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Existential
Experiential
Gottman Method (Level 1, Trauma & Affairs)
Narrative
Psychodynamic
Strength-Based

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Read My Blog

—Phoebe (official therapy assistant)

Click Here to Book a Consult

It's been a hard week to be a therapist. I've debated on how political I should get, but I've seen first hand from clients how badly people need hope. So many of us in the LGBT community have been hurting after this election. We're angry, numb, scared, and so incredibly disappointed that America made the decision it did.

I just wanted to remind you that our community perseveres. We may have rights taken away, but we've never let that stop us before. We won't let that stop us now. We persevere.

Exciting news!! Colby is now officially an in-network provider with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City! If you've been thinking about starting therapy, now is a great time to start!

Link in bio to schedule an appointment

This certainly isn't the way I was hoping that the election would pan out. If you're scared, it's okay to be scared. And angry. And overwhelmed. And any other emotion you're feeling right now.

But please don't give up. Don't let the fear win.

If you're struggling right now, please reach out for help. Use your coping skills. Call your friends or a safety hotline. Go to a safe space. Hug the people you love.

We're going to get through this, as hard as it may be.

Had such a fun time co-sponsoring @midamericalgbt 's B2B last Thursday at @gaels_public_house ! It's always so great to connect with local LGBT business owners, especially on #worldmentalhealthday

Feeling unappreciated? Here’s how to improve communication in your relationship.

#couplestherapy #lgbtdating #gaymarriage #queermentalhealth #denvertherapist #queertherapist

**This content is educational in nature and is in no way to substitute or replace medical advice. We always recommend working with a qualified healthcare provider to manage your mental health and relationships**

#TherapyTips: How to prepare for your first therapy session. Swipe for useful tips!

#mentalhealth #lgbtqmentalhealth #depression #anxiety #queermentalhealth #coloradotherapist #denvertherapistworkingwithcouples #couplestherapy #therapistinkc

**This content is educational in nature and is in no way to substitute or replace medical advice. We always recommend working with a qualified healthcare provider to manage your mental health and relationships**

What's one thing you wish more people understood about LGBTQ+ mental health? Share your thoughts in the comments!

#lgbtqmentalhealth #pridementalhealth #gaytherapist #lgbtq

Do you know your attachment style? Discovering it can be the first step toward healthier relationships.

#attachment #attachmenttherapist #anxiousattachment #avoidantattachment #secureattachment #disorganizedattachment #queermentalhealth #relationships #lgbtqrelationships #queertherapist

**This content is educational in nature and is in no way to substitute or replace medical advice. We always recommend working with a qualified healthcare provider to manage your mental health and relationships**

I hope you can appreciate my dad jokes. 😆

Why do therapists always carry a pencil?

So we can draw out your feelings!

#therapyhumor #dadjokes #kctherapist #therapistinkc #laughteristhebestmedicine #queertherapist

Ever tried therapy with a twist? Narrative Therapy can help reframe your story. Learn how it might work for you! Link is in bio!

#therapistinkc #lgbttherapy #narrativetherapy #anxiety #depression #queermentalhealth

Why are secure attachments so important? They build trust and intimacy. Let's dive into 5 tips on building secure attachment!

#queerdating #couplegoals #secureattachment #trust #kctherapist

#notesfromyourtherapist #traumarecovery #healing #generationaltrauma

Ever wondered how to make open relationships work? Here’s a brief guide to navigating them.

#openrelationships #ethicalnonmonogamy #trust #lgbtmentalhealth #therapistinkc #queertherapist #polyamory

**This content is educational in nature and is in no way to substitute or replace medical advice. We always recommend working with a qualified healthcare provider to manage your mental health and relationships**

Therapy is not just for ‘fixing’ things – it’s for enhancing your life! 🌟 What’s one personal goal you’re working on?

#therapy #anxiety #depression #lgbtmentalhealth #kctherapist #therapistinkc #mentalhealth #queertherapist

Feeling overwhelmed? Here are 3 quick tips to manage anxiety effectively. Swipe left to check them out!

#anxiety #anxietymanagement #copingskills #lgbttherapist #therapistinkc #lgbtmentalhealth

**This content is educational in nature and is in no way to substitute or replace medical advice. We always recommend working with a qualified healthcare provider to manage your mental health and relationships**

“Let’s talk about communication! 🗣 How do you and your partner handle disagreements?”

#ConflictManagement #arguments #couplestherapy #couplestherapist #conflictstyle #lgbttherapy

5 mindsets that will fundamentally change your relationship! Check them out!

What other mantras help you build trust in your relationship?

#kctherapist #lgbt #queerdating #gaycouples #couplegoals

Saw some other therapists doing this and wanted to jump on the bandwagon. Here's a little about me (Colby) as a human when I'm not in the therapy room 😊

Feels weird that it's already been 6 years since the Pulse nightclub shooting. Thinking of those affected by this today, and our community as a whole. Events like these are why we march.

Words cannot express how much fun we had meeting all of you at Pride! Thank you for making it such a fun event!

Come say hi to us on the last day of KC pride fest! I'll be here till 5!!

I can't even begin to tell you how proud of my team I am! They've gone above and beyond today, making Pride Fest amazing for all of you!

Come see Erin and I (and Harry - I forgot to take a picture when he was here) this weekend at Pride! We're out here rain or shine and would love to meet you!

Celebrate #kcpridefest2024 with a chance to win! We are holding a FREE (That's right, we said FREE) Raffle to kickstart the festivities!!!

To enter:
1) Follow our Instagram @kccharacterdevelopment and like this post

2) Submit your entry using the link in bio

Only 1 entry per person. Raffle will be drawn at the end of KC Pride Fest and the winner will be notified within 7 days. Must be 18 years old to enter. See full terms & conditions here:
www.kccharacterdevelopment.com/pride-raffle-terms-and-conditions

Gearing up for #kcpridefest2024 in a major way! Come see us tomorrow to grab a free bookmark and introduce yourself!

"Find your voice. And once you do, never quiet it ever again." - Robin S. Baker

"Friendship fuels the flames of romance because it offers the best protection against feeling adversarial toward your spouse" -- John Gottman, PhD

We're kicking off Pride month in a major way! Celebrate yourself by booking your first session with either Erin or Colby by 6/9/24 to get 20% off your first four therapy sessions. Link to schedule is in our bio.

Your first session must be held by 7/14/24 to qualify. Initial consultations do not qualify.

Even in 2024, there are still people who will go to bed tonight scared and ashamed of who they are.

June is the month we celebrate pride. Not only pride in our identities, but pride in the strides our community has made, so each generation can look at the next and go, "they have it so much better."

Hopefully, one day, there won't be fear and shame attached to being queer; that everyone will have the opportunity to confidently be themselves and receive the love and connection they deserve.

For now, we march.

Today the team here at KCCD would like to shoutout and express gratitude for all of the teachers who work so hard to be there for their students. Teaching is often a thankless (and underpaid) job and sometimes you don't realize the impact you have on your students.

I can think of a handful of teachers who forever changed my life by inspiring new ideas and who were emotionally present for me during some of the hardest times of my life.

So from all of us here: THANK YOU!

#worldteacherday #teachers #inspire #education #therapy #therapistinkc #kansascitytherapist

The AIDS Service Foundation Kansas City did such an amazing job hosting this year's AIDS walk!

There are currently 5,800 people in our community living with HIV/AIDS with around 200 people contracting the virus every year.

While HIV isn't the death sentence it used to be, especially at the height of the epidemic, we still want to encourage people to take preventative measures like using PrEP, condoms, getting regularly tested, and talking with potential partners about your status.

We were so excited to see Dirty Dorothy, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and the Heartland Men's Chorus starting off our morning walk!

If you'd like to donate to the AIDS Service foundation, you still can! You can donate using our team's link: www.aidswalkkansascity.org/kccd

#aidswalk #kansascity #aidswalkkc #aidswalkkc2024 #pride #undectablemeansuntransmittable #therapistinkc #kctherapist

**This content is educational in nature and is in no way meant to substitute medical advice. We always recommend working with a qualified healthcare professional to manage your physical, sexual, and mental health and relational needs.**

Our team was so honored to be able to participate in the AIDS Walk today, and we had so much fun talking all things queer and mental health!

We were so impressed by the turnout this year, despite the warnings of rain. Thankfully the weather held out and everyone was able to have a great time helping with an amazing cause.

The AIDS Service Foundation did a phenomenal job hosting this event! Everything ran smoothly!

If you'd like to donate, you still can! You can donate using our team's link: www.aidswalkkansascity.org/kccd

#aidswalk #kansascity #aidswalkkc #aidswalkkc2024 #pride #undectablemeansuntransmittable #therapistinkc #kctherapist

Our team is walking in the Kansas City AIDS Walk 2024 this Saturday and we're so excited to support our community through our fundraising efforts!

If you are able to donate to this wonderful cause, all of the funds raised go directly to organizations providing shelter, medical care, and emergency services to those in needs. Every dollar raised stays in KC, which makes a huge difference in our community!

You can donate directly through our team's link: https://www.aidswalkkansascity.org/kccd

If you can't tell, we love books around here! We are so excited to celebrate World Book Day with you and share with you, some of our current favs! Read on to see our recommendations!

What have been some of your favorite books you've read recently?

#worldbookday #worldbookday24 #reading #writing #booklovers #booknerds #mentalhealth #therapistinKC #kctherapist

I always tell my clients to remember to breathe like a dolphin. Why, ou might ask?

Well, because I have weird dolphin facts.

Dolphins have to consciously think to breathe. Their brains don't automatically remember to breathe like ours do. If they forget to breathe, they'll drown. That's why they sleep with only one eye open at a time!

Breathing slows down your nervious system and, when your breath is regulated, it sends a message to the rest of your brain that you're safe.

Because if you were unsafe, you'd likely be breathing fast and shallow, sweating, and having a fast heartbeat.

Regulating your breath slows down other body/brain functions and reminds you that you're safe. This helps you reduce your anxiety and get back to being in the moment.

So the next time you're feeling anxious, just remember to be like a dolphin and breathe.

**This content is educational in nature and is in no way meant to substitute medical advice. We always recommend working with a qualified healthcare professional to manage your mental health and relational needs.**

#dolphinfacts #anxiety #anxietymanagement #mindfulness #deepbreaths #deepbreathing #meditation #kctherapist #therapistinkc

We stand in solidarity with our queer sisters! This is a week to honor all of the queer women who have paved the path for queer rights through their advocacy and trailblazing!

#lesbianvisibiltyweek #lesbianvisibility #queermentalhealth #queertherapist #therapistinkc #kansascitytherapist

We just got images from our vendor on some fabulous merch! Plan to visit us at KC Pride this year, meet our team, and get one of these beauties!

#kcpride #kcpride2024 #therapistinkc #kctherapist

Let's face it: dating in the digital age is hard.

Therapy can help with that.

In therapy, you'll learn the skills that are central to dating and maintaining secure relationships, from managing your attachment anxiety to conflict management to recognizing both red and green flags. We got you!

**This content is educational in nature and is in no way to substitute or replace medical advice. We always recommend working with a qualified healthcare provider to manage your mental health and relationships**

#dating #relationships #attachment #therapy #lgbt #lgbttherapy #kansascitytherapist #queertherapist #anxiety #selflove #selfworth

If we're always looking for the red flags, sometimes we forget to look out for the green ones. They're just as important to notice.

Did I leave off any green flags you look for in a partner?

**this post is educational in nature and does not substitute medical advice. We always recommend working with a qualified healthcare provider to manage your mental health and relationships.***

#dating #attachment #greenflags #affectionaffair #lgbtjoy #lgbtdating #queertherapist #gaytherapist #gaydating

"Our state of mind can turn even neutral comments into fighting words, distorting what we hear to fit what we fear” -- Dan Siegel, MD

#couplestherapy #lgbtdating #couplefights #dating #stateofmind #attachment #attachmenttherapy #therapistinkc #queertherapist

This has been on my mind ever since the live-action series came out. This was SO fun to put together. And while no one is their attachment style (this really only describes how one shows up in a specific relationship), I had a blast thinking through how each character shows up relationally.

What do you think? Did I get them right?

#attachmentstyle #avatarthelastairbender #geektherapy #nerd #therapistinkc

There's a lot of stigma, still, around HIV and I hope to clear up some of this by educating you on what U=U really means.

If someone is HIV+, but undetectable, that means they're medications are working. It means that when they go to take an HIV test, there are fewer than 200 copies of HIV per mm of blood. This means the virus cannot be transmitted through sexual intercourse.

KCCD is participating in AIDS Walk KC 2024 and could use your help in our fundraising efforts. If you'd like to donate, visit: www.aidswalkkansascity.org/kccd

**This post is educational in nature and does not substitute medical advice. We always recommend working with a qualified medical professional to get help with managing your healthcare needs and to assess if PrEP is right for you**

#undectablemeansuntransmittable #hivawarenessandprevention #hivawareness #stepuptoendaids #aidswalk #aidswalkkc #hivawarenesswalk #aidswalkkansascity

Love-maps are the foundation of any relationship. These strengthen the bond that's already there. Love-maps are a term from Drs. John & Julie Gottman, relationship experts, to describe "knowing your partner's inner world."

In simpler terms, love maps are those ice-breaker or "get to know you" questions.

But when you're in a long term relationship, you forget to ask these types of things.

When was the last time you and your partner sat down and just asked each other random questions? I guarantee you'll feel more connected and understand your partner a little more if you did.

**this post is educational in nature and does not substitute medical advice. We always recommend working with a qualified healthcare professional to get help with managing your relationships and mental health**

#queerjoys #datewithpride #relationshipgoals #affectionaffair #coupleslove #datinglife #lovemaps #lovewins #secureattachment #therapistinkc

You are doing the best you can and that's "good enough."

#dailyinspiration #goodenough #sundayfunday #youvegotthis #therapistinkc

Happy World Health Day! This year's theme is "My Health, My Right." In honor of that, we want to acknowledge that everyone has the right to access therapy and we've got plans in the works to make therapy even more accessible here at KCCD.

Pay attention for future posts about how we're planning on making therapy more accessible. We're hard at work over here, behind the scenes. :)

#worldhealthday #myhealthmyright #worldhealthday2024 #affordabletherapy #therapistinkc

My no. 1 piece of advice for all my single and dating people out there!

#kctherapist #dating #friendship #lgbtq #queertherapist

Have you ever heard of this thing us therapists like to talk about called "secure attachment" and not really known what that actually looks like?

Following Dr. Dan Siegel's model of attachment, there are four main qualities of security in relationship: seen, safe, soothed, and supported.

What does that actually look like in daily life, though? In this post, I dive into each of the four qualities and explain what that might actually look like.

**this post is educational in nature and does not substitute medical advice. We always recommend working with a qualified healthcare professional to get help with managing your relationships and mental health**

#lovenotesforyou #connectionmatters #LGBTQDating #datinglife #pridedating #rainbowromance #lovewins #datewithpride #therapistinkc #secureattachments #attachment #attachmenttherapy

How well do you cope with stress? A study from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine reveals that men who put extra effort into using coping skills to manage their stress can increase their lifespan. How cool is that?

#menshealthtips #copingtools #menshealthmatters #HealthyMen #menswellness #mentalhealthformen #healthylifestylemen #ManlyWellness #copingwithanxiety #psychologicalstress #therapistinkc

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Individual Therapy

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Colby Bruner (He/Him)

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