Meet Tyrone Townsend of Townsend Counseling Services

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyrone Townsend

Tyrone, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
From Law Enforcement to Counseling: My Journey to Helping Others

As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, my practice focuses on helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s challenges. Through years of experience, I’ve learned that no problem is too great to overcome. Helping people is what I look forward to every day.

Background & Family Balance
I grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, raised by a single mother while carrying the trauma of losing my father in a tragic police shooting when I was young. That experience shaped me in ways I couldn’t fully understand at the time.

After high school, I went to Fort Scott Community College to play football before transferring to Emporia State University. It was at Emporia State where I met my future wife, Molly, who was on the track team.

Even in college, I had mixed emotions about my career path. Wanting to serve in some capacity, I joined the Army, which helped me realize that I wanted to wear a uniform to help people.

After completing my military service, I sought opportunities at the Riley County Police Department (RCPD), and around that time, Molly and I got married in her hometown of Washington, KS. She’s been my rock through everything. We decided to settle in Manhattan—a perfect middle ground between the small-town feel of Washington and the big-city energy of Kansas City. I became a police officer at RCPD, and she started teaching fifth grade at West Elementary in Wamego.

Now, as parents to three amazing kids, we’re navigating the joys and challenges of raising a family. Our son, Harrison, is nine and absolutely loves football, baseball, and basketball—he spends endless hours reading his favorite book series “Dogman.”. Our oldest daughter, Sophia, is five and loves to color and make crafts. She’s an artist in our family. The youngest, Harper is two years old, she is our energy in the family and loves both her siblings.

Balancing family and work hasn’t always been easy. My wife and kids have put up with years of me working nights and weekends, but I’m now focused on building my practice around a schedule that allows me to be there for them more.

Transition to Counseling
During my time as a police officer with RCPD, I served as a School Resource Officer (SRO) at Manhattan High School from 2017 to 2019. That role was a turning point for me. Students would come to me seeking help with personal struggles, and while I had the empathy and motivation to support them, I lacked the clinical tools to provide real interventions.

Determined to change that, I enrolled in an online master’s program at Northwestern University, where professors in Chicago led live-streamed classes twice a week. Those courses opened my eyes to the world of mental health and counseling. Initially, my goal was to be a more effective police officer—one who could de-escalate crises and help people through moments of panic, grief, and loss. And while I did that, I realized I wanted to do more. Eventually, I made the difficult decision to step away from law enforcement and transition fully into counseling in early 2022.

Looking back, my time as an SRO played a major role in shaping my work today. I wanted to be a different kind of officer—one who was approachable and built trust. Having lost my father to police violence, I didn’t always have positive feelings about law enforcement growing up. That gave me a unique perspective. I knew that trust was everything.

One way I built that trust was through social media, using platforms like Snapchat to connect with students in a positive way. I still hear from former students who reach out for guidance. I’ve written countless job and scholarship references for them, which is incredibly rewarding.

Building a Professional Counseling Practice
My vision as a counselor is simple: to support and guide people toward positive change and help them create the life they desire. I love providing hope when people feel hopeless and helping them find deep healing and transformation.

As a Black man, I know the importance of representation in mental health. I want to serve as a model for others—showing that education, success, and access to mental health support are within reach. Many people of color hesitate to seek help because they don’t see professionals who look like them. I want to change that. If I can create a safe space, others will feel safe, too.

I specialize in working with veterans, first responders, fathers, and people of color, among others. Many men struggle to find support when it comes to fatherhood, finances, and work-life balance. I want to be someone they can sit across from and feel understood.

Beyond individual counseling, I’m passionate about education and giving back, after my masters degree I entered a post-master’s Counseling Leadership program to earn my EdS in Counseling Leadership (Education Specialist). I then took a part-time adjunct instructor position with the counseling department where I teach master level students in clinical mental health counseling.

This next step in my journey is about more than just individual therapy. It’s about making a broader impact on mental health policies and programs that serve our communities. At the end of the day, I want to be an advocate and leader in this field, ensuring that more people have access to the support they need.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I initially struggled with confidence, feeling hesitant to step out of my comfort zone as a police officer and into the unknown world of business ownership. Unlike other entrepreneurs, I didn’t have access to capital or the business-savvy mindset that seemed second nature to them. The transition felt daunting, but I was determined to push through the fear and build something meaningful.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Townsend Counseling Services is dedicated to providing high-quality mental health support to individuals and couples through psychotherapy and marriage counseling. As the owner and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, I specialize in the Gottman Method for couples counseling, helping partners strengthen their relationships through evidence-based techniques. This is my passion and my niche—I love helping couples rebuild trust, improve communication, and deepen their connection. I have completed Gottman Level Two training and am advancing to Level Three this year to further enhance my expertise.

Beyond couples therapy, I have a strong commitment to serving first responders. As a former first responder myself, I understand the unique mental health challenges they face, especially related to trauma. My experience allows me to provide specialized support to those who dedicate their lives to protecting others.

What sets Townsend Counseling Services apart is my personal experience and deep understanding of both the law enforcement and mental health worlds. I blend clinical expertise with real-world experience, creating a space where clients feel understood, validated, and supported.

I take great pride in offering a safe and inclusive space for healing and growth. Whether helping couples navigate challenges or supporting individuals through trauma and mental health struggles, my goal is to empower clients to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
“I love classical music! I played the cello from elementary school through my senior year of high school. I’m also a big fan of George R.R. Martin, so I have the A Song of Ice and Fire book series and enjoy watching Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Even though I’m from the inner city, I’ve always loved the country. One of my favorite things to do is watch the stars on a clear summer night from my wife’s family farm in northcentral Kansas.”

Pricing:

• $150.00 per 55-minute session

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.townsendcounselingmhk.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Townsend-Counseling-Services-100075869141250/