Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate O’Keefe.
Hi Kate, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After graduating college, I began my professional career with Teach For America, an organization focused on addressing educational inequity. I was placed in Kansas City, where I taught early childhood education at Operation Breakthrough, a nonprofit supporting children and families facing poverty and trauma.
During my time there, I worked closely with play therapists and social workers, and I found myself drawn to the emotional and relational aspects of the work. I saw the profound impact that therapeutic support could have on children and their families, and it sparked a shift in my own path, from educator to therapist. After completing my time as a Teach for America Corps Member in 2022, I decided to go back to school to get my Masters of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy.
In graduate school, I fell in love with systems work, exploring how people function within relationships, families, and communities. I was especially drawn to working with couples and families, helping them navigate relationship dynamics, life transitions, and personal growth. I came to value the power of creating a space where people feel truly seen, safe, and understood.
While in graduate school, I chose to continue working in the nonprofit space and interned at Hope Family Therapy in Atchison, Kansas, a rural agency committed to increasing access to care. That experience deepened my understanding of the unique mental health challenges faced in rural communities, such as limited resources, stigma, and accessibility issues. It also allowed me to gain broader clinical experience and grow my skills as a therapist, working with a diverse range of clients across the lifespan.
After completing my degree, I decided to take the next step and open my own private practice, Authentic Connection KC, where I could bring that vision to life and support clients in meaningful, lasting ways.
Today, in my private practice, I bring all of these experiences with me. This informs a warm, grounded, systemic and culturally aware approach. I work with individuals, couples, and families, helping them build stronger connections, navigate challenges, and move toward more authentic and fulfilling lives. At the core of my work is the belief that healing happens in relationships and that everyone deserves a safe space to explore, grow, and be themselves.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think I could have grown, personally or professionally, without encountering a few struggles along the way. For me, it’s been a mix of both. Personally, I’ve had to learn how to take care of myself while showing up fully for others, which is a constant balancing act in this field. Holding space for people’s pain and growth is meaningful work, but it also requires intentional boundaries and self reflection.
Professionally, the transition from educator to graduate student to therapist wasn’t always seamless. Returning to grad school, shifting identities, and building clinical confidence took time. Starting a private practice came with its own set of challenges — from navigating business logistics to facing imposter syndrome and learning how to trust my voice as a clinician. There were (and still are) moments of doubt, moments of burnout, and moments where I questioned whether I was “doing it right.”
Through it all, I’ve come to see those struggles as essential. They pushed me to get clearer on my values, to ask for help when I needed it, and to keep growing, both as a person and as a therapist. Those experiences have made me more empathetic, more grounded, and ultimately more effective in the work I do with clients.
We’ve been impressed with Authentic Connection KC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Authentic Connection KC is a mental health therapy private practice located in Prairie Village, KS right off 75th and Stateline.
I’m a solo practitioner offering individual, couple, and family psychotherapy services. At the heart of my practice is a belief in a whole-person, collaborative approach — when you become a client, we work together to find a healing path that fits you and your current life circumstances. I integrate systemic thinking with evidence-based practices, tailoring each session to meet your unique needs, experiences, and goals.
What truly sets my practice apart is my approach. I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all model. Instead, I work relationally, meeting each client with curiosity, compassion, and flexibility. Therapy with me is a co-created space, grounded in safety, honesty, and respect, where you can explore your story without judgment. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, relationship struggles, family conflict, or major life transitions, I aim to support you in making sense of what’s happening and moving forward with clarity and confidence.
I also care deeply about accessibility and affordability. I offer sliding scale spots based on income or what clients are realistically able to budget for therapy. While I’m a private pay provider and don’t work with insurance companies, this model gives us more freedom to focus on what matters most: your healing at your own pace.
What I’m most proud of is the intentional, client-centered nature of this work. This isn’t a high-volume, clinical-feeling practice, it’s a space built on trust, authenticity, and connection. My goal is to help people feel seen, supported, and empowered in their own growth.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
It can be hard to predict exactly where the mental health field will go in the next 5–10 years, but I do see some shifts already underway. There’s a growing emphasis on the need for accessible, culturally responsive care, as well as destigmatizing mental health, which I hope continues to deepen across the industry. I also have noticed an increased interest in integrative and holistic approaches, which aligns with my belief in supporting the whole person, not just the symptom.
I am also seeing technology play a bigger role, from telehealth to mental health apps, which is creating more access for some, but also raises questions about quality, connection, and long-term impact. As someone who values relational work, I’m paying close attention to how I can keep therapy personal and grounded even as the landscape evolves.
Personally, I plan to continue learning, growing, and adapting, while staying rooted in the values that brought me to this work in the first place: empathy, collaboration, and meaningful connection. No matter how the field changes, I aim to maintain a practice where everyone feels safe to show up as they are, explore their experiences openly, and feel supported in making meaningful change.
Pricing:
- Individual Psychotherapy: $150
- Couple/Relational Psychotherapy: $150
- Family Psychotherapy: $150
- Sliding Scale Fees begin at $25
- Free 15 minute Consultation Call
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.authenticconnectionkc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authentic.connectionkc?igsh=MXZsMm1yN2cybG5udA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Other: Psychology Today Profile: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1358059 E-mail: kate@authenticconnectionkc
