About Benjamin

Benjamin Lyons, MACG, MAEd, LCPC, LPC

Pronouns: He/him/his
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
IL LCPC #180.015492 | KS LPC #03970

Counseling Approach

We all have needs. Sometimes they’re big, complicated needs like a feeling of belonging or sense of purpose. Sometimes needs are more basic like getting enough sleep or feeling safe where we live. Whenever we don’t get a need met, that creates unfinished business - needs that linger around. Too much unfinished business and we become fragmented, unable to effectively deal with our present because we’re so consumed about past needs or too worried about future ones. Using a foundation based on a combination of Gestalt Therapy, Functional Neurology, and Feminist Therapy, I help people define and address their needs.

About Me:

I’m a huge nerd! Outside of my counseling work, I spend a lot of my free time gaming with friends and family, reading or watching sci-fi, and getting lost down Wikipedia rabbit-trails. I’ve also become a big fan of history YouTube. Self-care is important so I make time for rolling around on my motorcycle whenever I can and aspire to flexibility by practicing yoga. A neurodiverse professional, I was diagnosed with ADHD in 2020 and ASD in 2023. Actively polyamorous since 2016I split my time between Kansas City where my husband is a therapist specializing in supporting kids and adolescents at Heartland Therapy Connection, and Chicago where my boyfriends and employer Practical Audacity, LLC, are based. 

Education & Clinical Training Experiences

I am currently a doctoral student, pursuing my Doctor of Human Services (DHSr) degree at Capella University.  I earned my Master of Arts in Counseling & Guidance (MACG) from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) and a Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) from the University of Saint Mary. I earned a bachelor's degree in History & Political Science from Emporia State University, summa cum laude.


As part of my MACG program, I completed a clinical practicum with Community Counseling & Assessment Services (CCAS), a community mental health clinic connected with UMKC. CCAS is a safety-net provider serving a diverse, urban population of primarily low-income clients. Following this practicum experience, I completed a year-long internship with the Counseling & Advocacy Center at Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC). In addition to individual and group counseling services, I clinically assessed students for ADA accommodation-eligibility, served as co-advisor to the campus Queer student organization, collaborated with the KCKCC Diversity Center on programing and advocacy, and advised faculty and staff on student crisis situations.


In addition to my academic work I've completed additional training in trauma-informed care with Stanford-trained clinical & forensic psychologist Dr. Jennifer Sweeton as well as the Arizona Trauma Institute and the International Green Cross Academy of Traumatology. I have also pursued sex therapy training and supervision experience with Dr. Tammy Nelson of the Integrative Sex Therapy Institute as well as AASECT Certified Sex Therapists Julia Schafermeyer, LCPC (KS & MO) & Rae McDaniel, LCPC (IL), author of Gender Magic. I also hold an honorary Doctor of Divinity in Social Justice degree from the Seminary of St. Dionysus. 


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Professional Affiliations