Most people don’t start therapy because everything in their life is falling apart. They come because—privately—they feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or alone. At Better Together Mental Health, those feelings aren’t brushed aside. They’re welcomed and met with care.
Founder Beth Orns created Better Together with one intention: to build a place where people could finally exhale. Hospitality was a core value in her upbringing, and she wanted a mental health practice that reflected that—one that felt warm and genuinely human, not cold or clinical.
That vision shows up in the details. The office is thoughtfully designed with comfortable seating, calming colors, and small comforts that help clients settle in. “Every session carries the same message: you get to show up exactly as you are here.”
Just as important is the way clients are matched with therapists. Better Together’s team is diverse in training, personality, and background, which allows the practice to be intentional about fit. During the intake process, Beth and her team consider what someone wants to work on, their past experiences in therapy, and their preferences around style and logistics.
“Therapists aren’t one-size-fits-all,” Beth says. “We want you with the person who makes you feel safe, not just whoever has an opening.”
Many clients arrive believing they “should” be coping better or that their concerns aren’t serious enough for therapy. Better Together gently challenges that belief, reminding each person that any feeling heavy enough to carry alone is important enough to bring into the room and be fully heard.
Across Columbia, Beth and her team are seeing clear patterns in what people bring into the therapy room. Many clients describe a vague sense of dread, a heaviness tied to constant upheaval in the world. They worry they are not doing enough, not where they “should” be in life, or not handling change the way they think they’re supposed to. Others come in feeling stuck as they navigate grief, parenting, work stress, relationship changes, or major life transitions.
As the calendar turns and daylight shrinks, seasonal depression also becomes more visible. The new year often brings pressure to reinvent, to set goals, and to somehow feel “better” overnight. Couples work has grown, too. Beth is encouraged by the number of partners who now come to therapy earlier in their relationship, wanting to strengthen communication and connection before problems deepen.
Once someone decides to reach out, Better Together takes care to match them with the right therapist and type of support. The team offers individual, couples, and adolescent therapy, as well as virtual sessions and groups. Clients do not have to know exactly what they need when they call; the team helps them explore options and ask questions.
Inside the session, Better Together uses evidence-based tools without losing the human side of care. Beth often describes their training as a large toolbox filled with methods like CBT, ACT, the Gottman Method, and trauma-informed practices. “You don’t always need a hammer for every job,” she says. “We choose the tool with the best chance of helping and switch when we need something different.”
Beyond the office walls, the practice serves Columbia through partnerships, outreach, and education. Beth believes that improving individual wellbeing also means caring about the community people live in.
For those nervous about beginning therapy, first sessions are intentionally spacious and gentle. Paperwork is completed electronically ahead of time so the session can focus on conversation. Some people dive straight into what hurts. Others start by sharing their story or simply getting used to the space. Many leave feeling truly comfortable and relieved to have finally said things out loud. Beth hopes people remember they are not alone.
As Better Together grows, the practice is preparing to move into a larger office suite in Woodrail in March 2026, with more space for children, teens, and adults and the same welcoming feel.
Learn more: BetterTogetherMentalHealth.net
Call: 573-355-8844
Email: office@bettertogethermentalhealth.net
“Your feelings are valid and your story matters—there is no ‘too small’ reason to seek support.”