Meet me!
Travis Bolin, LPC CLinical Director
Counsels: Ages 6 to 106
Focus: Divorce, Addictions, ADHD, Impulsivity, Oppositional Defiance, Anxiety, Depression, Children, Teenagers, Young Adults, and Adults
About Travis Bolin, LPC
Hello! My name is Travis Bolin, and I’m the founder and director of Journey Towards Hope Counseling.
Everyone is on a journey in this life, and my prayer is that along the way, you’ll have someone who brings you hope and encouragement. I believe we’re not meant to walk through the good or the hard times alone. Everyone has the potential to grow stronger—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—and sometimes that growth comes through the support of someone walking beside you.
Education and Early Career
After graduating from Pittsburg State University in December 1999 with degrees in Elementary Education and Psychology, I began teaching second grade at Harry S. Truman Elementary in Webb City, Missouri.
I loved those years with my seven- and eight-year-olds—each day was full of laughter, learning, and lessons that went far beyond reading and math. I quickly realized that students can’t always thrive academically until they feel safe and supported emotionally, and that realization planted the early seeds of my counseling calling.
In 2008, I returned to Pittsburg State University to pursue my master’s in school counseling. On my first day of class, I remember praying, “God, am I doing the right thing?” By the end of that first evening, I knew without a doubt that I was exactly where I was meant to be.
School Counseling Journey
While completing my degree, I began working as a school counselor at Carthage Middle School, where I spent many years supporting students in grades 5–6. It was there that I launched a chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)—what started with 55 students grew to nearly 700 attending weekly. Seeing that growth reminded me how deeply young people crave connection, encouragement, and hope.
During the pandemic, I passed my National Counseling Exam and began a new chapter at Mt. Hope Christian Counseling, where I had the privilege of learning under Dr. Karl Wendt. Those two years refined my skills and deepened my passion for faith-based counseling.
Journey Through Slime: Turning Mess Into Meaning
In 2017, my daughter Amelia and I went through a big transition together. During that time, she discovered her love for slime—making it nearly every day! What began as a small creative outlet became something extraordinary. At age 11, she asked if we could open a slime business together. Just 137 days later, we opened Journey Through Slime Event Studio & Scoop Shoppe in Joplin.
Our business quickly grew into more than just slime—it became a hands-on way to teach perseverance, creativity, and hope. Life, like slime, can be messy. But with a little patience and the right support, something beautiful always comes from the mess.
Journey Towards Hope Counseling
On October 4, 2022, I opened Journey Towards Hope Counseling, fulfilling a lifelong dream of helping others find emotional and spiritual healing.
I am a licensed professional counselor in Missouri and Arkansas, and I work with individuals ages 6 to 106, often integrating sensory-based techniques with children and mindfulness strategies with teens and adults.
In July 2024, Journey Towards Hope Counseling made an exciting move! We are now nestled inside Journey Through Slime, creating a unique and welcoming space where healing and creativity come together. We look forward to continuing to serve clients in this fun, family-centered environment in Joplin, Missouri.
Expansion to Bentonville, Arkansas
Then, in October 2025, Journey Towards Hope Counseling expanded once again—this time to The Ledger in Bentonville, Arkansas.
This new South Main location represents another step of faith and growth in the journey God has been unfolding. For the past few years, I’ve felt drawn to Bentonville—visiting monthly at first, then every couple of weeks. I knew God was calling me there even before I fully understood why. I still remember walking around the Bentonville Square, praying, and asking, “God, what am I doing here?” Now I see how He was preparing the way.
Opening my Bentonville office at The Ledger has allowed me to connect with a new community filled with creativity, innovation, and faith. I love how both of our South Main locations—in Joplin, Missouri, and Bentonville, Arkansas—reflect the same mission: helping people find hope, peace, and healing on their journey.
Whether you’re in Joplin or Bentonville, my heart remains the same—to walk beside you, to listen, and to remind you that you’re not meant to do life alone.
Give me a call or book online o want to give you HOPE while you are on your JOURNEY!
📞 417-553-8000
🌐 journeytowardshopecounseling.org
—Travis Bolin, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor in Missouri and Arkansas