Sexual Abuse Therapists in Richmond Heights, MO

Sexual Assault, Childhood Trauma, Intimate Partner Violence are as traumatic as warfare. Those who have experienced these things often battle through life, struggling to make sense of wounds that don't seem to heal even with time. There is hope! Trauma is treatable. Getting treatment can lead to a better quality of life. Many clients with PTSD no longer meet criteria for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after two years of treatment.

I have worked with individuals, couples, children, adolescents, and families for the past 20 years. I am experienced working with depression, anxiety, life transitions, loss, adjustment, grief, and family issues. Working with symptoms as they relate to current relationships and past experiences, I am an eclectic therapist, using strategies fitting to the needs of the clients. I recognize the value in making the therapeutic setting safe and comfortable, and I bring intelligence, warmth, humor, and enthusiasm to my work.

I have experience treating eating disorders, addictions, developmental trauma, PTSD, relationship issues, bad body image, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders. I am certified in EMDR and have received training in such therapeutic modalities as neurofeedback, interpersonal neurobiology, Internal Family Systems, family therapy, schema therapy, and somatic experiencing. I received my Masters in Counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and have since practiced in both residential treatment centers and outpatient settings.

I know that finding the right therapist can feel like an overwhelming process... You want someone you vibe well with. That is where I come in. My goal is to provide you with a safe place to feel seen and heard. A place to thrive not just survive. I believe that therapy is designed to reflect a sense of honor and respect for someone’s story to achieve not only symptom remission but also a deeper, long-lasting sense of healing. I am passionate about working with individuals to improve their quality of life, increase internal connection, implement adaptive skills, and better their relationships with others, food, body, and movement.

Throughout our lives, we all have thresholds we must cross. Some of these are easier than others. When these thresholds become a sticking point or seem impossible to cross is when the therapeutic journey can be most impactful. As a polyamorous gay man that grew up in the South, I have often found myself at different thresholds trying to figure out how to move through them. Because of this, as your therapist, I will work to help you find the ability to push through your own thresholds.

Mental health issues can manifest in unexpected ways. Do you experience unexplained irritability? Hyper-criticism of yourself and others? Mood swings without any clear cause? Feeling overwhelmed to the point of being unable to organize your day? If so, it's worth considering whether you may be struggling with trauma, anxiety, or depression. Perhaps you may be experiencing Relationship Trauma. Do you ever find yourself constantly questioning or doubting what you once believed to be true? Did everything seem perfect in the beginning, but now you can barely recognize the person in front of you?

Welcome, I'm here to help. I am experienced in assisting children and families who have been affected by trauma and are dealing with its effects, including anxiety, anger issues, post-traumatic stress, depression, and other symptoms. Additionally, I am experienced in working with children who display severe behavioral issues in response to their trauma. I have provided individual and family therapy for children in a Residential Treatment Facility and I'm well-versed in the Foster and Adoptive systems. I also help families struggling with communication issues and children experiencing attachment difficulties with their parents.

I work with teens, young adults and women who want to get their lives back on track and curb their worry warts. I’m all about facing our traumas head-on so they don’t keep running the show. A lot of folks come to me anxious, but we often find there’s a bigger issue lurking beneath. Think of it as detective work—we dig deep to uncover the real problem.

Put most simply, my approach to psychotherapy is centered around helping you come to know yourself as fully as possible. Many people come to me in search of a more depth-oriented approach to therapy. Many approaches out there right now, in the interest of attempting to reduce symptoms as quickly as possible, may miss the mark in terms of understanding the “why” of it all, the more nuanced understanding of why our difficulties and symptoms are there to begin with, how they actually may have been serving us in some way, and their connection to our relational patterns and our past developmental experiences.

Are you afraid? Depressed? Annoyed? We alI struggle with these at times. If you are at a place where the situations in your life feel like "too much", I am passionate about working with you to find peace and healing in the midst of it. Together we can work to name the strengths you have that will aid you in life. From the moment you walk in, my goal is to provide you with a place where you feel safe to work through issues at your own pace, while experiencing me as an ally in your work. I strive to create an environment where clients can realize their strengths, heal from their hurts, and truly flourish.

When a clinician is asked what their specialty is, they often focus on specific diagnoses. Although helpful, I believe you are so much more than a diagnosis or collection of symptoms. I think it's important to respect the complicated nature of who we are and the lives we lead. It's about understanding why you are struggling and changing what is not working for you. I think that issues or problems need to be handled with curiosity and not judgement. Only then can we focus on what feels right for you and help you have those things in your life. I believe that, in choosing psychotherapy, one gives oneself a great gift.

I am an EMDR Certified Therapist specializing in treating Anxiety, Grief, and Trauma.

Accepting New Clients Summer '22 - I believe that we're all doing the best we can, and also: we can all be doing better! Whether you're dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, or a life circumstance which is difficult to navigate, I'm here to help. Chances are you are feeling alone, confused, or dissatisfied with your life at this moment. Maybe you're ready for deep healing from the past. Maybe you're looking for ways to cope with the present. Maybe you want to better understand yourself and your emotions. Maybe you're just looking to talk with a neutral third party about daily stressors. Wherever you're at, welcome!

I am a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in providing quality, informed psychotherapy as well as diagnostic assessment. It is truly amazing how life changing the therapy process can be, and I am committed to working in a genuine and collaborative way in order to help people through their path of recovery. I help people achieve symptom relief but also get to the root source of the problem for lasting positive change and improved life satisfaction.

Do you struggle with chronic or treatment-resistant depression or anxiety? Do you have high standards for yourself or others that are sometimes impossible to live up to? When others are having fun and relaxed, is it hard for you to join in? If any of these apply to you, then we might be a great therapeutic match! Trained by the treatment developers at the Radically Open Institute, I specialize in Radically Open Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, an evidence-based, transdiagnostic therapy for disorders of overcontrol. I love working with people to build a life that’s not only worth living but also worth sharing!

I work with clients who are struggling to cope with issues related to life transitions, addictions, eating disorders, body image, trauma, caregiving and other life demands. Psychotherapy is a deeply personal experience that can be alternately challenging, rewarding and hopeful. As a therapist, my goal is to provide a nonjudgmental atmosphere for those who wish to find balance in their lives through and beyond times of crisis or transition.

Therapy is an experience where human beings learn to live differently. Differently is the key word. Different can look like less depression, more spontaneity, or deeper and more mutual relationships. Different can be learning to say "yes," "no," or "maybe." Different can be improved physical health, less anxiety, or sustained sobriety. When one begins treatment there's usually a percolating idea of what needs to be different. Helping you clarify the ways you'd like to live differently, what has gotten in your way up to this point, and how those changes can be made is psychotherapy.

Are you hurting? Have you tried everything you can think of to find peace ... answers ... freedom from the pain? I would like to help you. Help give you the knowledge and tools to free you from unhealthy and hurtful communication and relationship patterns. Help you to let go of the painful negative thoughts behind your depression and anxiety. Help you to learn and implement healthy boundaries in your intimate and professional relationships. Professional counseling is so much more than talking ... it is a unique and individualized collaboration between you and the counselor to work together toward your goals for yourself.

Give yourself permission to heal. See the evidence of your work in the enriched connections you create with yourself and the important people in your life. There’s no one right way to heal or care for the self, but there are strategies and approaches that can offer you a stroke of confidence and peace of mind. I approach self-care with a realization that it’s multi-faceted and unique to each of us. I realize that what works well for you may not work well for everyone else.