In Person Therapists in North Hampton, Saint Louis, MO

Being human is difficult! Committing to counseling provides viable options to the struggles you face. As you grow in your understanding of yourself and your world, you will begin to find that you have more choices than you thought possible — real alternatives to being defeated, becoming numb, or simply being trapped in knee-jerk patterns and reactions. Growth in this way does require trust and vulnerability, but not just from you — from both of us! My deepest hope is to be a compassionate collaborator and a source of safety and insight as you make small steps towards big change.

For many of us, childhood was mentally and emotionally confusing. And we may find that these experiences impact us even now — they season how we relate to others, how we interact with our worlds, and even how we conceive of our future. Making sense of all of this requires a respect for very human needs like safety, stability, and positive and corrective emotional experiences. Therapy is often the single most helpful and effective intervention to those ends—it certainly has been healing for me. I hold a deep respect and honor for those who are able to show up to do this work.

Life moves so quickly! We seldom take time to pause, reflect, and observe the beauty in and around us. Instead, we tend to ruminate about the past or obsess about the future, robbing us of present moment awareness. Therapeutic space provides the unique opportunity to remedy this —if we can simply be present, we learn to work meaningfully with the thoughts and emotions which arise, and we find direction and new possibilities. My hope is to be a source of safety, insight, and clarification as we help you find your way.

Do you wonder, sometimes lying on the bed at the mid hour of night, that life could be different: maybe lighter, with a little bit more hope; and your pounding heart can slow down and feel some peace; when you look out, you can smile and sense trust? Is there part of you that want to embark on a journey of healing and growth, to build nourishing relationships with your own self, with others, and with the life at large, to lay the foundation for a life of meaning and joy?

My clients are very diverse in age, ethnicity, social economic status, and gender/sexual identity. I would like to be culturally humble and honor your background and identity.

Part of being human is the inevitability of encountering difficulty. Most of us accept this quite easily, but it is harder for us to accept *ourselves* while we face that difficulty! So many of our experiences in our families and our culture train us to ignore or get rid of our emotions, so space or compassion for ourselves seem next to impossible. Together and with mutual vulnerability and creativity, my heartfelt wish is to effectively nurture and challenge you, and to help you discover resources within and without to meet your experiences with strength, clarity, and hope.

If you have a "sticky brain" and struggle with overthinking, rumination, worry, or trying to figure things out, I can help. I specialize in helping people get unstuck from repetitive negative thoughts so they can find relief from anxiety and get back to living life. I know how miserable and frustrating it can be to be stuck on looping thoughts that just won't stop. I use a structured approach to share practical strategies with you so you can dismiss these thoughts and enjoy everyday life again. If you've tried everything you can think of but can't find the relief you're looking for, I can help.

If you are a therapist looking for consultation on cases with OCD or feel you're struggling with ERP, I can help. I'm a clinical psychologist with extensive experience. As the owner and director of Anxiety Specialists of St. Louis, I work with clients and also mentor emerging therapists in advanced therapeutic techniques. I completed my internship and postdoctoral training at McLean Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, where I also trained at the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Institute (OCDI). I then taught and supervised doctoral clinical psychology students for 8 years in a university psychology department.

It’s no secret that facing what’s been troubling you in counseling can be daunting, so it’s normal to feel nervous or worried about coming. Don’t let that stop you! Our relationship itself will ease that transition, and I will help you. It really is possible to work on things that have previously felt unreachable or inaccessible — the very things that are probably bringing you to counseling in the first place. It won’t always be easy, but together we will come to an understanding of all your parts and experiences, and even discover and grow what makes make you, you!

Like you, my clients worry a lot about their health. Unexplained symptoms lead to days of spiraling, looking things up on the internet, and asking loved ones to tell you you’re okay. You’re having trouble sleeping because you can’t turn your mind off. The fear of having a health condition that you could have prevented if you’d just been more proactive is unbearable. When you’re feeling out of control, having a sense of direction and someone to walk beside you can be comforting. You can bring your authentic self to sessions with me. I strive to create an open, non-judgmental, and inclusive environment for everyone in my office.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with 24 years of experience working both as a therapist and doing community-based crisis intervention. I enjoy helping clients to maximize their potential by focusing upon their strengths and past successes. I believe that therapy is a cooperative endeavor that should assist the client in discovering his/her/their own abilities and coping strategies. I relish the opportunity to support clients through trying situations and to help them to process grief. I speak at conferences on HIV/AIDS, work with LGBTQIA+ clients, and other topics. I served on the HIV service funding Planning Council.

In a world riddled with sadness and struggle, I strive to provide a safe haven for my clients to find support and hope, recognizing that all too often these vital components for living just can't be found anywhere else. My hope is to be source of grounding as you face your struggle, and ultimately, yourself. Counseling can be a transformative and life-changing experience if we are brave enough to engage it with earnestness and sincerity. I'll be with you along the way.

I know what it’s like to feel helpless, alone, frustrated, confused, unseen, unheard, and unsupported. Also, I know that it’s possible to transform these experiences into something deeply meaningful. The path to this transformation involves time and intention, and the courage to look deeply at oneself. As we learn to understand and relinquish old patterns, new ways of being give forth new hope and possibility. And not just for ourselves, but for everyone around us. What a wondrous experience!

It's plain to see that world bombards us with ample reason to live in fear, doubt, and negativity. Yet, we all possess the ability to change, and to make good on the hope toward a rich, full, and confident life. We can't erase our pasts, but we can work together in the present to find new ways of thinking and being that produce the lives we want.

Many of us go our entire lives with the feeling of being unseen and unheard. Some of us experience this so fully that we may even feel trapped in the stories others have written for us. What would it be like to feel accepted as you are? To show up authentically and know that was enough? You don’t need to be strong, happy, or put-together. We can embrace your beautiful mess and find your story of triumph together. It will take effort and may be tough at times, but I will go with you! I have experience working with adolescents, students, and adults on a wide variety of issues, such as homesickness, depression and low self esteem.

Life is hard enough without having to go through it alone. No matter who you are or where you are from, my greatest wish for you at the outset is for you to recognize that we all have complications — we could all benefit from growth and healing. As we embrace these realities, we also learn to embrace all of the parts of ourselves, including those that most need our attention and affection. Make no mistake, the path to growth can be difficult. It involves equal parts frustration and exploration, and even a good dose of humor! But when we face ourselves, we may also find that the outcome is beautiful, rewarding, and even enchanting.

Each day brings new challenges. Some involve our families or our jobs or our relationships, but all involve our minds. Healing begins with the recognition that these battles are not obstacles, but doorways, to a better life — opportunities to develop ourselves in ways we couldn’t previously imagine. You possess the capacity for greatness. You have a purpose! Awareness and the vulnerability to trust another human are keys to unlocking your potential in these ways. Therapy provides an outlet to experience yourself as such, and to work toward the harmony and inner peace you’ve longed for.

Many of us enter therapy believing that we are lost causes or somehow don’t belong in this space. Let me be the first to affirm: you are whole, you do not need to be ‘fixed’, you belong. In therapy, the needs of each person are unique, but our shared humanity connects us in deep and meaningful ways, so our time together will bring both of these to the fore. We will need your self-determination and tenacity, and we will also need one another — the relationship between client and therapist is in fact the vehicle for healing and recovery. My deepest wish is to be a guide and fellow human as we journey toward change.

Throughout our lives, many of us adopt narratives that don’t align with our actual experiences — they may leave out important details about our families or our make-up, the ways we were hurt, or the ways in which we have succeeded. But in all cases, they don’t do justice to the depth of our experiences, and in fact, when we have been abused or mistreated, the very purpose of these false narratives may be to obscure the truth of who we are and what we’ve been through. My greatest hope is that our work together will allow you to come home to yourself as you learn to tell stories that honor the core of who you are.