Therapists in Festus, MO

WELCOME to Ellie Mental Health in South County STL. I'm so happy that you are here and are ready to start your or your loved ones mental health journey. I am the Clinic Director and would love to help you connect with one of my wonderfully, talented clinicians. We believe counseling can be a safe place to begin this healing. Myself and my clinicians aim to bring an authentic approach that includes humor, compassion, acceptance and creativity to the therapy room.

You’ve gotten to a point where you feel lost, stressed, in a funk , or in a rut in your relationship, and you’re overwhelmed. You are at the end of your rope with yourself or your relationship. You feel like you’re not good enough, not important, like something is wrong with you or you’re broken? At this point, you’re wondering will you ever feel normal or happy. You are having trouble thinking clearly, your thoughts are scattered, you have too much to do and you just don't know where to start. Maybe there are things in your past bothering you or maybe it is the fear of the future. Many people get to this point, you are not alone.

I am licensed in Missouri with 10 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I went into the field of psychology because I love helping people transform to the best version of themselves. We all need a safe place to understand ourselves and how we relate to others/self. I often say "We need to be Mindful of our Total-Well Being and that our minds and our bodies are an inter-connected systems. Where the mind goes, so does the man or woman in their actions and body states. We go to the physician for our physical health, so how much healthier would we be if we went to our psychologist for our mental health?" At heart, I am a holistic practitioner and love seeing my clients Thrive.

Have you experienced trauma? Do you feel anxious, depressed or out of control? Do you want to make changes but are uncertain about how to go about making those changes? Start feeling better TODAY by starting your healing journey! I specialize in abuse, trauma and those who are actively recovering from addiction. I am passionate about helping you transform your life. Whether you are struggling with depression, anxiety, unwanted thoughts, abuse, an addiction, or going through a sad transition; please know that there is always hope to turn things around. Whatever issues you are facing, I would be honored to work with you!

I hold two doctorates one in psychology and a master's degree in clinical mental health care, and professional counseling making me a highly qualified professional counselor, clinician, and therapist. Additionally, I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). My expertise lies in providing talk therapy to individuals of all ages, including adolescents, adults, seniors, families, and groups. To ensure the best outcomes for my clients, I utilize cognitive-behavioral therapy as an initial approach. This allows me to effectively address their specific situations and circumstances.

My approach to therapy stems from the belief that feeling truly seen and understood is a basic human need. I aim to provide a safe and reflective space where you can bring your whole self without fear of judgment. We will work together in a collaborative process to understand your unique experiences and how they've impacted you, figure out where you may be stuck, and help you take back the reins. I work with people, not diagnoses, and take a strengths-based approach to help individuals of all ages gain self-awareness, curiosity, inspiration and hope.

Are you struggling with disordered eating, negative body image, anxiety, depression, and/or unresolved trauma? Creating Your Journey has three therapist that specializes in treating eating disorders, body dysmorphia, mood disorder and trauma related disorders.

I enjoy helping people to empower themselves and find their own skills to return to their optimal mental health functioning. I enjoy working with teens, adolescents, couples and older adults. We can achieve your goals one step at a time!

Dr. Yanet Vanegas is a licensed psychologist trained at Harvard Medical School’s McLean Hospital. She specializes in the treatment of children, adolescents, and perinatal (prenatal and postpartum) women, and uses evidence-based practices to treat depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, ADHD, self-esteem concerns, social anxiety, autism, and social skills deficits. Dr. Vanegas also received extensive training and is a specialist in the treatment of eating disorders and OCD. She owns a private practice, A Secure Base Psychological Service, LLC, in Tampa, FL, and can practice in 39 states.

Unresolved trauma affects us deeply. Are you feeling numb and shut down or agitated and on alert. Does that resonate for you? Most of us have experienced a traumatic event during the course of our lives; how you recover is directly impacted by the kind of support you have in your life. Experiencing trauma, abuse, or neglect could mean you have fewer internal resources to combat the impact. This can lead to unhealthy ways of dealing with the pain such as addictions, self-harm, destructive relationships, isolation. Through healthy connections and therapy, you can process traumatic experiences and find joy again. I’m eager to help.

It is the "silly season". Are you feeling joyful, grateful and organized? Or are you stressed, irritable or depressed? This time of year brings up so many conflicting emotions and feelings even in the same hour! Sometimes memories come up and out of the blue we feel overwhelmed and sad. Expectations can create disappointment and even resentment. You just want to be able to enjoy or even just "survive" the season but have too many things coming at you. It feels impossible to clear your head and find a way to do that. Imagine clearing all the clutter in you mind and releasing the unwanted tension or sadness. Now you can breath.

We all struggle sometimes, but ongoing issues can leave us exhausted, isolated, confused, discouraged... If your days or nights are hard to get through, if you can't seem to settle down or stop overthinking, if life feels scary or you don't know what to do, if you never feel good enough or can't seem to 'get over' or 'stop doing' x, I'd love to talk with you. My experience is broad, but my practice is largely focused on anxiety & stress disorders, relational trauma, chronic & terminal illnesses, and healthy coping/decision making during life transitions.

My therapeutic style caters sessions to each person individually. I have a passion for creating a warm, open space for clients to experience significant change in their lives, and find healing. I have experience working with a wide variety of clients, including children, adolescents and adults within agency, group practice and school settings. My main treatment specializations include depression, anxiety, trauma, C-PTSD, life adjustment issues, suicidal ideation and self-harm. I use therapeutic techniques drawn from CBT, strength-based therapy and play therapy. I welcome the opportunity to help you in your mental health journey!

If you've found yourself here, then I imagine you are looking for support to make a change in your life. It can be so challenging when you are shifting through all of these profiles to understand who can help you and how. It is true, there is not one counselor that is a great fit for each person. However, with over 12 years of therapist experience, I have seen that therapy REALLY works! I have also noticed that underneath a lot of anxiety, depression, eating disorders and relationship concerns is trauma. I specialize in working with trauma using EMDR. I help people move from a life of pain to one where they experience thriving.

Frustrated with calling therapists and not receiving a call back? We pride ourselves in finding expert clinicians in each specialty in the greater St. Louis area and we have immediate openings. We can help match you to a clinician that has proven success helping clients with similar issues. Our approach assists clients in exploring the source of their problems. We listen. We find unique strategies that build on your passions to bring healing to your life. You won't believe how much better it can get when you work with our handpicked professionals. Locations: Ballwin, Central West End, Brentwood and Columbia, Missouri.

I am honored that my clients share their deepest secrets with me every day. I am grateful for the trust they place in me and I value their need for confidentiality. I make an effort to listen to my clients and hear what they say to learn what they need to grow. Every client is a person who is much greater than their problem behavior or diagnosis. While I have extensive training in treating trauma and sexual behavior problems, I also have experience and training in treating other mental health problems such as: Depression, Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Panic Disorder, ADHD, and chemical as well as process addictions.