Therapists in Gasconade County, MO

Are you struggling with a relationship or relationships in your life, or maybe even struggling with the relationship with yourself? Do you feel disconnected, scared, and unsure of where to begin? Relationships are hard AND they are what make us human. I am passionate about helping my clients, whether they are individuals, families, or romantic partners, improve communication, increase connection, and overcome painful experiences that are preventing them from having and maintaining healthy relationships.

Many of us are grappling with the effects of disconnection – from our bodies, emotions, identities, relationships, communities, and the natural world. This disconnection often presents as shame, self-criticism, fear and anxiety, dissociation, depression, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and more. Folks who are seeking to interrogate those symptoms, process traumas (both interpersonal and from larger systems of oppression), nurture self-compassion, build healthy relationships and community, explore social and cultural identities, challenge expectations of how to live a life, and recenter your autonomy: I’d love to work with you.

I specialize in offering trauma-informed therapy to LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent adults residing in Missouri. As a queer and trans individual myself, my focus is on co-creating a safe and affirming environment for folks to thrive. I hold space for clients to explore and process their experiences of grief, complex trauma, and challenges stemming from the impacts of living in a traumatic and oppressive society. I particularly enjoy working with queer and neurodiverse individuals who are interested in taking a more deliberate approach to their personal growth and who wish to develop a deeper connection with themselves and their bodies.

*ACCEPTING CALIFORNIA, ILLINOIS, AND MISSOURI CLIENTS* Come be seen & be known in a relational space with me, so that you can finally arrive home in yourself. Are you curious if you have experienced trauma, or if trauma may still be affecting you? Have you worked with many healers & still feel stuck in certain places? Have you experienced a spiritual awakening & need to integrate the experience(s)? If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions, then you may be in the right place. Trauma can express itself in PTSD & Complex PTSD symptoms, various types of depression & anxiety, & many other symptoms. Lets get to the root.

The systems we live within (capitalism, colonialism, anti-fatness, etc.) and our early attachment experiences can leave us feeling disconnected from others, our bodies, our values, and our authentic selves. I offer a compassionate space to explore the ways these systems have impacted you. Together, we’ll develop resources, skills, and insights to make your life and relationships more manageable and meaningful.

In Psychotherapy, it is the relationship between the patient and the therapist that allows for the patient to search for understanding into the nature of their difficulties. It is within the safety, confidentiality and understanding acceptance that the patient is encouraged to reveal intimate parts of themselves that allow the therapist to identify characteristic problems and patterns of behavior. Seemingly unexplainable behavior, thought patterns and symptoms turn out to have identifiable meanings beyond the awareness of the patient. Psychodynamic psychotherapy is aimed at personality changing goals and symptom relieving efforts. The patient is always in control of the therapeutic process.

Are you feeling like things just can’t continue the way they’re going? Has your inner critic become too loud? Are you curious about building a more authentic life? Wherever you are in your journey of self-discovery, facing your inner tension and deciding to seek help is an act of courage. I am dedicated to creating a therapeutic space with clients that is firmly rooted in safety and characterized by deep listening, where you can begin to work towards the root of your struggles at your own pace.

Available Appt. Hours: Monday-Friday 11am-5pm. Do you struggle with depression, anxiety, feeling disconnected from others, or the way your life has been impacted by trauma? Are you searching for happiness or meaning in your relationships, your work, or in life in general? If any of this resonates with you, I may have the type of professional experience that would be helpful to you. I work with adults (18+) providing virtual therapy. I have additional experience with anger management, life transitions, LGBTQIA+ related issues, and low self-esteem. I am proud to provide gender-affirming care.

Everyday life isn’t supposed to feel quite this hard or overwhelming, right? Maybe you wish you could manage your emotions or stress better. Perhaps something awful or painful happened that has you wondering if you'll ever feel "normal" or well again. Hi, my name is Deborah and I have the honor of empowering people on their courageous journeys to find ease and joy in living again. Join me in a safe and affirming space to gain insight on the origins of your struggles and find lasting healing. I offer in-person sessions in my O'Fallon office, or online telehealth sessions.

As a transgender therapist, one of my passions is working with clients who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ population. I enjoy collaborating with individuals who are exploring their gender and/or sexual identities and hope to offer guidance and compassion as they let go of any residual societal expectations. I have undergone the entire process of hormones, top surgery, and bottom surgeries, and I am open with my clients about my experiences as we work to decrease their gender dysphoria and move toward the eventual goal of gender euphoria.

What if you could wake up tomorrow and finally feel better? What if you were living the life you truly desired? Therapy allows us to find real solutions to our greatest challenges. Perhaps your relationship or marriage is in a rut, your anxiety has left you paralyzed and fearful, or your depression has kept you in bed for weeks. Whatever your struggle is, I am here to offer a warm, helping hand so that we can help you get back to living your life. I seek to provide a safe space to work through your complex and unique challenges to foster lasting transformation. You weren't meant to merely survive, but to thrive.

Are you feeling lost or unsure where to start? Or maybe you've been on your journey for some time and feel like you've tried everything. Do you feel like you've lost a part of you and aren't sure how to cope with it? I understand that starting and maintaining your healing journey can feel confusing or overwhelming. Let's take a deep breath and take that next step toward healing.

Life is beautiful but often/sometimes challenging. Some days we feel confident and happy while other days we may feel alone or overwhelmed. The clients I work with are seeking new tools, skills, techniques and interventions to help them feel better, more in control and empowered on a daily basis. I work with adolescents, young adults, adults and elders experiencing life transitions, anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, low self-esteem and more. Everyone deserves to have a safe space, with unconditional support that allows them to be authentically themselves, always.

The clients I serve are often at a crossroads in their life story and unsure of how to close one chapter and begin anew. Clients I enjoy working with recognize that counseling continues outside of the session in self reflection, exploring behavior change, and shifting how we think and relate to ourselves. I find that counseling helps meet goals and needs as diverse as the client, and sometimes goals arise throughout the course of the relationship. No one needs a "good reason" to come to counseling, for the desire to reach out and try will always be sufficient.

In my practice I work with families and children who have experienced trauma and are having attachment difficulties. Many children I see have pre-verbal trauma from parental stress during pregnancy, adoption, neglect, or abuse. Some of the children I see are experiencing traumatic stress due to gender fluidity or gender dysphoria. Because trauma is the result of feeling helpless in a situation, many of the families I see have never thought of their child's behavior as a symptom of a life trauma. This shift in perspective is often the beginning of the healing process.

Therapy tailored to you. Let's go deep! Many people come to me because they are unhappy in their relationships, work, or with how they feel about themselves, but they're not sure how to find their way to deeper fulfillment. Many people I work with have been in therapy before and learned cognitive or mindfulness skills that, while helpful, don't seem to go quite deep enough. Often, they have the sense that there is more to their challenges than meets the eye, but they don't quite know how to figure it out.

My goal as a counselor is for my clients to feel safe, seen, and heard during our time together. I have a passion for providing a space filled with acceptance and support as people process hardships and begin to heal.

My philosophy of counseling is to let others know they are not alone. Clients will always have someone to talk to about anything troublesome. I believe all people need someone to be there for them, to comfort them and give them tools to self-sooth and learn to succeed to the best of their ability. Through unconditional positive regard, creating a safe space which is nonjudgmental and confidential, and by using active listening and other techniques clients can continue to learn to improve themselves and their environment.

Congratulations on making the decision to bring positive change into your life! I have experience working with a wide range of clinical issues including but not limited to: depression, anxiety, self-esteem, PTSD, first responder trauma, post-partum depression, family conflicts, pre-marital counseling, polyamorous relationships, domestic violence, multiple personality disorder (DID), Asperger’s Disorder, relationship issues, identity crisis, LGBT specific problems and concerns, grief and loss, as well as people struggling with bipolar disorder. I also have experience in paranormal psychology. All sessions are telehealth/online!