Therapists in University City, MO

One of my greatest joys is helping people from all walks of life, including couples, teens, young adults and families. My heart is to help each client understand themselves, their environment, as well as their relationships, in addition to the past and present, which sets the stage for fostering positive experiences and embracing new possibilities. I take a “down to earth” holistic person-centered approach to counseling, tailoring each client’s therapy with a unique mix of clinical theory and spiritual truth at the client’s pace. Psychoeducation and Bibliotherapy are integral to my approach, ensuring care for the spirit and soul!

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.

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.

Our patients are individuals, couples or groups who have been struggling with depression, anxiety, mood disorder and other behavioral challenges that have made ordinary day to day functioning impossible or extremely difficult. Through evidence-based clinical mental health therapy that includes EMDR, CBT, DBT, and SFBT, we assess, and diagnose individuals, couples and groups providing evidenced-based treatment plans.

Unbeknownst to many, the stigma associated with therapy is lifting. Society is learning and realizing overall health needs to be a non-negotiable. My passion lies in supporting/educating clients on what trauma actually is (and is not) and how to effectively heal. My ideal client is ready to do some hard work and is willing to be challenged. You are curious and brave enough to look inside and identify road blocks, get honest with self, work on vulnerability, improve awareness, and face your fears. Together, we will identify and dig out the roots that no longer serve you and cultivate a healthier and more fulfilling path.

I am trauma-informed therapist that has experience working with a diverse population that includes children, adolescents and adults. Dedicated to creating an inclusive environment, I continue my training throughout the year to effectively serve marginalized communities, including those related to the LGBTQIA community. Born and raised in St. Louis City, I am aware of some of the treasures and challenges that come from living in the area. However, I remain committed to serving the systemic issues that face the clientele in other states, including California and Texas. I strive to provide a safe, client-focused environment.

It is my belief that as many paths to wholeness exist as were, are, or will be, people on this planet. Walking our individual paths in pursuit of meaning and purpose is a universal goal. Sometimes life presents us with vexing challenges just when we are determined to accomplish personally and or collectively valuable goals. Or our growth is impeded by painful events that happen to us during the course of living. The path & or goal becomes unclear. And so, my role in the therapeutic process is akin to a guide. Recommending, encouraging, questioning, witnessing you seek to find the best possible expression of your unique wholeness.

I have several years of experience and training in the field of sex addiction and betrayal trauma and am currently a Certified Sex Addiction Specialist (CSAT) through International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP).

The relationship between therapist and client is instrumental in helping a person achieve their goals. In the therapeutic relationship, clients have the opportunity to feel their full range of feelings and become understood in deep and meaningful ways. When someone matches with the right therapist, therapy can be a life-changing experience. Transgenerational patterns, attachment experiences, and core beliefs formed in early childhood play a major role in current mental health. I pay close attention to emotional language, thoughts, and somatic symptoms.

Are you struggling to prioritize your own needs, but you’re able to take care of everyone else’s? Are you exhausted but unable to rest peacefully? Do you doubt yourself and minimize your accomplishments? Mental health care is different for people of color and LGBTQIA+ individuals. You may face unique hardships, including discrimination, affecting your mental health. Traditional therapy can feel inadequate, but, as a black female therapist, Cherese M. Alcorn, MSW, LCSW, offers a profound understanding and empathetic approach. She aids high-achievers in balancing their mind, body, and spirit so they can lead effectively.

Feeling fractured from your once-strong sense of self can be confusing, isolating, and painful. Oftentimes these feelings can arise from societal pressures to conform, living in a sex-negative society, or relationship and systemic trauma. Sex & relationship therapy can be a good fit for improving the relational quality of your life and accessing desire as a tool for living well. I specialize in supporting individuals and relationships (of all styles) who struggle to access authenticity and wholeness in their daily lives. I work best with engaged clients who practice active self reflection.

Do you find yourself at a moment where you are wondering how to refine how you hold space for yourself and others around you? Get off the exhausting treadmill, move with intention, and realign with the trust you have envisioned for yourself. Expect your space to be held just for you, room to breathe, and authentic, non-judgmental support. In a sex-positive, trauma-informed, and integrative space, all genders, sexual orientations, ethnicities, ages, and bodies are welcome. If not right now, then when will it be time for you to give yourself permission to transform? Success can take many forms.

Hello! If you're reading this, I want you to know you are innately worthy of the care, change, and healing you so deeply desire. On top of that, you hold the power within to make those changes. Not only is this a belief I personally hold, it is one supported by research. On a molecular level, we are wired to develop and change when given what we need. This remains true starting from childhood and beyond into adulthood. Meaning, it's never too late to seek out wholeness and you haven't missed your chance.

Your relationship with yourself is reflected in interactions with family, friends, colleagues, professional life and your worldview. How do you seek, expect and provide attunement to yourself and important others? Often unrecognized inter-generational relational themes play a part in the manner of which one seeks connection. Attachment and relational patterns meant to gain closeness can mean one feels known & accepted or invisible & rejected. You can learn to listen to yourself with open-minded curiosity in order to identify your relational style, understanding how it supports or hinders you in life.

I work with the healers and helpers who not only have seen the worst in their work, but also have a personal history of trauma. So many in the healing and helping professions have painful backgrounds that have fueled their fire to care for others. Healers experience some of the worst and most rampant burnout which can stem from a number of places including vicarious trauma and having past traumas triggered by clients, systems, and the overall work. Move from an inner place of fear, imposter syndrome and co-dependency to a place of inner security.

At Wellness Alliance Counseling & Psychotherapy, we specialize in brief and long-term therapy for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. We believe everyone possess within themselves the potential for transformation, growth, and healing, and have experience helping clients address a variety of concerns: anxiety, depression, family of origin issues, identity development, LGBTQ+ issues, healthy relationships, career concerns, women's issues, eating and body image concerns, substance use, trauma, and living with chronic illness.

Are you tired, worried, or feeling alone? Maybe you're nervous or unsure what more can be done for a relationship you want badly to work. Do you feel frustrated, stuck, or hopeless in patterns you want to change? Do you long for tomorrow to feel different than today? Maybe a confidential space might just be a comfort right now. Wherever you are, it is often a hard thing to need help. It is often harder still to ask for it. I'm glad you're here and hanging on.

Everyone, regardless of age, sex, gender identity and expression, race, ethnicity, creed, ability, and socioeconomic status deserves access to wellness and support. I thank you for taking a step into finding yourself in this space. Working with people in life-transitions and exploring family/intimate relationships are areas where I can provide support. I have worked with individuals trying to better connect with loved ones, understand relationship patterns, and discover and shift their responses to situations in life. I work with first responders, crisis workers, and caregivers to help build resiliency and distress tolerance.

We created Therapy for Black Women to address the unique challenges experienced solely by Black women. For we are all too familiar with the "Angry Black Woman" and equally as toxic, "Strong Black Woman" tropes. These archetypes are incessantly perpetuated in the media and impact our relationship with vulnerability; thus, the capacity to be fully realized humans. Furthermore, Therapy for Black Women helps to mitigate the continued exploitation of Black women in search of licensed clinicians who have practical knowledge surrounding what it is to be a Black Women.