Therapists in Marthasville, MO

Our symptoms have something to say. Different symptoms bring people into psychotherapy: anxiousness, chronic sadness, creative and artistic block, loneliness, addictions, sexual obsessions. Symptoms are a language, and though they are often labeled as depression or anxiety, the meaning of a symptom is unique to the person who suffers with it. Symptoms are painful, but they are also startlingly creative, personal and specific. Sometimes the body is asked to express the scary, painful things that words cannot. When physical symptoms occur without a medical explanation, we can look to them to help us understand the mental and emotional landscape.

Life is a series of transitions that feature successes and challenges. Whether you are dealing with a relationship conflict, birth of a new baby, career change or loss of a loved one, the ultimate goal is to reach a healthy and fulfilling life. I would love to accompany you on your journey and help you with reaching your goals and experiencing a fulfilling life.

Experiencing painful emotions, chronic depression, anxiety, or feelings of distress? Are there unexpected changes happening in your life? Life is unpredictable, full of highs and lows, ups and downs, beginnings and endings. I want to normalize your feelings because life is not easy. Difficult emotions consume us, other times we avoid them either way; they affect us. Therapy can help you make sense of the complicated nature of life, mental illness, and relationships. If you are ready to explore your personal journey and healing, you have come to the right place.

I provide a safe, comfortable, and supportive enviornment where I guide individuals and couples to help them overcome mental health and emotional issues to bring about a new level of awareness and change. This is done by identifying and understanding the underlying causes, changing destructive thought patterns, and behaviors. I am also a certified Thai Yoga therapist. I keep both practices separate in that I do not do psychotherapy with Thai Yoga clients or vice versa.

I understand that beginning therapy is not easy and takes many people out of their comfort zone. I believe in a warm and nurturing environment that allows clients to work at their own pace. Your journey is your own, and I offer a non-judgmental approach with each person I work with. I enjoy meeting with individuals, couples, and families. I have specialized training in Internal Family Systems (IFS). This model allows clients the opportunity to get to know each "part" of themselves and provides a way to regulate emotions and improve problem solving skills.

My goal is to help my clients work towards achieving their highest possible state of emotional and physical well-being. My professional training and background include working with adolescents and adults in both short and longer term therapy. I value the diversity and flexibility of a generalist practice. I offer challenging insight with compassion and practical solutions aimed at developing a new awareness and fulfilling life.

We all go through difficult times at different parts of our life. It can help to have someone to talk to. I have particular experience with adults in midlife crisis, couples counseling, and adolescents experiencing, school problems, behavior problems, parent/child conflict, and trauma. I have experience with individual therapy, parent/child conflict, divorce, alternative relationships and LGBTQIA issues. I specialize in trauma treatment for all age groups. CURRENTLY OFFERING TELEMEDICINE SESSIONS VIA ZOOM OR SKYPE.

What's not working with your health and life goals? Do you suffer from pain and can't get a clear answer why? Do you find the motivation to stay healthy an impossible task with your busy schedule? Do difficult relationships or trauma make it hard to manage stress? It's time to do the deeper work.

Do you feel overwhelmed? Perhaps you feel as though you're at a crossroads and not sure what path to take? Whatever the case may be, there's something that has empowered you to seek out someone to talk with. Allow me to journey alongside you in this thing we call life! It is my priority to provide a safe, non-judgmental space for you to explore and gain the insight, self-awareness, and self-acceptance you desire. I have a holistic approach and believe therapy is not a "one size fits all" model.

**CURRENTLY HAVE WAITLIST FOR NEW CLIENTS** Melissa has been practicing clinical social work/psychotherapy with adolescents and adults for over 15 years, specializing in eating disorders, anxiety, depression, self-injury and grief/loss. She has an eclectic approach, drawing from psychodynamic, interpersonal and skills-based therapies including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction. Her approach is compassionate, non-judgmental, collaborative and integrative. She has a profound respect for the complexity of people's lives and experiences.

I offer individual counseling, mindfulness training, EMDR, and life coaching through video chatting. Common focus areas include: personal growth and development, career issues, lifestyle issues, assertive communication, self-esteem, ADHD, anger management, persistent mental health problems, addictions, trauma, and disability. I enjoy positive psychology and prefer to focus on solutions, strengths, and assets. I feel it is important to view each person from their unique cultural experience with a nonjudgmental stance. I believe in the biopsychosocial model and understand health and functioning as being systemic in nature.

Feeling confused, depressed or overwhelmed? I can help. Talking with someone who listens without judging, understands your concerns and helps you clarify issues can be invaluable. I provide a warm, compassionate, accepting environment where you can safely explore personal issues and conflicts. Together we will work to create a greater sense of peace, balance and fulfillment within your life. I work with teens, adults and couples seeking help with issues such as grief or loss, cancer support, relationship issues, depression, anxiety and stress. I often incorporate meditation, mindfulness and imagery techniques along with more traditional approaches if clients desire.

You don't have to struggle to get through the day! Learn skills to work through feelings of not being enough, and develop strategies that diminish anxiety and depression symptoms. Trauma and dysregulation do not have to control your life, you get to be in control of your journey! Don't let your past or unresolved family issues keep you feeling worthless. Let's work through these challenges together, you don't have to figure this out alone! If you find yourself frequently needing to please others or just unsure of who you are I may be the counselor for you! -Now providing Couples Counseling as well!

I like to work with people who are internally motivated to learn and grow and desire to live meaningful and fulfilling lives. Whatever challenges they are facing I want them to know that working with me will at some point mean paying attention to and allowing themselves to feel their feelings. A conscious relationship with self is had through attending to the feelings we have about ourselves. Understanding feelings will be essential in generating improved self-awareness and a sense of personal integrity.

We are a diverse group of licensed professionals. We are compassionate, knowledgable and honored to work with individuals, couples, and families. We support our clients to discover their own personal grace and agility, their ability to express themselves with integrity and conviction and most importantly to restore their faith in themselves and in their relationships.

People look for counselors/therapists/life coach for all reasons. I work with clients with a variety of backgrounds and issues to help them reach goals or navigate through transitions in a therapeutic supportive way. I work with clients who are of middle school age through adulthood including Seniors. I work with individuals, couples and families. From depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, communication problems, women's and men's health specific related issues to general support, I have worked with and helped many people over the years. Throughout Life we often need a professional to help us achieve our very best.

The goal of my approach to therapy is to get your defense system out of the way so that you can operate out of your true sense of self, begin to create boundaries, and make choices truly reflective of your own wants and needs. When you achieve this, you no longer need to rely upon the destructive coping techniques previously used to prevent your full evolution and integration of body, mind, and spirit.

I believe we all have the capacity to improve our lives and understand ourselves more fully. It takes a great deal of courage to ask for help. Appreciating and respecting that courage, my work is to help my clients attain their goals. We do this together as a team. Being stuck personally or professionally is poignantly uncomfortable. Together we can move thru and beyond this state and get to the other side. To address your individuality I utilize a wide array of interventions: mindfulness-based talk therapy, somatic techniques, art therapy, music therapy.

I seek to do whatever possible to help you feel safe in counseling. The relationship between you and I needs to be one that feels warm, inviting, non-judgmental, and encouraging. From the safety of this relationship, you can then feel supported enough to grieve what has been lost and push to fight for the things that have been taken from your life.