Therapists in Richmond Heights, MO

We all need help sometimes. Are you struggling with anxiety, trauma, life changes, issues around gender and/or sexual orientation, or relationships with unhealthy dynamics? I help people to work through things that may be getting in the way of what they want for their life. My hope for everyone is that they find more peace, strength, and joy in life. I specialize in working with lesbian, gay, queer, and transgender populations.

Clients come to me for deeper understanding of themselves. Often, the process involved is about looking at all of the puzzle pieces and fitting them together to create more clarity and expansion. I work with individuals and couples to help them discover their greatest assets and work through areas of growth in a compassionate manner. In couples work, I offer couples assessments to gain perspective on issues as well as workbooks and tools for conflict resolution and better communication. I especially appreciate working with premarital couples who are wanting to set a sturdy foundation for marriage in premarital counseling.

I am a particularly good fit for clients who tend to intellectualize their problems and who are uncomfortable/unaccustomed to tapping into their emotions. I am a more interactive therapist. I see therapy as a conversation. If you are someone who has been frustrated by therapists who are detached, I may be a good fit for you. I am patient and I will not push you into going deeper than you feel comfortable with at the moment. I know that change and trust are slow processes and I will respect your ability to set the pace of your own therapy.

I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and seasoned yoga instructor with over 20 years experience. I take a body-centered approach and specialize in couples and individuals under stress. I am a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and also the United States Association for Body Psychotherapy. If you are tired of talking about your issues and getting nowhere, then I can help. I go beyond traditional talk therapy methods to get to the heart of the problem, so that you can mend that great divide of heart, body and mind and get the love you deserve.

The Center for Cognitive Therapy, St. Louis, provides treatment for those suffering from a variety of emotional issues, including depression, anxiety, family, marital, aging, and childhood problems. CBT has been found by research to be one of the most effective treatment modalities. The Center's director, Donald F. Sloane, LCSW, has over 44 years of clinical experience, and has taught at Washington University in the graduate school for 17 years from 1990 through 2006. Don has given many seminars and keynote addresses at major conferences. He has also provided trainings at a number of Fortune 500 companies.

As a scientist that has worked for a decade in drug metabolism research, both in Italy and the US, I always attempt to utilize evidence based interventions with my clients. When dealing with 'softer' sciences surrounding the mental health field, the best course of treatment is often difficult to ascertain. I strive to provide a collaborative, empirical, transparent process which adopts the best evidence based approaches to your unique, personal treatment needs. I am looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and working with you!

Many of my clients have had previous experiences in therapy before reaching my office. They feel at the end of their rope as traditional talk therapy hasn't facilitated the changes they need. They often hear how resilient or insightful they are but struggle to feel closeness and safety in relationships or to access positive emotions. Or, they might have been told that the intensity of their emotions is too much for their therapist or loved ones to handle. Overall, they are looking for therapist with an in-depth approach for their specific concerns, and are ready connect with a clinician who is invested in doing just that.

Everyone thinks you have it all “all together,” but inside it feels like you're spinning out of control. You can’t stay focused. Simple tasks that should be easy feel totally overwhelming and you've started avoiding them completely. Your relationships are suffering, and you feel like it’s all your fault. You want to be easy-going and caring, but you're impatient and irritable. You want to be sociable and fun, but you're withdrawn and flat. The fear of being exposed as a fraud looms over you constantly. You’re not sure what to do but you know it's getting worse.

Is something holding you back from truly living life and experiencing joy? Are obtrusive thoughts keeping you stuck and unable to live in the moment? Do you long for more fulfilling relationships with others? You Are Not Alone! Having someone to connect with and share your story can be one of the best ways to start making the changes you want and deserve. As your therapist I will provide a judgement free space that is safe for you to drop the mask you have been wearing and share the inner thoughts that have been occupying your mind.

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?

I am informed by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as a basis for emotional processing and behavior change. I am deeply committed to respecting each person's individual experience and work to identify tools and interventions that fit the needs of each person. I believe in an integrative health model exploring the mind, body and environment. I believe that exploring the use of mindfulness techniques can have powerful positive effects with individuals who are open. My aim is to support individuals into awareness of their personal strengths and to encourage growth and healing from within, despite the external circumstances.

If you’ve been longing to develop a deeper sense of self-understanding in the context of a more longterm, intimate therapeutic relationship—one in which you are free and encouraged to be your authentic self, we may very well be a good fit. I’m certified in existential-humanistic therapy from the Existential-Humanistic Institute in California, and while I do incorporate other modalities of therapy, I take a predominantly philosophical approach, focusing on the human condition. Along with creativity, I’m deeply interested in spirituality and have spent extended periods of time practicing mindfulness in Buddhist monastery settings.