Prepare yourself for a long answer!

In the midwest (and in the United States in general), many therapists use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and talk therapy as their main methods. This is because CBT is easy to study, and is therefore backed by a lot of research. It is preferred by insurance companies and in hospital settings because it is straightforward and aligns well with the allopathic (science-based, modern) medical model. The allopathic medical model is good at parsing things apart and matching specific treatments to specific symptoms.

I believe that, at times, CBT and talk therapy are very helpful. In fact, I frequently recommend psychoeducational books to clients. For most of my clients, though, these methods skim the surface or merely provide temporary symptom relief unless the root of the issue is also addressed.

In my personal experience, many symptoms my clients experience have deep roots, are interconnected with other issues, and often need healing at the root in order to truly transform. Also, many problems my clients experience are not only emotional or mental, but also spiritual and physical. Therefore, my work is largely holistic in nature. The word "holistic" is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as "characterized by comprehension of the parts of something as intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole."

As such, I am a transpersonal, holistic, and alternative therapist. This means I see you as a "whole person," taking your body, mind, emotions, and spirit into account to help you heal. I enjoy working along the whole spectrum from your deepest pain and trauma to your highest potential and innate wisdom. I like to help you plumb the depths to reach newer heights. I do not merely want to relieve your symptoms, I want to help you thrive, experience optimal wellness, and feel empowered and self-sufficient by the time you are finished working with me.

To do this, I incorporate spiritual (whatever that means for you) counseling, somatic (body-based) therapy, experiential therapy, trauma work, and talk-based work for an integrative, whole-person approach. I am informed by both evidence-based western treatment models and holistic, eastern, and earth-based psychology. Integrating these things together into a cohesive whole is my passion.

I love being a transpersonal therapist, and I use methods that are a bit uncommon in the midwest. I make it a priority to stay up-to-date on the developments in my field and to receive training that most aligns with who I am and what I feel called to offer, and also, what I see that the world needs.

I have gone abroad for training in yoga (in India), mindfulness (in Thailand), TRE (in Thailand), and Internal Family Systems (in Spain), and have taken my Applied Shamanic Counseling and Depth Hypnosis classes through a school in California. My Psychedelic Therapy training is through an institute in Colorado.

I do not accept insurance directly. Many of my clients choose not to use insurance for sessions because they prefer my alternative and transpersonal approach and/or they do not want their mental health information on their medical record. This is because a diagnosis can follow you and may impact your ability to access affordable insurance premiums and may impact your ability to obtain some jobs. Many insurance companies also request copies of your case notes, which in my personal opinion should be kept private.

However, if you have out-of-network benefits, you may be able to submit a superbill (which is a medical receipt that I generate for you) to your insurance company. Your insurance company then reimburses you in part or in full, directly. They may require you to have a diagnosis on your file, but they won't see your case notes. Learn more about OON therapy here

I recommend committing to the process for at least 2-3 months to start to see real growth and changes. Meeting with me for a couple of hours will not be enough to do the deep work needed to help you make major shifts in your life. Some of my clients see me short-term for about 3-6 months, while other prefer to do deeper work with me as their ongoing therapist for a year or several years.

The length of therapy depends on your individual goals as well as the depth and complexity of the issues you're bringing. I aim to help you make as much progress as I can in the time you spend with me, while still honoring the time the process takes. There is no forcing a flower to bloom!

I find that those who get the most benefit out of therapy, and the most symptom relief, are committed to the path of self-inquiry and healing, wherever it leads, and without a specific timeline.

Please discuss your expectations with me in our first session.

I am all about outcomes. I have a strong intention and belief for all of my clients to heal. It is never my intention for you to become dependent on me or our sessions for many years or decades without progress.

In my years of clinical experience, I have discovered that change is more accelerated and efficient with meetings that are frequent and/or intensive. For example, you will likely get more accomplished in 6 months of weekly sessions than 12 months of biweekly sessions. I want my clients to have exceptional outcomes. This costs more during the active phase of our sessions, but will save you more money over the long run because our sessions won't become a regular, recurring expense without a forseeable end. This is the reasoning behind my frequency guidelines below.

Psychotherapy, Depth Hypnosis, Spiritual Counseling, and Shamanic Counseling Session Frequency: If you plan on seeing me for regular hour-long sessions, please anticipate seeing me weekly. This is necessary in order to establish our relationship, engage in deep work, and have the most accelerated outcomes. Once most of your goals have been met but you still want some support, we can discuss biweekly or as-needed sessions as you are transitioning out. Clients who have terminated are always welcome to come back on an as-needed basis.

Functional Nutrition Session Frequency: Functional Nutrition is unique from other modalities I use in that the primary focus of the growth and progress is the changes you make in your daily life at home. For this reason, I typically schedule the first 2-3 Functional Nutrition sessions (the consultation, initial interview, and initial recommendations visit) weekly, and then conduct follow-ups every 2-4 weeks in the active phase. Follow-ups will either stop or occur as infrequently as once every 2-6 months after most of your desired changes have been put into place.

Ketamine Session Frequency: There is no set KAP session frequency. Some clients do only 1 KAP session, others do a series. A series of sessions close together (for example 1-2x weekly) may be helpful to address deeply ingrained, longstanding patterns. Less frequent sessions, for example once every month or several months, may be helpful to spark and maintain change over the long-term. A customized plan will be made together with you.

Intensive Session Frequency: Since intensives offer an expedited change process in a short amount of time, there is no set required frequency. We will work together to create a customized plan. Many people who would otherwise want to see me weekly choose a monthly intensive format, but you may choose to meet more or less frequently than that.

Some people opt to do hybrid of multiple session formats listed above. We will discuss a customized plan during your consult, and we can always change the plan as your needs change.

For regular sessions, my hours are 9 am to 12:45 on Monday through Friday, with my last session of the day starting at 11:40 am. I also offer some evening availability as well on some weekdays between 4 and 9 pm.

I offer intensives and ketamine assisted therapy sessions during the week during the above hours, as well as during evenings and weekends.

I do my best to accommodate your preferences and assign you your preferred spot, space permitting.

Psychiatrists are medically trained doctors who specialize in prescribing medication for mental health illnesses. Most psychiatrists do not practice “talk therapy” (though some do) but rather prescribe and monitor your response to medication. They tend to meet with their clients briefly and infrequently.

I am a therapist, also known as a psychotherapist or counselor. A therapist has a graduate degree or higher. A therapist develops a therapeutic relationship with clients and typically meets with clients on a recurring basis, typically weekly, for about an hour. Therapists take time to deeply understand clients and their struggles because they primarily help clients make improvements through talk, somatic, or experiential-based therapy focusing on emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.

Therapists do not prescribe medication, but may sometimes refer clients to psychiatrists for a medication evaluation.

CREDENTIALS

I hold a LPC license in Missouri, which means “Licensed Professional Counselor.” I also hold an LCPC license in Illinois, which means "Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor." This means that I have completed a 2-3 year graduate degree in counseling, taken 3 comprehensive exams, completed 3,000 hours of clinical work under supervision, and gone through the requirements to obtain state licensure. In both IL and MO, I am licensed to practice independently. I have been practicing as a therapist since early 2018.

I have also taken advanced training in Internal Family Systems (levels 1-3) and Trauma/Tension Releasing Exercises, and am an IFS Therapist and TRE Provider. I am a Depth Hypnosis Practitioner, a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, a Certified Psychedelic Assisted Therapist, and a Certified Applied Shamanic Practitioner.

I work with adults. I do not currently see anyone under the age of 18. Working with children and teens is not a clinical specialization of mine, and I would rather your child/teen get the specialized help they need from a provider with extensive training and expertise working with this age bracket.

Yes — just like doctors, therapists specialize too! If you had a heart issue, you'd see a cardiologist, not a dermatologist, right? Similarly, some concerns are best addressed by providers with specific training or a higher level of care.

I’m not the best fit for clients who are currently experiencing:

1. Active substance addiction

2. Active or severe eating disorders

3. Ongoing domestic violence or abuse

4. Personality disorders (e.g., BPD, NPD, HPD)

5. Autism spectrum disorders

6. Schizophrenia

7. Active crisis situations (e.g., suicidal intent, volatile relationships, or recent trauma/abuse)

If any of these apply to you, please know there are excellent providers out there who specialize in these areas. Try directories like Psychology Today, Therapy Den, Zencare, or Good Therapy, or ask your doctor for a referral.

I spent many years working with everyone before specializing in women. While some of my focus is on women-specific issues, many of my skills are transferable. If you are not a woman and feel like we could be a good match, you are welcome to request a consult.

Not necessarily. I offer many of my approaches, such as Depth Hypnosis, Applied Shamanism, Functional Nutrition, and Spiritual Counseling, both within and outside of a clinical therapy context.

Clinical therapy sessions are specifically designed to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions from a conventional therapeutic and medical perspective.

However, because I am also trained as a Depth Hypnosis Practitioner (DHP), Applied Shamanic Counselor (ASC), Spiritual Counselor, and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP), and because many practitioners offer these methods outside the realm of psychotherapy, I confidently provide them as standalone services for individuals who either do not want or do not need to begin a clinical therapy relationship.

We’ll explore your questions and goals during your consultation, and I’ll offer recommendations on which approach (or combination of services) may be the best fit for your needs.

Please note: in some cases, the nature or severity of certain issues may be best supported through a clinical therapy framework. If that’s the case, I’ll let you know and offer guidance during your consult.

I offer both regularly scheduled weekly hour-long sessions and intensive sessions.

For regularly scheduled sessions, I offer them on a consistent basis, at the same time and day, on a weekly basis during the active phase of our work. This is a good fit for people who can reliably set aside regular time, and many people love this consistent schedule.

For intensive sessions, we will mutually decide on times we will meet. Intensives may or may not be scheduled at regular times.

The expectation is that we both keep the appointments we agree to unless canceled well in advance (15+ days), or rescheduled. I prioritize my appointments with clients, and I ask my clients to do the same. I also believe that consistency is the key to effective healing and growth. If you prioritize and plan ahead for your sessions, then this shouldn't be an issue.

The specific parameters of my scheduling policy are available in my paperwork. I'm happy to discuss any questions about this during our consult.

I am proud to partner with the Loveland Foundation, which offers $120 in vouchers for up to 12 therapy sessions for black women and black girls. Please see the Loveland Foundation's Website to learn more about this program and apply for help through them.

I am also happy to accept HSA and FSA accounts, and to help educate you on how to use out of network insurance reimbursement and claim medical expenses as a tax deduction.

Beyond these options, I do not offer sliding scale sessions at this time. My fees are set in place in order to ensure that I can maintain a reasonable caseload size so that I can show up with full presence and do my best with each of my clients, and so that I can pursue the continuing education that my clients come to see me for.

For those that cannot afford my services at this time, I have several free resources, such as informative blog posts, my "how to have intentional therapy sessions" free workbook, and free meditations on Insight Timer.

I am committed to serving a wide variety of people with several investment options, and I hope to be able to offer more free and lower-cost resources such as courses, more meditations, workbooks, ebooks, etcetera in the future. Charging my full fee enables me to work towards my goal of being able to offer these lower cost services. Please subscribe to my newsletter to be the first to know when new resources are released.

You can pay for sessions at Alternative Therapy STL using debit cards, credit cards, FSAs, and HSAs. You can also use your Out of Network benefits.