top of page
Emma-Donovan-41223-MOBOT-156.jpg

About Therapy

Therapy with me may be a little different from what you have experienced before. I take you on a journey deep into your inner world in order to access your own inner wisdom and heal.

 

Many of my sessions are conducted using non-ordinary states of consciousness, including depth hypnosis, shamanic journeying, or a meditation-like process called IFS (also known as "Parts Work".)

Through these methods, you can learn to love yourself more deeply, become more conscious and self-aware, gain insight into deeply held patterns, and heal the wounds underlying the symptoms that are bringing you into therapy.

Shadow on Concrete Wall

Many of My Clients Are Experiencing The Following...

01

ANXIETY & SELF-ESTEEM ISSUES

Feeling worried, on edge, never able to relax, secretly insecure, or worried no one likes them

02

TRAUMATIC PASTS

Feeling unable to break free from past hurts and burdens and stuck in patterns that aren't serving them

03

EMOTIONAL OVERWHELM

Unsure how to stay centered and manage their emotions and may identify as "highly sensitive"

04

SPIRITUALLY SEEKING
 
Are spiritually curious and intuitively "know" that spirituality can be an integral part of their healing process, but aren't sure how to use it to heal just yet

05

EXPLORING THEIR PATH

Unsure who they are and what they want to do with their lives. Wanting to get to know themselves better so they can choose a life path that feels rewarding to them

06

RELATIONSHIP ISSUES
 
Craving deeper connections, but always chasing the wrong people, getting stuck in unhelpful patterns, or unable to create meaningful relationships

The psychotherapy field is headed in a new direction. It's going deeper than talk therapy alone (even if the Midwest is lagging a bit behind on this!) That's why I like to do things a little differently. 

ECD-IGTag-ffffff.png
Emma-Donovan-41223-MOBOT-133.jpg

My Approach

01

EXPERIENTIAL

Go on a dynamic, visual, imaginative, and exciting trip through your inner world to heal your psyche

02

MINDFUL

I help you become more a more conscious human being, feel safe in your body, and enjoy life in the present moment

03

TRAUMA-SENSITIVE

My practice is trauma-informed and the methods I use are helpful for healing developmental, shock, and attachment trauma

04

TRANSPERSONAL
 
Experience yourself as a spiritual being inextricably connected with all of life, and connect to a sense of wonder, awe, and guidance

05

HOLISTIC

Experience therapy as a way to harmonize your mind, body, emotions, and spirit

06

HUMANIZING

I don’t define you by a diagnosis. I see you as a human first, and your symptoms as clues to deeper pain that we work towards healing

Techniques I Use

  • Internal Family Systems: Get to know, love, heal, and integrate every part of yourself. **I am level 3 trained in this method. Read more here.

  • Depth Hypnosis: Experience a spiritual approach that works within your own personal worldview. Explore your inner world to connect to guidance and experience profound healing using an altered state of consciousness. This includes regressions and dream work. **have studied Depth Hypnosis and it is a core part of my practice. Learn more here.

  • Shamanic Counseling: Learn how to tap into inner guidance and the earth's wisdom to help you heal. **am a certified Applied Shamanic Counselor.

  • Mindfulness and Self-Compassion: Become more present, aware, relaxed, and loving towards your emotions. **I worked at a mindfulness center in Thailand for 18 months.

  • The Enneagram: Learn your main personality type, its strengths, its challenges, and heal your deepest wounds. **Learn more here.

  • TRE (Trauma/Tension Releasing Exercises): Literally "shake off" stress and tension. **I am a certified TRE provider. Learn more here.

What I Love To Help You Do

  • Incorporate spirituality into the healing process, whatever that means for you

  • Befriend your emotions and learn how to understand the messages they are sending you

  • Learn to love yourself, and use this loving presence to transform even your darkest parts into something beautiful

  • End the inner war and feel more at home inside your own mind

  • Heal from old trauma and become the person you want to be

  • Tap into your inner wisdom and use this to guide your healing process

  • Learn how to access wisdom and guidance so you can become your own healer and move through life with more ease… both now, and long after therapy is over

teal background.png

Testimonials for Working With Emma

“With Emma, you can go on a lovely trip inwards if you want to heal your inner world in a professional, safe, and personal setting and place. I think she’s a lovely person, she’s so supportive, creative and grounded, a great listener, knows what she’s doing and willing to help you the best she can.”

-Past Client

  • I am not a woman. Can I still see you?
    Yes! I have successfully worked with all genders in my practice. I have chosen to specialize in helping women and know the most about helping this population, but people are people, and my skills are transferable to your gender, too. If you feel called to reach out to me, please do so.
  • What's different about Alternative Therapy STL and the methods you use?
    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.
  • What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a therapist? What are your credentials?
    Psychiatrists are medically trained doctors who specialize in prescribing medication for mental health illnesses. Most psychiatrists do not practice “talk therapy,” 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 meet with clients once every week or two 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 also hold a certificate in Depth Hypnosis and am a Certified Applied Shamanic Practitioner. You can verify my IFS credentials here (just search for my name!) https://ifs-institute.com/practitioners
  • Are there any issues you CANNOT help with?
    Yes! This is because I cannot possibly specialize in every area. Just like doctors, therapists specialize, too! For example, if you're having heart problems, you'd probably rather see a cardiac specialist than a dermatologist, right? The following list details symptoms that are best treated by other providers, either because I do not have specialized training in these areas, or because they require a higher level of care than my private practice can provide. This list is not exhaustive. 1. Active addiction (especially to a substance) 2. Active eating disorders (especially those that are putting your health at risk) 3. Current domestic violence situations or current abuse 4. Personality disorders (such as BPD, HPD, and NPD) 5. Autism spectrum disorders 6. Schizophrenia 7. Clients in active crisis of any kind, such as suicidal intent, volatile relationships, or abuse If you know or believe you are struggling with one of these issues, there are plenty of providers who specialize in the area you need help with. I recommend going on a therapist directory like Psychology Today, Therapy Den, Zencare, or Good Therapy and filtering for people who work with your specific issue. Or, ask your doctor for a referral if you think you might need a higher level of care. Thanks for reading!
  • What age ranges do you see? Do you see teens?
    Most of my clients are in their 20s and 30s. If you are over this age bracelet and my website calls to you, please feel free to reach out. I love working with people outside this age bracket, too. I do not currently see anyone under the age of 20. 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 in working with this age bracket.
  • How frequently will we meet and how long will we work together?
    Most of my clients start off seeing me once per week. Many people who have been meeting with me for a while will see me less frequently once they start feeling better. I recommend committing to the process for at least 2-3 months before expecting changes. Meeting with me a couple of times will not be enough to do the deep work needed to help you make major shifts in your life. There are no quick fixes. 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. Please remember that whatever issues you're currently experiencing were developed over a lifetime. It takes time and intention to unwind these patterns, and the journey is well worth it. Therefore, 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, but there are not short-cuts and we cannot rush healing. 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!

Investment

Fee per 65-minute session: $190

Fees, Session Length, and Session Frequency

Therapy is an investment in yourself and your future. The current rate for a 65-minute session for all new clients is $190. The one-time intake session is 90 minutes and $265. My sessions are longer than the standard 50-minute sessions to make sure we have enough time to do deep work together. Please anticipate starting therapy on a weekly basis. This is necessary in order to establish our relationship and engage in deep work. Research shows that it takes an average of 10 sessions before you start to really feel comfortable with your therapist, and I want you to have the best outcomes. After a while, you can reduce session frequency or stop therapy once most of your goals have been met.

Session Availability

My hours are 9 am to 2:30 pm on Monday through Friday (the last session starts at 1:30 pm). I do not work evenings or weekends. I do my best to accommodate your preferences and assign you your preferred spot as I am able.

 

Insurance

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. Fair warning, 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: https://www.alternativetherapystl.com/post/understanding-out-of-network-therapy-and-insurance

 

Consistency Policy

I offer therapy sessions on a consistent basis, at the same time and day, on a regular frequency that we mutually agree upon. This is a good fit for people who can reliably set aside regular time, and many people love this consistent schedule. The expectation is that we both keep the agreed-upon time regularly unless the session is canceled well in advance (30+ days), or rescheduled for the same week. The general rule of thumb with appointments is to set it, keep it, plan for it, and think ahead. I plan the rest of my life (such as my own appointments, meetings, phone calls, etc.) around our session time, so I depend on consistency in order to help everyone I help and meet my life's demands. I will show you the same courtesy. The specific parameters of my cancellation policy are available in my paperwork. I'm happy to discuss any questions about this during our consult.

ECD-IGTag-ffffff.png

Testimonial

“This review is for my experience with “Inner Harmony”, a six week course in IFS, as well as a private IFS session with Emma: Firstly, it seems to me that Emma clearly shares her practice from a place of personal results and healing. The tools and concepts that she shares are shared with an intimate understanding that tells me that she utilizes them regularly. Maybe more importantly, this tells me that she believes fully in what she is sharing.

 

Secondly, IFS as a practice seems to me to hold infinite healing/therapeutic potential. The framework that IFS provides to explore the mind is simple to navigate and, if one is willing, powerful to behold. I enjoy seeing the world through the lens of IFS on occasion.

 

Lastly, with the help of Emma, I am successfully navigating these challenging times of Covid-19. In this time, I have experienced doubts and fears and anxieties. Emma, through the lens of IFS, has assisted my process of healing some of the roots of these emotions so that I may live life with more clarity. Thank you, Emma.”

-SAMUEL WYANT

ECD-IGTag-ffffff.png
bottom of page