Rachael St. Clair

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with 19 years of clinical experience and nearly three decades working in mental health, education, and helping professions, supporting adolescents and young adults through anxiety, depression, and life transitions. My background includes work in psychiatric hospitals, running alternative school programs, and maintaining a private practice, which has given me a deep understanding of how mental health shows up across different environments and stages of life.

I specialize in helping clients navigate overwhelming stress, major decisions, and periods of change. My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and grounded in helping you feel understood while also building practical tools to move forward. Whether you’re feeling stuck, anxious, or trying to find clarity, I aim to create a space where you can feel supported and make meaningful progress.

My approach to therapy is relational, collaborative, and grounded in both experience and practicality. I bring nearly 30 years of work across psychiatric hospitals, schools, and private practice, which allows me to understand clients not just in theory, but in the context of their real lives.

I work actively in session—helping you make sense of patterns, process emotions, and move toward meaningful change. I balance validation with honest, thoughtful feedback, and I’m not afraid to be direct when it’s helpful. My goal is for you to feel deeply understood while also gaining clarity, direction, and tools you can actually use outside of session.

I specialize in working with adolescents and young adults navigating anxiety, depression, identity development, and major life transitions. I also support clients dealing with family stress, academic or career pressure, and complex decision-making.

In our first session, you can expect a balance of getting to know you and beginning to understand what’s bringing you in. I’ll ask questions about what’s been going on, your history, and what you’re hoping to get out of therapy, but it’s not an interrogation—it’s a conversation.

I also pay close attention to helping you feel comfortable and understood right away. My goal is to create a space that feels both supportive and productive.

By the end of the first session, we’ll typically begin identifying key areas of focus and outline some initial goals—whether that’s reducing anxiety, improving mood, navigating a specific situation, or gaining clarity around a decision. You can also expect to leave with at least a few concrete insights or next steps to start working on between sessions.