Couples therapists in Missouri

Hi. I'm glad you found me!

I have been in the social work field for 30 years working with children and families. I have a BS in Psychology and a Masters in Social Work. I've been a social worker since 1995 and a licensed therapist since 2011. I believe it's important to have a safe and comfortable place to process how you are feeling.

I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and psychotherapist with over 15 years of clinical experience — and a rather unusual background. I also hold a PhD in Cultural Anthropology and have spent more than two decades as a researcher and professor studying the cultural dimensions of mental health. These two worlds are not as separate as they might sound: my scholarly work deeply informs how I listen and how I think about people, and my clinical work keeps my research honest and grounded in real human lives.

What this means in practice is that I pay attention not only to what's happening inside you, but also to the broader landscape that shapes you — your relationships, the institutions you've moved through, the expectations you've absorbed, the identities you inhabit or are still working out.

I specialize in eating disorders, mood disorders (depression and bipolar disorder), anxiety, trauma and PTSD, self-harm, dissociation, and personality disorders. I also have extensive experience with clients navigating identity and relationship questions — including LGBTQIA+ concerns, sexual issues, and alternative relationship structures such as polyamory and consensual non-monogamy. I am kink-affirming and fully inclusive in my practice.

Clients often come to me when they feel stuck, overwhelmed, or like previous therapy hasn't quite fit — especially deeply reflective people, high-functioning professionals, and anyone who feels "out of step" with conventional models of health or recovery. My goal is never to fit you into a predefined model of what "well" is supposed to look like. It's to help you better understand yourself and build a life that feels genuinely livable, on your own terms.

You came here because something isn't working. Maybe it's the moods that swing without warning, the emotional intensity that keeps spilling into your relationships, anxiety that won't quit, or the weight of something you've been carrying for longer than you should have to. Maybe you've been leaning on substances to get through and know something needs to change.

I work with adolescents, adults, and seniors across Missouri through telehealth, and I specialize

in the kinds of struggles that don't fit neatly into one category: mood disorders, trauma, anxiety

borderline personality, substance use, and relationships under strain.

I have been married for 41 years and am a mother and grandmother. I have have an MSW degree and have been in private practice as a therapist for 27 years. I prefer serving adults and have a passion for individual and couples counseling.

My clients seek to understand and accept themselves and their life experiences. Together we will explore how your past is impacting your present, so you can ultimately move toward a better future.

I work with individuals, couples and families from an attachment and systems perspective, knowing we experience many wounds through relationships but through the right relationships we can also experience healing.

It is important in my work that I allow the client's cultural context inform my treatment.

As a Missouri Ozarks native, nature and the outdoors have always played a huge part in my healing journey and mental health. Growing up, I was outside any chance I got; riding bikes, riding horses, climbing trees, bird watching, rock collecting, camping, hiking, floating, boating, spelunking, exploring creeks, and enjoying campfires. Nature immersion, movement in nature, outdoor recreation, and horsemanship remain part of my daily practice; and I incorporate these into my therapeutic work wherever possible.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 25 years experience in leadership and direct care positions in behavioral health and substance abuse facilities, I remain dedicated to helping individuals respond to and cope with the challenges of life. These include living with anxiety, depression, grief/loss, relationship issues, parenting, or other life's stressors, as well as, the challenges of alcohol or drug abuse disorders. I have frequently witnessed, and believe, recovery is possible and I appreciate the opportuity to assist you in finding the hope, joy and happiness you deserve.