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About Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy at Alternative Therapy STL is a collaborative and integrative process that blends traditional and holistic methods to help you understand, manage, and heal from emotional and psychological challenges.
What is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is a structured, evidence-based process conducted by licensed professionals such as Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Clinical Psychologists, and Psychiatrists. Also referred to as “counseling” or simply “therapy,” psychotherapy involves regular sessions aimed at helping you understand, manage, and heal from emotional and psychological challenges. All treatment approaches used are evidence-based.
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While traditionally rooted in talk therapy, modern psychotherapy may integrate experiential, emotion-focused, somatic, transpersonal, and mindfulness-based approaches, offering a more holistic path to healing, depending on the therapist you work with.
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Psychotherapy can support a wide range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, relationship difficulties, and grief. While many clients seek therapy in response to a diagnosis, a diagnosis is not required to benefit from psychotherapy.
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The process typically begins with an intake and evaluation session, including the creation of a personalized treatment plan. In my practice, I meet with clients weekly, reassessing progress periodically to adjust the treatment plan as needed.
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With a long history in Western mental health care, psychotherapy encompasses hundreds of approaches. Despite their differences, most share a core belief in the healing power of the therapeutic relationship. Research consistently shows that the quality of the client-therapist relationship is one of the strongest predictors of successful outcomes. Clients experience the greatest benefits when they feel a strong connection with their therapist, resonate with the therapeutic approach, and actively implement changes outside of sessions.
Psychotherapy at Alternative Therapy STL
Therapy is a highly individual experience, shaped by the therapist’s personality, academic background, modalities, and overall philosophy. If you’ve had a “bad experience” with therapy in the past, it may have been due to a mismatch rather than therapy itself not being right for you. Finding the right fit is essential, and if my approach resonates with you, that is a good sign! A consultation can help us determine if we’re a good match.
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At Alternative Therapy STL, I take a holistic, innovative, and experiential approach to therapy, tailoring methods to your unique needs and interests. Think of psychotherapy as a container that holds various therapeutic philosophies and techniques, allowing for a flexible and integrative healing process.
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Depending on your needs, our work together may incorporate mindfulness-based therapy, Depth Hypnosis, Spiritual Counseling, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, Psychedelic Integration, and/or Internal Family Systems Therapy. Clients can choose between weekly hour-long sessions or therapy intensives, which are designed to accelerate healing.
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Additionally, clients are welcome to explore complementary services such as Shamanic Counseling and Functional Nutrition. However, these are separate from psychotherapy, are not included in a treatment plan or medical record, and are not eligible for insurance reimbursement.
Benefits of Psychotherapy at Alternative Therapy STL
Get Personalized Help: Develop a confidential, highly personal, ongoing relationship with a therapist who takes the time to truly understand you
Gain Insight and Self Awareness: Therapy provides a structured space to explore patterns in your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors
Develop Coping Strategies: Learn practice tools to manage stress, anxiety, depression, and other challenges in a healthy, constructive way
Improve Emotional Regulation: Gain skills to recognize, process, and express emotions more effectively
Increase Self-Compassion and Confidence: Learn to accept yourself, empowering you to embrace your strengths and increase your self-love
Process Trauma: Address unresolved trauma in a safe, supportive environment with evidence-based approaches tailored to your needs
Foster a Mind-Body Connection: Reconnect with your body and regulate your nervous system with mindfulness and somatic techniques
Know That You Are Not Alone: You may find comfort and relief in knowing that your symptoms correspond to a disorder and realizing you are not the only one suffering from the symptoms you have
Use Flexible Payment Options: You may be able to use an FSA, HSA, or out-of-network insurance benefits, depending on your plan
Ensure Competence: You can rest assured that you are working with a licensed provider who adheres to state and federal laws, as well as specific ethics codes, and who is required to undergo continuing education in their field
Qualifications
​Emma Donovan, MA, LPC, LCPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Missouri and Illinois. She has been in practice since 2018. Her commitment to helping others combined with her inquisitive mind has led her far and wide, traveling to many countries and training in multiple therapeutic modalities. You can find her entire list of qualifications on her about page.
If you’re interested in psychotherapy, reach out to connect. Request a no-pressure consultation using the button below to explore whether we are a good fit and get your questions answered.