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Work With Me

At Alternative Therapy STL, I like to do things a little differently. I want to help you heal the root of your problems so you can experience deep healing and transformation, not just cope with your issues. 

With me, you'll get to experience Hypnosis, Shamanic Journeying, Parts Work, Dream Work, Psychedelic Integration, a Mind-Body Connection, Nervous System Regulation, Lifestyle Change, Functional Medicine, and/or Holistic Nutrition. 

Ready to heal whatever is driving your symptoms? Check out my services below. 

Are you wanting something deeper than talk therapy? Do you dream of an approach that is deeper, more profound, more holistic, and more effective? Me too. That's why I like to do things a little differently. 

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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 CURIOUS
 
Are spiritual seekers and intuitively "know" that spirituality can be an integral part of their healing process, but aren't sure how to tap into this 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 codependent patterns, or unable to create meaningful relationships

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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

Testimonial

"Emma is truly an exceptional practitioner. Trained as a therapist and multi-dimensional healer, Emma brings a unique blend of expertise to her practice, using her skills as a systems thinker to delve deeply into the root causes of her clients' health challenges. Emma doesn't just address symptoms; she works tirelessly to understand the interconnectedness of body, mind, and spirit, guiding her clients towards lasting change. Her personalized and compassionate guidance empowers her clients to achieve wellness. I highly recommend Emma to anyone seeking comprehensive, transformative care."

-RACHEL ROSENKOETTER

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  • I am not a woman. Can I still see you?
    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.
  • 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 your scheduling policy?
    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.
  • 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” (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.
  • Do you accept 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. 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
  • What hours do you work?
    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 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.
  • 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.
  • Do you offer sliding scale or discounts?
    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. Beyond assistance through the Loveland Foundation, 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.
  • What age ranges do you see? Do you see teens?
    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.
  • How long will we work together?
    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.
  • How frequently will we meet?
    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.
  • Do I have to become a psychotherapy client in order to benefit from the methods you offer?
    I offer many of my methods (Depth Hypnosis, Applied Shamanism, Functional Nutrition, Spiritual Counseling, etc) both inside and outside of the clinical therapy context. Clinical therapy sessions are designed to manage, treat, and relieve mental health issues from a conventional medical and clinical therapeutic standpoint. Since I am a trained DHP, ASC, Spiritual Counselor and NTP, and since these methods are commonly offered by practitioners who are not also therapists, I feel confident offering these services for people who don't want or need to start a clinical therapy relationship as standalone services. We can discuss any questions you have during your consultation. Please keep in mind that the severity of some issues can only be helped within a clinical therapeutic context. I will discuss my recommendations for which container would serve you best during the consult.

Want to have powerful & intentional therapy sessions?

Would you like a free workbook that will help you learn how to have powerful and intentional therapy sessions? It's completely free, will be delivered straight to your inbox, and there will be no spam (I promise!)

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*The pricing for the psychotherapy and nutrition intakes includes an independent in-depth review of your history, assessments, and forms. The nutrition intake also includes a compilation of personalized recommendations for you. 

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Contact Me
Got a question? Want to connect professionally? Reach me here. 

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Email: alternativetherapystl (at) gmail.com

If you are experiencing a crisis, for a mental health emergency, please contact St. Louis Behavioral Health Response at 314-469-4908 or the national suicide and crisis hotline at 988. Both numbers offer 24/7 support.

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© 2020-2025 by Emma Donovan, MA, LPC, LCPC and Alternative Therapy STL, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

NPI Number: 1093354979

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