Quiet Strength Counseling

Professional counseling fees are $125 per 50 minute session. I do not bill insurance. The benefit in going this route is that we will not have to operate under the control of an insurance company-- this means that you will not be limited to a certain number of sessions and that I will not be required to diagnose you with a mental health disorder or share your personal information with the insurance company.

In therapy we work together to make sense of what you are experiencing. In doing this work, my hope is that you come to realize that you are a human being having a very HUMAN experience. There is nothing wrong with you and we don't need to "fix it" or "make it go away".

For some people therapy is the only place in their life where they can open up and truly feel heard. I tailor my approach to each person and operate from a person-centered, trauma-informed, mindfulness-based perspective. 

This (5 min) video interview with therapist Sam Rader, will give you an even clearer picture of what therapy will be like. My approach as a therapist is closely aligned with how she describes working with people in this video. BuzzFeedVideo: A Therapist Answers Questions You're Too Afraid To Ask - Dr. Sam Rader

We will start with a discussion about confidentiality and then- depending on your needs- we will either dive right into discussing something you’re currently struggling with OR- for those that prefer a bit more structure- we can review your intake paperwork together. The main goal in these first few sessions is for me to get to know you and for us to get comfortable working with one another. Also- it’s totally normal for it to feel awkward at first!

Searching for a therapist can be really overwhelming. It is hard enough to get to that point where you're ready to reach out for help and then there are so many of us out there! What you need to know, but few therapists will share with you, is just how critical the therapist/client fit is to a positive therapy experience. I encourage you to ask lots of questions and not settle for anything that doesn't feel just right to you. 

As you are researching different therapists, pay close attention to how you feel as you explore their website, and in any communication with them. Ask yourself: "Can I see myself opening up with this person? Do I feel safe? Comfortable? Does it seem like they get me?"

You and I will probably be a good fit if you are seeking to be understood from a strengths-based perspective. I bring a genuine curiosity to each session rather than imposing my beliefs or making assumptions about you.

If you would be interested in hearing more about my approach as a therapist and sharing about what you've been struggling with, click HERE and we can get you scheduled for a (free) 20 minute consultation call.

100%, yes!

Quiet Strength Counseling is committed to inclusiveness, anti-racism and LGBTQIA+ affirming care.

To be your authentic self in a world in which you are not guaranteed acceptance takes tremendous courage. I believe therapy can be especially beneficial for marginalized groups because of the unique challenges faced in our society.

More than likely you are familiar with what it feels like to exist in spaces and relationships in which your identity is not acknowledged, respected, understood or celebrated. This is the exact opposite of what I want you to experience in therapy.

➤ I want you to be able to talk about the micro-aggressions you’ve experienced, or share what it’s been like coming out to your family and feel confident that you’ll be met with support and understanding, never confusion or dismissiveness.

➤ I want you to know that when you share with me about the racist comments your coworker made, I will not suggest that you are “overreacting” or question “was it really about race”.

➤ I want you to know that your therapist is supportive and affirming so that you feel comfortable discussing and exploring your sexual orientation, gender, and racial identity.

➤ I want you to know that your therapist is supportive and affirming so that you can work through feelings resulting from receiving the message that it is "not okay" to be LGBTQIA+.

➤ I want you to know that your therapist is supportive and affirming, even when the focus of therapy is not your LGBTQIA+ or BIPOC identity.

While I do fall under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella myself, as a cisgender, white woman, there will likely be experiences you’ve had that I haven’t. I hope you’ll feel comfortable talking with me about them. And when I get something wrong or miss the mark, I hope we can talk about that too. 💙

I love providing space for the ‘hard-working, cram-as-many-things-as-you-can-in-to-one-day-and-really-stress-yourself-out’ person to slow down, turn inward and feel supported.

People that I find benefit most from my services include:

- those who may have identified as a Highly Sensitive Person and want a safe space to process their feelings

- those who may have been described as people pleasers, who feel guilty saying no & setting boundaries in relationships

- health/mental health professionals, and/or caregivers that feel burnt out and want to restore mind-body-spirit balance in their life

- family members of those struggling with addiction who feel hopeless and fearful because of their loved one's choices

- those who need someone to be "real" with because everywhere else in their life they feel they have to "keep it together"

Additionally, a large part of my practice is devoted to working with LGBTQIA+ individuals.

• To my LGBTQIA+ potential clients: You are worthy of love, belonging and quality mental health care. While you might be seeking therapy to discuss issues relating to your sexual orientation or gender identity (i.e. coming out to family/friends, or beginning social/medical transition), it is also likely you simply want to find a therapist to work on anxiety, depression, or various other mental health concerns, but need to be sure your therapist will be supportive & affirming of your LGBTQIA+ identity. To be your authentic self in a world in which you are not guaranteed acceptance takes tremendous courage. I believe therapy can be especially beneficial for LGBTQIA+ folks because of the unique challenges faced as members of a marginalized group in our society.

One of the major misconceptions about therapy is that it is the therapist's job to tell you what to do. This is what happens when we go to the doctor, so naturally we can expect the same sort of experience in therapy, right?! 

Nope! 

While it might be frustrating and confusing at first, you will know you’ve found a good therapist when they do NOT give you advice, even when directly asked for it.  If I were to offer you advice, it would be filtered through my unique set of experiences, which means it would make perfect sense for me, but maybe not for you. If I tell you what to do, I deprive you of the opportunity to struggle through it, gaining confidence and trust in yourself through that process. 

What I will do is encourage you to share your thoughts, feelings and experiences in our sessions. You will be met kindness and understanding. Always. I may also offer insight, observations, practical tools, ask questions, and recommend books/media relating to what you are dealing with.

Therapy requires a significant investment of time, energy and money. It is important to understand that going in.

It is very possible to experience healing, growth and change through therapy. However, if you bring a "let's see if this works" sort of mindset and are quick to cancel your therapy sessions when things get busy in other aspects of your life, you're likely to be disappointed with the results from your therapy experience.

Making the decision to invest in therapy is a decision you're making to invest in yourself. You are likely to see much better outcomes if you make therapy a priority from the beginning and remain an active participant throughout our work together. This is you saying to yourself: I matter. My mental health matters and I deserve support.

You'll know you've found a good therapist when they don’t try to rescue you from your pain but instead, stay present with you through it. 

Sometimes I have people that come in for that first therapy session and they're wanting relief... and FAST.. and that makes perfect sense. We are offered a number of quick fixes everyday: "Take this medication", "Why don't you just have a drink", or maybe for you it is overworking, overeating, 'numbing out' with TV or social media, etc. We often receive the message that when we feel any sort of discomfort we need to escape. We need to run, or hide or get rid of it any way that we can. 

In therapy we explore where your emotions are coming from when they arise. That sadness you feel, the loneliness, the anxiety, the fear...what is it trying to tell you? What if those negative emotions that we so desperately want to escape are there for a reason, trying to reach us, as if to say, "Something isn't right here!". And maybe that means you need more self-care or maybe that means you are hanging onto what has become an unhealthy relationship. Perhaps there is unresolved trauma driving your anxiety and depression. Therapy is about digging deep into those feelings we usually try to make go away or ignore.

When we no longer allow ourselves to "check out" and  instead pay attention to all that we are experiencing, we have the opportunity to gain insight and learn skills to better manage our difficult thoughts and feelings. Instead of offering you solutions & answers, a good therapist will "hold space" for you to sort through all that you are experiencing. This way you leave your therapy experience feeling empowered & capable of handling all that life throws at you. 

Not all therapy is good therapy. Check out this practical guide to help you in your search for a "good therapist".

All information you share with me is held strictly confidential and will not be disclosed to anyone unless: 1. You authorize release of information with your signature  2. You present a danger to yourself  3. You present a danger to others or 4. Child or elder abuse/neglect is suspected. If you are involved in a court case and a request is made for information about your therapy, I will not disclose information without your written agreement unless the court requires me to. I will do all I can within the law to protect your confidentiality.

The duration of therapy looks different for everyone. I have seen some people for a few months and others for a few years. I am committed to providing therapy to you as long as it is constructive and healthy. You can end therapy at any time. I encourage you to let me know in session if you are considering ending therapy, so that we can process this and you can get closure.

The terms "counselor", "therapist" and "psychotherapist" are often used interchangeably to describe Master's level mental health professionals of varying credentials (LPC, LCSW, LMFT, etc.). A psychologist is a mental health professional with a doctoral degree who often conducts psychological assessments/evaluations in addition to providing therapy. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who prescribes mental health medications and usually does not provide therapy.  I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Missouri. Licensed Professional Counselors have earned a Master's degree in counseling, passed a national licensing examination, completed 3,000 hours supervised counseling experience and been granted LPC licensure from the Missouri Division for Professional Registration. My supervision was provided by Licensed Psychologist Dr. A. Leslie Anderson (MO#2004024714). I am also a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in Ohio.