Therapy
Specialties
At Authentic Change, our clients are often driven, goal-focused and intuitive. They want to deepen their sense of self and navigate the ups-and-downs of modern life, work and relationships. Does this sound like you?
Whether you’re going through a major transition or simply want to make mental healthcare a part of your weekly routine, you’re in the right place.
My Approach to Therapy
I believe therapy is the best gift you can give yourself. I’ll help you embrace authenticity, heal from past trauma and let go of perfectionism so you can live a more balanced and grounded life.
When it comes to therapy, one size doesn’t fit all. Whether you are seeking individual therapy or couples therapy, we’ll create a custom, action-oriented approach personalized just for you. Let’s get you to a place where you feel more confident, motivated and capable.
Life is complicated. Therapy can help.
You’re not alone. If you can relate to the experiences or feelings below, I invite you to explore therapy with me.
Depression
Depression is a cycle that is hard to break. When you’re depressed, simple tasks like brushing your teeth, returning a phone call or going to the grocery store seem impossible. Working with a depression therapist can help you feel energetic, excited and grounded again. For depression, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be especially effective; our therapists can use CBT to help you identify certain automatic ways of thinking that are causing you more harm than good.
Trauma
Untreated trauma can lead to disconnection in relationships, obsessive thoughts, difficulty concentrating or intense bursts of anger. Trauma-informed psychotherapy can help you address the deep-rooted effects of trauma and feel stable in your life and relationships. By working with a trauma therapist, you can gain a sense of control as you heal in a safe, supportive environment.
Anxiety
Do you feel restless or on edge? Do you get tired easily and find it difficult to concentrate? Anxiety is very unpleasant, so you might find yourself seeking any forms of distraction you can find. With anxiety, it’s hard to maintain healthy relationships, get good sleep, focus, and make decisions. Working with an anxiety therapist can help you gain control of your thoughts and emotions, and thus, your life. We could even consider using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you identify and avoid anxious thoughts.
People Pleasing
You can have the best intention of making others happy by being helpful, but too much of anything can be harmful. No one can do and be everything for everyone, and oftentimes doing so limits your own happiness, satisfaction and success. Psychotherapy can help you learn to set boundaries and cope with the uncomfortable feelings that come with prioritizing your own desires and needs.
Perfectionism
Perfectionism is a toxic cycle. You set “perfect” expectations for yourself, then wind up criticizing yourself when you are unable to meet those impossible goals. Emotionally focused individual therapy can help you use the good side of your perfectionism while letting go of the bad. By rechanneling this energy, you will be able to find a healthy, sustainable and balanced approach to reaching your goals.
We’d Be Honored To Be Your Choice For Care
What Are Your Rates?
50 minute standard sessions: $170
Intake session: $210
Couples Therapy: $190
What Is Your Cancellation Policy?
If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, I ask that you provide me with as much notice as possible.
If you reschedule or cancel less than 24 hours prior to your appointment, the card I have on file will be charged for the full session fee.
How Long Are Sessions?
The intake session (the first initial session) is 60 minutes long. A standard individual therapy session is 50 minutes.
How Do I Know If We’re A Good Fit?
The relationship between a therapist and a client is the biggest determining factor when it comes to success and satisfaction in therapy. I will regularly check in with you to see how you feel about therapy and your progress. If I am not the right fit for you, I am happy to provide you with referrals. Finding the right therapist for you is my number one goal, even if it isn’t me!
Do You Offer Online Therapy?
Yes! I offer teletherapy in Missouri and Illinois.
I also have in-person therapy in St. Louis, Missouri.
What Is A Phone Consultation?
A phone consultation is a brief 15 minute phone call to determine if you and the therapist are a good fit. I will ask about what you are looking for in therapy, what your goals are and it’s also a time for you to ask any questions you may have for me about my background or the process.
Do you take insurance?
This may be the #1 question I receive, and my answer might surprise you: no, I do not accept insurance—and there are a few reasons for that.
Why we don’t work with insurance
First, I prefer to avoid hard-and-fast diagnoses. In order to submit a claim to insurance, I have to give you a diagnosis, or your treatment will not be covered. A diagnosis becomes a part of your permanent mental health record and will be listed as a pre-existing condition. Identifying too heavily by a diagnosis might actually limit your healing, because it emphasizes how you present yourself to the world, not the inner work you’re doing to grow into the person you want to be.
Second, insurance means you have less control over your treatment. In the field of mental healthcare and psychotherapy, insurance can determine what type of treatment you can receive, how many sessions you can have and how often you meet with your counselor.
Lastly, insurance limits confidentiality. An insurance company may request mental health records from your provider at any time to approve coverage for services. This includes confidential information such as diagnosis, case notes, treatment plans and treatment type.
As a private pay client, you can choose a provider that best fits your unique needs and develop a personalized plan with your therapist based on your goals and needs. You can also be confident knowing your personal information and the details from our sessions are fully confidential.
Why work with a private pay therapist
The decision whether to use insurance for therapy is a personal and complicated choice.
Private pay therapists, like me, often have a higher rate, which can make finding an in-network provider seem like the obvious choice. If finances are your biggest concern, take a look at your out of network benefits.
Out-of-network reimbursement
Many insurance policies reimburse for out-of-network care, making it more affordable and comparable to in-network costs. I am more than happy to provide you with a document to submit to your insurance for out-of-network reimbursement.
If you would like to find out how much your insurance may reimburse you for, please use my insurance reimbursement calculator.
Get Started
Fill out the form to schedule your free 15-minute phone consultation.
Authentic Change Therapy
Contact
Phone:
314-596-2335
Email:
grace@authenticchangetx.com
Office Location
8000 Bonhomme Ave #102
Clayton, MO 63105
Hours and Telehealth
Telehealth:
Missouri and Illinois
Hours:
M-F 10 AM-6 PM