Trying to find the best therapist in St. Louis? Here’s what actually matters.
So, this is a huge passion of mine. You wouldn’t believe how often I hear from friends and clients that they’re having an impossible time finding a therapist, or can’t even get a call back from one. Gah. And if you search for the best therapist in St. Louis, you’ll get a long list of names, directories, reviews, specialties, credentials, and carefully written profiles. It’s ridiculously hard to figure out which one should to choose.
The truth is, there probably isn’t one “best therapist” out there. But there probably is a good therapist for you. And figuring that out has less to do with finding the person with the longest list of credentials and more to do with finding someone whose experience, approach, personality, and way of working fit what you’re looking for. Here are a few things I’d consider.
1. Start with what you’re actually looking for help with
You don’t necessarily need to know your diagnosis or understand exactly what’s wrong before looking for a therapist. Maybe you’re anxious all the time. Maybe your marriage has become difficult. Maybe work is consuming your life. Maybe you’ve been feeling stuck for a while and can’t quite figure out why. Maybe nothing is particularly wrong, but you know you aren’t where you want to be.
Those are all legitimate reasons to talk to a therapist. And different therapists naturally develop different areas of experience. Someone who primarily works with children may not be the best fit for a 45-year-old dealing with career burnout. Someone who specializes in severe trauma may not be the person you’re looking for if your primary concern is figuring out why you’re unhappy at work. Look for someone whose experience overlaps with the reason you’re seeking counseling.
2. Pay attention to how the therapist talks about therapy
This one is easy to overlook. As you read the therapist’s website, don’t just the list of credentials. Read what they actually say about therapy.
Do they talk like a person?
Do they explain what working with them is actually like?
Do they seem collaborative, or does it sound like they’re going to tell you what’s wrong with you?
Do they acknowledge that the relationship between therapist and client matters?
Do they explain their approach in a way you can understand?
You’re looking for some indication of what it might feel like to sit across from this person for an hour and talk about your life.
3. Credentials matter—but they aren’t everything
Definitely pay attention to a therapist’s credentials. In Missouri, for example, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) is a licensed mental-health professional who has met the state’s education, training, supervision, and examination requirements. For someone who went to a CACREP accredited school, it’s an even higher bar. Often double the credit hours.
But credentials don’t tell you everything, no matter what the occupational field is. Two therapists can have essentially the same background and provide completely different experiences. And I think that makes sense. I consider counseling to be a very creative process, so I think each counselor’s experience should absolutely represent them. One might be highly structured and directive. Another might be more exploratory. One might focus heavily on symptom reduction. Another might spend more time helping you understand patterns in relationships, emotions, and behavior. If I’m honest, I even think some of that should be fluid.
There isn’t necessarily a right answer. The question is what works for you and will this therapist work with you. Collaboration is huge and encouraged in our field.
4. Don’t underestimate personality and fit
Therapy requires you to talk about things that aren’t always easy to talk about. You’re going to have to be able to trust the person sitting across from you enough to be honest. Might not mean you have to be best friends, but you should probably feel like:
I can be myself here.
You should be able to disagree with your therapist. You should be able to say, “I don’t think that’s right.” You should be able to tell them when something isn’t working. And you should get the sense that they’re interested in understanding you, rather than fitting you into a diagnosis or a predetermined treatment plan.
The therapeutic relationship isn’t just a nice bonus. It’s part of the work. And if it’s not working, you should absolutely feel empowered to get up and leave, or tell the therapist hey I don’t think this is working for me. I’ve done that myself. Get the help you need.
5. Think about whether you want a specialist or someone with broader experience
There’s no universally correct answer here either, but if you’re looking for treatment for a very specific condition, you may want someone who works extensively with that particular issue. Those people exist but often therapists put a TON of different concerns they treat on their web sites. So when you talk to them, ask good questions about how they approach that issue, and what informs their approach. Are there tools? What can they teach you that you can’t find on ChatGPT?
If you’re dealing with something more complicated—say, anxiety that’s tied to your marriage, career, family, identity, and general sense of direction—you may want someone who can look at the bigger picture. Maybe you’re a dude who needs help from someone who’s been in your shoes. Sometimes the thing you’re calling “work stress” is actually a relationship problem. Sometimes anxiety is connected to feeling stuck. Sometimes our panic is about worrying that we might panic. Sometimes a career decision is really about identity. And sometimes you don’t know what the problem is yet.
6. Consider whether you want in-person therapy, online therapy, or both
This sounds like a logistical question, but it can affect the experience considerably. Some people want to physically leave their house and go somewhere for therapy. That separation can be useful. Others appreciate the flexibility of online therapy.
If you’re in the St. Louis area, you may also want to consider where the therapist’s office is located and whether getting there is realistic with your schedule. Access to care is a huge thing in our field, and very important. I look at online therapy as part of providing access. So get what works for you.
7. Look for someone who works with adults like you
This is particularly relevant if you’re looking for a therapist for a specific stage of life.
You may want someone who works with:
adults navigating major life transitions
couples struggling with communication or connection
professionals dealing with career stress or burnout
people trying to understand patterns in their relationships
people who simply feel stuck
Again, this doesn’t mean you need to find someone who has the exact same life experience you do.
It means you should feel like the therapist understands the world you’re trying to navigate.
8. Use a first consultation to interview the therapist
Don’t go in blind.
You might ask:
“How would you approach what I’m dealing with?”
“What does a typical session look like?”
“What kind of therapy do you practice?”
“Do you work with people dealing with this kind of issue?”
“How do you know when therapy is working?”
A good therapist should be comfortable with you asking these questions. And they should be super honest and upfront. And if they aren’t the right person for you, that’s okay. Finding out early is better than spending six months wondering why therapy doesn’t feel right.
So, Who Is the Best Therapist in St. Louis?
There’s no a universal answer.
A better question might be:
Who is the right therapist for you?
Look for someone with appropriate credentials, relevant experience, a therapeutic approach that makes sense to you, and—perhaps most importantly—a personality and style that allow you to feel comfortable being honest. Then give yourself permission to see what happens and move on if it’s not the right person. I know that can suck starting over with someone, but don’t give up.
Looking for a Therapist in St. Louis?
My approach is very chill. I’m relational, collaborative, and practical. I work with adults dealing with anxiety, relationships, life transitions, career and workplace stress, and the various ways people can find themselves feeling stuck.
If you’re not sure whether I’m the right therapist for you, that’s exactly what a consultation is for. Hit me up.