Along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers in the extreme southeastern corner of Missouri, you will find the small town of Charleston, Missouri. The town was settled in 1805 and at the time it was called Matthews Prairie and then the name was changed in 1837 for the nearby Charles Prairie. The Battle of Charleston was held here on August 19, 1861.
History is important and it can be fun as well. Looking at your own family’s history can be good for your health too as it can tell you if there are any hereditary illnesses in your past such as mental illness. Talk to a Charleston area therapist or counselor if you have any concerns or questions about your mental health.

Michelle Watson
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." And today you've taken that one most important step. Hello! My name is Michelle Watson and I'm excited about the opportunity to go along on this journey with you. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Missouri with over 10 years of experience. I have worked with a diverse group of clients with a wide range of concerns including self-esteem, anger management, stress management, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, ADHD and simply learning to cope with life changes. I find that relationship plays a large role in a client’s willingness to go down this path. It’s essential that clients work with someone they feel they can trust and someone who aligns with their particular needs. Therefore I believe it would benefit you to know a little about me and understand my philosophy of counseling. This is a nonjudgmental and safe place to express yourself. I take a collaborative and supportive stance in my approach to therapy. I strive to empower clients using a strengths-based approach; meaning I believe we all have positives attributes we can draw on to help us cope with difficult times. Therapy is a process. And yes change can seem hard and scary; but through partnering together, we will work on your identified goals and you will feel empowered to move forward. The ultimate goal will always be for you to get to a place in which you feel like you don’t need me anymore; that you have gained a better sense of self and coping. My approach combines cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal psychotherapy, solution focused counseling, and mindfulness based interventions. Please know there is no "one sizes fits all in counseling" so rest assured I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Change can be hard. And it takes courage to take actions towards a more fulfilling and happier life. Happiness is always possible! This is your first steps towards a change. If you are ready to take that step I am here to support and empower you. I look forward to partnering with you along this journey!

Raymond Butts
I am a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and a National Certified Counselor, ( NCC) with other 30 years experience in both counseling and education. I started my professional career as an elementary special education teacher in the early 80's. I obtained my M.Ed in counselor Education in 1989 from the University of Arkansas and in 1989 I went to Alaska for the first time as along term substitute teacher. I worked in the Bering Strait School District, in Unalakleet, Alaska. I would return a year later, and work a total of 11 years as a teacher, itinerant school counselor, and village school principal in the district. I would go on to work in two other school districts before retiring from Alaska in 2004. After returning to Arkansas, and home, I worked as a kindergarten counselor in a center with 180 kids and 18 teachers. I fully retired in 2007. In 2009, I became a military and family life counselor and have been doing this for 10 years. My treatment approach is based on my training and my personality. I was trained in CCT and it fite my style, even though I so specialize in crisis counseling. I have found helping the client, and not necessarily directing the client is more effective for me. As I stated I specialize in crisis and PTSD counseling right now with the military, and their families.

Laketia Carrell
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Missouri. I have twenty years of therapeutic and mental health coaching experience. I support individuals to become successful who suffer from anxiety/depression, professional/academic problems, interpersonal conflicts, codependency problems, and much more. My modality of treatment is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-focused Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Mindfulness, and I use behavioral interventions. Together we will explore underlying thoughts and beliefs that contribute to lowered self-esteem and self-confidence. We will identify self-sabotaging, behaviors that hinder your success academically/professionally, and derail interpersonal relationships. Every person struggles with issues. At some point in life, we all need support. The answer to your specific problem depends on you more than the problem. Your beliefs, personality, character, and environment all play a part in finding the correct solution. We will travel together, and you will find the best answer for you. I do not give you an answer to your particular issue or problem. Instead, I journey with you and explore new ideas and methods so that you can overcome difficult situations.

Timothy Klopfenstein
I am a licensed counselor who has worked with individuals, couples, and families in a variety of settings, including a professional counseling office as well as pastoral counseling. For those who request it, I offer faith-based counseling. My counseling approach is relational, drawing from a variety of modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral, to provide sensitive, compassionate, and caring approach. Additionally, I am certified in SYMBIS pre-marital/young married assessment and counseling.

Jennifer Stevens
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who works with adolescents, adults and couples. I have a passion for helping people to examine their history and patterns in order to find the true center of the issues that are hindering them. I explore the various ways in one's life that symptoms present, and to work to understand the function and underlying meanings. Using that understanding, I aim to help my clients develop lifelong skills to take control of their behavior and live fulfilling lives. I’m trained in mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral and psycho-dynamic therapies. I use a holistic approach to therapy and have extensive experience in various settings working with relational issues, blended families, anxiety, depression and life transitions. You’ve taken the first step in looking for help, reach out to see if I can help you get to where you’d like to be. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about this process.

Robert Mace
Keep it Simple! Over several decades of studying and practicing a variety of counseling styles, I came to the conclusion that there is not just one “correct” way to understand human behavior. Each path has a unique focus, but no single framework could claim to deal with the wide variety of problems and challenges that people faced. During those years, I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, career challenges, and so forth. However, while the theories of psychotherapy were getting MORE complicated, the daily practice of working with the clients actually became simpler! I began to create a simple program that demonstrated that search for simplicity. With my current BetterHelp clients, we started to call this program “the Four SuperPowers”! Step One: listen to the client’s challenging stories Step Two: teach a simple exercise (superpower) to address those challenges Step Three: practice, and then repeat the first two steps! As a Licensed Professional Counselor and a licensed school teacher and counselor, I had always been a counselor at heart. Long before “Mindfulness” became popular, I served as the "Relaxation Therapist", having devised a pretty simple, yet universal, set of basic exercises to calm down any and all clients in the facilities in which I worked. My counseling sessions might combine the standard "Western" therapy models with more universal techniques. Also, a touch of humor and artistic creativity can be very helpful in the process. I look forward to traveling that Search for Simplicity with you!

Sierra Koester
I am licensed in Missouri with 3 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & compassion fatigue. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

Audrey Schaulat
I am licensed in Missouri with 4 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, eating disorders, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

Lindsay Prado
Welcome, and please commend yourself for taking not only the first step, but so many on the way to wherever you are going. You recognized help was needed, sought it out, and are here. You are searching for the best fit now; not just anyone- you want this to work. And I want to help you through whatever you came here for. My name is Lindsay Prado and I have a decade of experience in the field of clinical social work. I have experience helping clients of all different walks of life with stress and anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, military issues, self esteem, confidence, and more. I have helped survivors of sexual assault in a shelter hotline setting, veterans and active duty military facing PTSD and other adjustment issues at the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, and many other types of regular people like you and me in between facing the difficulties life sometimes throws our way. Regardless of who you are and what you have been through- I believe in treating everyone with respect, dignity, and compassion; this is your process and I am more than equipped to tailor our work together to meet your unique and specific needs. Please reach out if you think we may be a good match to work together. If not- I encourage you to keep searching for another counselor- keep going- you've got this.

Dru Hall
I am LCSW in Missouri with 14 years of professional work experience. I am here to listen, help create a plan and help set goals with you. I have experience in helping clients with increasing motivation, managing anxiety, coping with grief and loss, & coping with depression. I enjoy using evidence based tools and interventions. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.
Find a therapist serving clients in Missouri
Types of therapists available to clients in Charleston
Understanding the type of therapy you'd like to search for is crucial before finding a therapist or psychologist. Be sure to narrow your search for therapists in Charleston that can offer psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), talk therapy, group therapy, marriage and family therapy for individuals or couples, or couples therapy depending on your needs.
Licensed therapists & mental health professionals available through BetterHelp's online platform
Mental health therapists in Charleston available through BetterHelp are accredited to help individuals and couples. Charleston therapists' credentials can include licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), and clinician or doctor of psychology (PsyD). Regardless of their licensure, Charleston therapists are trained in any type of therapy in the Charleston region and in the state of Missouri.
How a therapist can help you destress, manage your emotions, and guide you towards the life you want
Therapists in Charleston can help clients in improving healthy relationships, communication skills, working through life transitions, couples challenges, managing a mood disorder, improving coping skills, self help tips, offer life coaching, family life, or change in negative thinking patterns. A therapist in Charleston may also provide a safe place and validation for clients experiencing emotional pain, or that simply want a psychological assessment.