Frequently Asked Questions

Evidence-based therapy means using treatment approaches that research studies and clinical trials have proven effective. At St. Charles Counseling Associates, our therapists use evidence-based approaches — including EMDR, CBT, IFS, EFT, and ERP — because we want to offer the most effective care available. You can learn more about the specific approaches we use on our Types of Therapy page.

Both LCSWs and LPCs are licensed by the State of Missouri to provide psychotherapy. To earn their license, each completed a master's degree (2–3 years of graduate school), passed a licensing exam, and completed thousands of supervised clinical hours. LCSW stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker (master's in social work); LPC stands for Licensed Professional Counselor (master's in professional counseling).

Therapy helps in many ways. Beyond emotional support, your therapist gives you a new perspective on long-standing struggles and teaches practical skills for handling them. Therapy is proven to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, and many other concerns. Common benefits include healthier ways to manage emotions, better communication, stronger relationships, improved self-esteem, deeper self-understanding, and relief from trauma-related distress.

Your first session is an assessment: your therapist will ask about your history and what brings you to therapy. Over the next couple of sessions, you'll work together to identify your goals and choose the therapeutic approaches best suited to them. From there, sessions focus on actively addressing your concerns, and your progress is reviewed regularly. If you ever have questions about your treatment, your therapist will always discuss them with you openly.

Start by browsing our therapists to find someone you'd like to work with — each therapist operates independently, with their own contact information and scheduling process on their individual page. Existing clients should contact their therapist directly to schedule follow-up sessions.

Fees vary by therapist. Please visit each therapist's individual page for details on session fees and insurance accepted. Any fees or copays are collected at the beginning of each session.

While each therapist has their own style, the first session is generally an assessment: you'll discuss your history, your reasons for seeking therapy, and your goals. You'll also review office policies, ask any questions about your therapist or the process, and get a feel for whether it's a good fit. We recommend meeting a few times before deciding whether to continue — finding the right therapist matters.

Sessions typically last about 50 minutes. Longer sessions can sometimes be arranged for an additional fee, depending on the therapy approach or the needs of a particular session. Your therapist will discuss session length with you directly.

Most clients start with weekly sessions, which research shows is the most effective frequency. As you make progress, sessions usually become less frequent. If weekly sessions aren't workable — clinically or financially — talk with your therapist about a schedule that fits.

It varies widely — anywhere from a few weeks to a year or more — depending on your goals, the complexity of what you're working through, how often you attend, and the type of therapy. Early on, you and your therapist will set measurable goals together so you'll both know when you're ready to wrap up.

Therapy is teamwork: the more open and committed you are, the more you'll get out of it. That means speaking honestly — about your life and about the therapy process itself — attending consistently, and sometimes practicing skills or reflecting between sessions. Change is usually a gradual process, not a single event, so be patient with yourself. If any part of the process isn't working for you, bring it up directly — your therapist wants to hear it.

If your therapist isn't in-network with your insurance, you may still be reimbursed for part of your session fee. Ask your insurance company the following:

• Does my plan cover out-of-network mental health services from an LCSW or LPC?
• Do I need prior authorization for out-of-network mental health services to be reimbursed?
• What portion of my session fee will I get back?
• Do I have a deductible, and if so, what is it?

Trauma is a deeply distressing experience that overwhelms your ability to cope — and it can happen to anyone. Serious examples include physical or sexual assault, natural disasters, serious accidents, and combat. Other experiences can also leave lasting effects: emotional or verbal abuse, neglect, bullying, witnessing domestic violence, and traumatic loss. Trauma symptoms are very treatable with approaches like EMDR. If you're experiencing trauma symptoms, please discuss them with your therapist.