Sometimes life feels overwhelming, confusing, or painful. In those moments, making a connection with a counselor can be a powerful experience, and I am grateful to work each day with clients like you. I work with children, teens, and adults to process their experiences, express their emotions, and work towards their goals in counseling. I primarily utilize person-centered therapy, which focuses on your specific experiences. You choose our direction, and I work alongside you as a guide. 

Based on your needs, I incorporate techniques from multiple modalities including Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and Mindfulness to advance our work together. When working with children, I utilize child-centered play therapy, incorporating therapeutic techniques into your child’s play – their natural way of expressing themselves and processing the world. I particularly enjoy working with parents of children and teens with challenging, explosive, or oppositional behaviors. I utilize techniques based on the Collaborative and Proactive Solutions model developed by Ross Greene. 

I also provide Integrative Behavioral Therapy (IBT) to treat skin-picking, hair-pulling, and other Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs). IBT is an evidence-based approach that combines elements of Habit Reversal Training, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Mindfulness Therapy, and was developed solely to treat BFRBs.  We can work together in a compassionate and non-judgemental space to help you feel in control of yourself again.

Prior to becoming a counselor, I worked in clinical research in Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Neuroscience, and Genetics. This experience equipped me with an understanding of how the brain, behavior, thoughts, emotions, and the environment connect and influence each other. This perspective allows me to approach counseling with a holistic understanding of the factors that contribute to mental health.

I hold a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Certificate in Multicultural & Social Justice Counseling from the University of Missouri – St. Louis. I am passionate about working with the LGBTQ+ community and other historically marginalized identities. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I understand how identity can intertwine with every aspect of life, and I make sure to understand your unique story to best serve you in counseling.

Madeline can be reached at
madeline@gaiacounseling.com