Welcome
Individual and Couple Tele-therapy Throughout MO and FL. Secure Portal
We are here to listen
Why seek help?
I know it takes a lot of courage for clients to the the decision to consult and explore difficult issues. I provide a safe, comfortable environment for my clients to explore aspects that block emotions while helping them heal and learn to reconnect again.
You haven't been feeling as happy as usual. Lately you have been experiencing feelings of sadness, anxiety and hopelessness, unable to find the path to disentangle and feel normal again. These emotions can impact how you live and how you function, even in a long term. My goal is to help you find a path out of your suffering by working on understanding your situation, growing from your struggles, healing from your pain, and moving forward to where you want to be in your life. We will do this together.
MY SPECIALTY AREAS
Cancer
Chronic Illness
Couples
I empathize with the overwhelming frustration and sense of loss. We will move together to experience contentment and feeling that we have enough. I work with cancer clients helping them emotionally with their uncertainty, fear, sexuality, body changes, relationship issues, and topics related to end of life. I also work with couples where one of them struggles with cancer and tackle the emotional impact the illness has on the relationship. I lead a support group of cancer patients at the Cancer Support Community in St Louis and published several papers related to cancer.
Couples
Chronic Illness
Couples
Relationships can bring us great joy and happiness, as well as great pain and sorrow. It is in a relationship where we get hurt, so it only makes sense that it is in a relationship where we heal, The most powerful achievement is when we as a couple grow together. I am committed to helping people heal and sthrenghten the bond between them. Relationship counseling can be beneficial to couples who are looking to strengthen their emotional connection in all stages of their relationship. Therapy sessions are mostly with both couples, though I occasionally see each individual separately. My expertise in marriage and family therapy, and in emotionally focused therapy sustains the necessary background to help couples with attachment issues heal their relationship.
Chronic Illness
Chronic Illness
Health Care Providers
Chronic Illnesses may impact everyday life, forcing you to adjust to a new normal. Sometimes we projects our uncertainty and fear into anger or isolation. I have my PhD in MedFT (Medical Family Therapy). This includes working with chronic illness clients and/or their family members in order to help them overcome the emotional impact of the disease in their lives. I work with clients who are under emotional distress due to a chronic illness such as cancer, cardiac conditions, diabetes, stroke, Parkinson and dementia.
Health Care Providers
Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, PTSD
Health Care Providers
Physicians are at a higher risk when compared with the general population in regard to burnout, depression, and suicide. The Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has been increasing efforts to help physicians' wellness by including programs that improve their mental health.
As a Medical Family Therapist one of my specialties is to work with HCP and their potential impact of their work on burnout, stress, depression. I work with HCP by implementing a Behavioral Health approach in order to improve their well being
Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, PTSD
Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, PTSD
Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, PTSD
Depression, fear anxiety, loneliness are some of the most common and uncomfortable emotions that we all can experience at any point in our lives. I can help you overcome these symptoms and guide you through the process of grief and healing. Through counseling and treatment, I can help you recover the motivation, perspective, and joy that you once had. I have extensive experience working with those who are impacted by depression, anxiety, loss, and trauma. I am willing to meet with you wherever you are in life and walk together to a new path.
Multicultural Clients
Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, PTSD
Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, PTSD
I am fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, English and French, and have worked in different countries for the last 25 years. My own experience as an immigrant in various countries has also helped me vividly understand the multiple stressful factors that can arise when living abroad and I am capable of and enjoy working with multicultural clients.
Short-term reduced fee sessions for those directly affected by COVID-19.
MY TherapY APPROACH
SYSTEMIC AND EMOTIONALLY FOCUSED THERAPY MODEL
Couples and families in distress can benefit from EFT and learn to improve their relationships. Often, clients are dealing with ANGER, FEAR, loss of trust, or sense of betrayal in their relationship. EFT has also been proven effective for couples who are having trouble coping with their own illness or that of a child. In addition to helping the distressed relationship, EFT can also help reduce individual symptoms of depression and/or trauma.- Systemic therapy neither attempts a 'treatment of causes' nor of symptoms; rather it gives individuals in a family system the help they need to develop new patterns together, taking on a new organizational structure that allows growth.
Research and Teaching
I am the author of many research papers related to the psychological impact of chronic illness in individuals, couples and families as well those about the communication between health care providers and cancer patients. I am an adjunct faculty in Washington University and SLU and a member of AAMFT, SLAMFT and ICEEFT.
Valentina Penalba, PhD, LMFT
I obtained my degree in clinical psychology in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 2012, I moved to Saint Louis, Missouri and obtained my License in Marriage and Family Therapy and a doctorate degree in Medical Family Therapy. Here, I have started my private practice where I enjoy working with families, couples,and individuals
Services
Fee: $160 per individual- 55 min- and $200-60 min per couple session.Out of network provider.Make payment at the time of each session. Check, credit cards or PayPal are accepted. You may choose to file for out-of-network reimbursement from your insurance company. I am happy to provide a receipt if needed.
Testimonials
Out of state tele-health provider for the state of florida
"Hold Me Tight®" is a registered trademark to Sue Johnson Copyright © 2019 St Louis Individual, Couple and Family Therapy LLC - All Rights Reserved.
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