Hi, I’m River

(They/Them/Theirs)

I’m a coach, therapist, and group facilitator, and I specialize in working with folks who have been impacted by trauma and painful life experiences.

I have been doing mental health work as a volunteer since 2014, and as a professional since 2019. As a volunteer, I have experience facilitating peer support and educational groups, and also providing one-on-one advocacy and crisis counseling to trauma survivors. As a professional, I have experience as a crisis counselor, a survivor advocate, and a therapist.

I also bring a lifetime of lived experiences with trauma and mental health to my work with clients. While I do hold boundaries around what I will and won’t share with clients about my personal story (after all, my goal in our sessions is to create space for your healing, not for mine!) I also strongly believe in being authentic about my personal experience with this work. My passion for mental health comes from my personal experiences of growth and healing, and I bring those experiences to my work with clients every day.

What does my personal experience
mean for you as a client?

First, it means that I mostly use techniques that have been helpful in my personal mental health work. I will always look for opportunities to try out an intervention myself before I bring it into my work with clients.

I will also always be in my own therapy when we are working together. Part of my job is to hold space for my clients and all of their emotions and experiences. This means that you can bring anything into our sessions; nothing is “too dark” or “too intense” to share with me. I have heard a lot of people’s stories over the years, and every person’s story impacts me in a new way. Being in my own therapy gives me the space I need to process any emotions that might come up so that I can be fully present with you when we work together.

Specialties

  • Photo of a collage including words about perfectionism and images of people's eyes

    Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating

    Food and eating are some of the first self-soothing behaviors we develop as babies. As we grow up, many of us begin to use food and eating to meet deeper emotional needs, like safety, comfort, and connection. I can help you learn new ways to meet those needs and work to relate to your body with compassion and care.

  • hands holding a rainbow heart cut out of paper

    Trans and Queer Identities

    Identity exploration is a lifelong process. As a queer, nonbinary person, I want to create a space in my practice where queer and trans people feel safe and understood. I approach identity work from an intersectional and culturally humble lens; I know that everyone’s identities intersect in unique ways and that each individual is the expert on their own experience. Together, we can explore what your identities mean to you and how they impact your life.

  • Colored pencil drawing of faces and cartoon creatures that says "Draw your monsters and your dreams, and the space between."

    Creative Expression

    Creativity is for everyone. There is so much judgment in our culture about what it means to be creative and who is “creative enough” or “talented enough.” I can help you unlearn harmful messages like these and challenge shame and self criticism around what it means to be “good enough.” Together we can find new ways for you to reconnect with creativity, curiosity, and inspiration.

  • Drawing of two hands holding each other over rainbow marks. Lines of poetry are collaged over the drawing.

    Body Image and Body Grief

    Body dysmorphia, gender dysphoria, trauma, discrimination, chronic illnesses, and so many other experiences can lead us to have difficulty relating to our bodies in a healthy way. I can support you in healing from painful life experiences and challenging social norms and perfectionism, to help you build a healthy relationship with your body.

  • Painting of a silhouette of a person and a large monster leaning over them

    Trauma and Painful Life Experiences

    Difficult life experiences can make us feel unsafe in our bodies, in our relationships, and in our world. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe enough to show up as your authentic self. Together we can re-discover what safety can look and feel like for you.

  • Collage of words related to addiction and photos of food and pills

    Substance Use and Addiction

    When life is especially painful or overwhelming, we may turn to substances or other behaviors, such as self-harm, to help numb the pain in the short term. But these behaviors can sometimes cause more pain later on. This can start a cycle of hurt that can be hard to break away from. I can help you step out of this cycle and discover new ways to cope with painful life experiences.

I believe that healing happens in relationships.

My goal is to be present and authentic with you and to create a space where you can feel seen and heard. Growth happens in relationships. It’s in relationships that we learn to build trust, be vulnerable, and set boundaries.

Our sessions can be a great place to test these out: What would it be like to say the thing I am ashamed of? What would it be like to advocate for what I need? What would it be like to say how I feel without minimizing or apologizing? Together, I hope we can co-create a space where you feel safe enough to “stretch your legs” and try out things that feel scary or new to you.

Training & Experience

Education & Licensure

  • Masters of Social Work (Washington University in St. Louis)

  • Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW, Missouri)

  • Expressive Arts Therapist in Training (REAT-IT)

Training & Certifications

  • Expressive Arts Therapy (Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute)

  • Internal Family Systems Therapy (Level 1 Trained, IFS Institute). 

  • Sandtray Therapy (St. Louis Play Therapy Institute)

  • Drama Therapy (Center for Creative Arts Therapy)

  • Psychodrama (Onsite Workshops; Group Psychodrama)

  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (Post-Masters Training Program in PTSD Assessment & Treatment, Julie Mastnak, Washington University in St. Louis)

  • Relational-Cultural Therapy (Kristi Nigh)

  • Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Chris Mauro)

Professional Associations

  • Trauma Therapists Network

  • National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

  • International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA)

Contact Me