Integrative Art Therapy and Trauma Informed Care for Adults in Missouri

Art therapy is one of several tools I offer to support healing, emotional regulation, and personal growth. Creative expression can help explore thoughts and experiences that are difficult to access through words alone, engaging both the mind and body in gentle, grounding ways. No artistic experience is needed, and the focus is always on meaning and connection rather than creating something “right.”

In my practice, art therapy is integrated with trauma-informed, evidence-based approaches, including somatic and neurobiologically-informed care and EMDR. Sessions may include creative work, talk therapy, or body-based awareness depending on your needs and goals. Art therapy is always an invitation, not a requirement, and we collaborate throughout to find what feels most supportive.

I work with trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, attachment and relationship concerns, emotion regulation, and personal growth, supporting you in developing greater self-understanding and movement toward the version of yourself you’re longing to become.

Madeline graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), MA Art Therapy Counseling Program and is Registered with the American Art Therapy Association

Close-up of an abstract textured painting with thick layers of colorful paint including yellow, pink, purple, white, and blue, with visible brushstrokes and palette knife marks.
A handwritten list of words related to the word 'anxiety' with various colored markers on a white sheet of paper. The words include 'spiders,' 'light sick,' 'answered,' 'me,' 'Fear,' 'scared,' 'nervous,' among others. Several colored markers rest on top of the paper, and a watercolor paint set is visible on the left side.

EMDR Therapist in St. Louis

Trauma-Informed Counseling for Healing Anxiety, Life-Transitions, C-PTSD, and Depression

If you’re feeling stuck in patterns that don’t quite make sense—or carrying experiences that still feel present in your body—EMDR therapy can help your system process and integrate what hasn’t yet had the chance to resolve.

I offer EMDR therapy as part of a trauma-informed, relational approach that honors your pace, your story, and your innate capacity to heal. My work integrates EMDR with somatic awareness and expressive practices, supporting both mind and body in the healing process.

People holding hands across a table, with one person wearing a black ring on their finger.
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy designed to help the brain process and integrate distressing memories and experiences.

    Rather than talking through the same story repeatedly, EMDR works by helping your nervous system “unstick” experiences that have been stored in a way that continues to trigger distress. Through guided bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, tapping, or sound), the brain is able to reprocess these experiences so they feel less overwhelming and more integrated.

    EMDR is widely used for trauma and PTSD, but it is also effective for a range of emotional and relational concerns.

  • EMDR is a structured, yet flexible process that unfolds over several phases. Together, we will:

    • Build a foundation of safety, trust, and nervous system regulation

    • Identify goals and experiences that feel important to address

    • Develop resources and tools to support you between sessions

    • Engage in reprocessing at a pace that feels manageable and contained

    • Integrate insights and shifts into your daily life

    You remain in control throughout the process. EMDR is not about reliving trauma—it’s about helping your system move through it with support.

  • MDR can be especially helpful if you are experiencing:

    • Trauma or PTSD (including complex or developmental trauma)

    • Anxiety, panic, or chronic overwhelm

    • Depression or persistent negative self-beliefs

    • Relationship or attachment challenges

    • Grief and loss

    • Life transitions or identity shifts

    • Somatic symptoms or feeling “disconnected” from your body

  • I bring experience working with:

    • Survivors of abuse, neglect, and relational trauma

    • Military members, veterans, and their families

    • LGBTQ+ individuals (affirming care)

    • Relationship distress and attachment patterns

    • Immigrant and multicultural communities

    • Major life transitions and identity shifts

    • Grief and loss

      My approach is grounded in cultural humility, trauma awareness, and deep respect for each person’s lived experience.