Meet Desiree! Desiree is a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor and a Play Therapist in training under the supervision of Amanda Serio, #2017008255. She works with children as young as three, teens, and families. I provide both in-office (St. Charles) and in-home counseling (Jefferson County). She takes a trauma-informed approach and utilizes several different interventions to address a number of needs. Desiree believes when working with children and adolescents the family unit is essential in providing the support and direction necessary for optimal growth and lasting change. Therefore, she encourages and includes caregivers through every step of the counseling process.
She wants to first acknowledge and celebrate the first step toward seeking help. As a parent she knows one of the hardest things to do is admit when you need help but even worse is watching your child or teen struggle. Parenthood didn’t come with a manual and there are times we all need support. Her goal is to partner with you to support your family through this process of self-discovery and healing. She works very closely with all her clients’ caregivers to ensure they feel confident that each family has the skills to move past current challenges but also ready to take on what other challenges lie ahead.
She is currently working toward my Play Therapy Certification, so she does use a lot of these interventions in session. Play is central to how your child is learning to navigate their world. Through play children communicate how they see the world and themselves, but it also provides opportunities for learning life skills such as emotional regulation, stress management, self-advocacy, self-esteem, and conflict resolution. Play is not just for children but families and teens also benefit from using these interventions. Play therapy opens up different ways to communicate through the use of art activities, sandtray, stories, and games. Also, it is FUN! Through play we have the opportunity to work through big problems in a safe and familiar environment that helps your child, teen, and family feel empowered.
She is passionate about the work she does and so she is constantly learning and staying up to date on best practices. She utilizes several different interventions depending on the needs of my clients including DDP, DBT, mindfulness, and EMDR. She looks forward to partnering with you and working together to find a plan that best supports the needs of your family.
A few areas of interest are:
- ADHD
- Social Skills
- Family Conflict
- Behavioral and Emotional concerns
- Sibling issues
- Divorce/Separation
- LGBTQ+ and Sexual Identification
- Grief
- Anxiety & Depression
- Trauma
Educational Background
Formal education
- Bachelors in Behavioral Science from Missouri Baptist University
- Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Missouri Baptist University
- Currently enrolled in the Play Therapy Certificate program through Missouri Baptist University
Certifications & Credentials
- Working towards a Registered Play Therapist credential
- Currently enrolled and participating in a DDP training
- Currently enrolled in the TAC training
- Completed EMDR training in December, working towards certification
Articles or blogposts written by therapist
Fees & Payment Information
Fees:
- Intake: 95/session
- 40-45 minute: 95/session
- Sliding scale $65-95/session
Insurance:
- Working towards being paneled with straight Medicaid and all managed Medicaid plans.
Availability and Location
Hours:
- Sunday-Thursday
Location:
- Saint Charles office
- In-home Jefferson County
Get to know Desiree!
Outside of the office she enjoys traveling to new places and trying new foods. Her family is very active so during the summer months they are outside hiking, swimming, camping, and exploring. They collect rocks and over the years have built quite an extensive collection. Each rock tells a story and holds a memory and even the tiniest pebble is appreciated and celebrated. She takes this same philosophy working with each of my clients. Every client is appreciated and celebrated for who they are individually and the stories they carry with them.
Work with Desiree!
Desiree can be described as creative, organized, and intentional. She believes you are the expert of your own life and so working close with families and clients is essential for optimal growth and learning. She would describe herself as outgoing, playful, creative, intentional, open-minded, and supportive. If you are interested in working with her, please schedule through our online form.