I realize that finding a therapist who is a good fit can be a process. And, for some who have never been in counseling, reaching out can be difficult. I applaud your courage and will do my utmost to help you transform your life. Many people I see have struggled with feeling like they are always the caretakers of others and have had difficulty choosing to help themselves. Others have felt separated from loved ones due to their sadness, anxiety, or abuse history.
While mental health symptoms can cause one to feel helpless and hopeless, my experience in the mental health field has taught me a great deal about the strength, innate intelligence, and resilience of human beings and I believe that all of us possess the capability to overcome tremendous obstacles.
I have had the privilege of working with numerous people as they have sought to better understand themselves and improve their quality of life. I believe that the knowledge base and capacity for change is something inherent in my clients and seek to help them access these tools. I believe in my clients and encourage them to have greater faith in themselves.
While mental health symptoms can cause one to feel helpless and hopeless, my experience in the mental health field has taught me a great deal about the strength, innate intelligence, and resilience of human beings and I believe that all of us possess the capability to overcome tremendous obstacles.
I have had the privilege of working with numerous people as they have sought to better understand themselves and improve their quality of life. I believe that the knowledge base and capacity for change is something inherent in my clients and seek to help them access these tools. I believe in my clients and encourage them to have greater faith in themselves.
About Me
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with 23+ years experience working as a therapist and doing community-based crisis intervention. I have been in private practice for 15 years and co-owner of Healing Reflections Therapy since 2020. In the past, I worked as a mobile outreach crisis counselor for 11 years (in addition to my practice) supporting clients who are in need of immediate assistance. I hold a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy which informs the work I do with individuals, couples, and families. I specialize in treating grief and loss, sexual orientation/gender dysphoria-related concerns (I write letters for HRT and surgery for adults), depression, substance abuse, couples work, trauma (including religious trauma), and anxiety. I am specially trained in Prolonged Exposure Therapy, an evidence-based treatment for symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
I counsel diverse client populations, specializing in therapy with the LGBTQIA+ community and those living with HIV/AIDS, but also seeing a wide range of couples and individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, loss, and communication challenges. I take a body/sex-positive approach and am affirming of various relationship structures including polyamory/non-monogamy, and am kink aware. I offer walk and talk therapy in various local parks when weather permits, and sometimes am joined in the office by Elvira our therapy dog in-training (soon to be official).
I have spoken at local and state-wide conferences on LGBTQIA+ concerns and counseling and have served on the HIV funding planning counsel. I am a prior volunteer with the Humane Society and grassroots homeless outreach. I am an avid music and theater enthusiast, foodie, reader, traveler, and animal lover.
I counsel diverse client populations, specializing in therapy with the LGBTQIA+ community and those living with HIV/AIDS, but also seeing a wide range of couples and individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, loss, and communication challenges. I take a body/sex-positive approach and am affirming of various relationship structures including polyamory/non-monogamy, and am kink aware. I offer walk and talk therapy in various local parks when weather permits, and sometimes am joined in the office by Elvira our therapy dog in-training (soon to be official).
I have spoken at local and state-wide conferences on LGBTQIA+ concerns and counseling and have served on the HIV funding planning counsel. I am a prior volunteer with the Humane Society and grassroots homeless outreach. I am an avid music and theater enthusiast, foodie, reader, traveler, and animal lover.
My Treatment Philosophy:
My therapeutic orientation/counseling style is an integration of psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, and client-centered approaches with grounding in evidence-based practice, which basically means that I value being real and authentic with my clients and seek to help them gain insight into their lifelong patterns of behavior and alter counterproductive ways of thinking. My training and education is in Marriage and Family Therapy, so I look at issues clients are facing as often a product of their relationships and family system as much they may involve individual choices and factors.
I typically start out with helping client's reduce their mental health symptoms first in a solution-based format first and then do more depth-oriented work on long-standing concerns such as trauma, grief, or other family of origin concerns. I am great at encouraging my clients to meet their goals and helping them resolve ambivalence they have about important decisions they are having trouble making. I enjoy helping clients to maximize their potential by focusing upon their strengths and past successes.
I believe that therapy is a cooperative endeavor that should assist the client in discovering his/her/their own abilities and coping strategies. I feel that most mental health concerns have developed over an extended period of time, and as such, require time to process in counseling. I relish the opportunity to support clients through trying situations and to help them to process grief. I love my work and very much look forward to working with you.
I typically start out with helping client's reduce their mental health symptoms first in a solution-based format first and then do more depth-oriented work on long-standing concerns such as trauma, grief, or other family of origin concerns. I am great at encouraging my clients to meet their goals and helping them resolve ambivalence they have about important decisions they are having trouble making. I enjoy helping clients to maximize their potential by focusing upon their strengths and past successes.
I believe that therapy is a cooperative endeavor that should assist the client in discovering his/her/their own abilities and coping strategies. I feel that most mental health concerns have developed over an extended period of time, and as such, require time to process in counseling. I relish the opportunity to support clients through trying situations and to help them to process grief. I love my work and very much look forward to working with you.
Becoming is superior to Being.
-Paul Klee
Specialty Areas
Specialty Treatment Areas: Adults only
- LGBTQIA
- HIV/AIDS
- Grief and Loss
- Crisis Intervention
- Gender Dysphoria
- Polyamory/Non-Monogamy/Kink Aware
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Addiction
- Substance Abuse
- Relationship Issues /Couple Therapy
- Divorce
- Premarital Counseling
- Trauma/PTSD
- Religious Trauma
- Chronic Pain/Illness
- Wilderness Walk and Talk Therapy
Education
I received my Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Philosophy from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana in 2001.
I received my Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2003 from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, California.
I received my Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2003 from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, California.
License
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Missouri (LPC) #2007008763
Certifications
Prolonged Exposure Therapy
Prepare/Enrich Premarital/Relational Counseling
Prepare/Enrich Premarital/Relational Counseling
Professional Experience:
Healing Reflections Therapy, St. Louis, MO
Burning Man Project, Crisis Intervention Team Staff Black Rock City, NV
Scarberry Therapy St. Louis, MO
Behavioral Health Response, St. Louis, MO
AIDS Project Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Project Pro Sex Offender Rehabilitation, Valparaiso, IN
Burning Man Project, Crisis Intervention Team Staff Black Rock City, NV
Scarberry Therapy St. Louis, MO
Behavioral Health Response, St. Louis, MO
AIDS Project Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Project Pro Sex Offender Rehabilitation, Valparaiso, IN
Public Speaking
- St. Louis Association for Marriage and Family Therapy November, 2023
- Presented 2 hour workshop on "So You Are Thinking About Starting a Private Practice" training for mental health professionals with Megan Garza, MA, LMFT
- St. Louis Association for Marriage and Family Therapy June, 2023
- Presented 2 hour workshop on "Stopping the Bleeding" Suicide intervention and treatment training for mental health professionals.
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health May 2023
- Presented a 1.5 hour training on Best Practices for LGBTQIA Related Counseling.
- St. Louis Association for Marriage and Family Therapy February, 2020
- Co-Presented with Liz Stansberry on Working with Individuals and Families of Transgender Clients
- St. Louis Association for Marriage and Family Therapy May, 2019
- Presentation on Treating Chronic Illness in Gay Couples
- Missouri ACA, 2017
- Presentation on Tools for Clinical Work with HIV+ and LGBTQIA clients
- St. Louis Health Department, 2016
- Presentations in Belleville, IL and at Food Outreach titled, "Living Well with HIV"
Fees
Chris Scarberry offers an income-based sliding scale for clients who are uninsured or prefer not to use their insurance. Fees range from $100-$150 for a 45-min session and $120-$200 for 60 min sessions depending upon income.
Insurance
I am paneled with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Healthlink, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare.
