Chris Scarberry, LPC

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.

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. 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 have experience treating grief and loss, sexual orientation/gender dysphoria-related concerns (I write letters for HRT and surgery), depression, substance abuse, trauma, and anxiety. I am specially trained in Prolonged Exposure Therapy, an evidence-based treatment for symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I perform couples, individual, and group counseling with diverse client populations, specializing in therapy with the LGBTQIA community and those living with HIV/AIDS. I take a body/sex-positive approach and am open and affirming of LGBTQIA identities, various relationship structures including polyamory/non-monogamy, and am kink aware. I have spoken at local and state-wide conferences on LGBTQIA+ concerns 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, reader, traveler, and animal lover.

Becoming is superior to Being.
-Paul Klee

Specialty Areas

Specialty Treatment Areas:                            Additional Treatment Areas:
  LGBTQIA Depression
HIV/AIDS   Anxiety
Grief and Loss Addiction     Crisis Intervention Substance Abuse
Gender Dysphoria   Relationship Issues
Polyamory/Non-Monogomy/Kink Aware Divorce
Premarital Counseling
Trauma/PTSD
Religious Trauma
Chronic Pain/Illness

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.

License

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Missouri (LPC) #2007008763

Certifications

Prolonged Exposure Therapy
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

My Treatment Philosophy:

My therapeutic orientation/counseling style is an integration of psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, and client-centered approaches, 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. 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 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.

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, Ambetter, Cigna, United Healthcare. I may take others as an out of network provider or offer a reduced fee for service instead of billing them.