The Mental Health Blog
Psychological Effects of the “End-of-Year” Mindset
As the calendar winds down, something subtle begins to happen inside many of us. Even if nothing in our external world dramatically changes, our internal world shifts. December arrives with a bundle of emotions, expectations, deadlines, memories, and cultural messages...
Holidays Don’t Have to Be Horror-Days
At the risk of sounding like a Grinch, I often feel as though November 25th through January 2nd are the most challenging days of the year to survive. The days are shorter and colder, the stores and roads are crowded, the same five holiday songs play on repeat, and the...
Perception Rules You
Last Friday night sitting around a large, round deck table at our marina, a boat captain turned to me and asked, “How do you do it?” I said, “Do what?” “After living aboard your vessel, how do you counsel people?” he asked. We are still new at this life, but I knew...
The Struggle for Self-Worth, Part III – The Impact of External Locus of Control on Human Worth
The story so far… In parts I and II, we learned that self-worth is a critical human resource often confused with what is known as “conditional acceptance.” This provisional approval requires us to earn our worthiness moment by moment, day by day. This fragile state of...
Manual not Included: Co-Parent Counseling & the Uncharted Territory of
When people say there’s no manual for becoming a parent, they’re right. Sure, there are endless books, podcasts, social media experts, and well-meaning friends eager to share their stories. But no matter how prepared someone feels, nothing fully equips us for the...
Being a Good Citizen in Marriage
So, you are in love. That’s great! Now - how can you keep it alive? First and foremost, you need to be a good citizen in your marriage. That fuzzy feeling that got you here won’t keep you here because everyday life isn’t a sitcom romance. There are bad days, and it’s...
The Struggle for Self-Worth, Part II – The Illusion of Dominion
The story so far… In Part I we learned self-worth is a critical human resource often confused with what is known as conditional acceptance. This provisional approval requires us to earn our worthiness moment by moment, day by day. This fragile state of acceptance also...
Book Reflection: “Wintering” by Katherine May – Learning to Rest, Retreat, and Listen to Your Body
As the days get shorter and the air cools, I’ve found myself reaching again for Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May. It’s one of those books that feels like a deep breath, gentle, steady, and full of permission to slow down....
The Shark that Shook My Certainty
I will never forget this one moment I realized I had mistakenly believed something was real when, in fact, it was fake. I was talking with a colleague about this amazing documentary I had watched on the Discovery Channel during their infamous “Shark Week.” I recounted...
The Cycle of Narcissistic Abuse: From Fairytale to Fallout
No one will ever be as excited to see you as a narcissist after a massive fallout. You are standing on your front porch, and he/she is jumping up and down with joy, a smile spread across their face. You get a hit of dopamine as you anticipate the intensity of being in...
Customer Reviews
I have known Ashley Rickert for multiple years as she was one of my classmates in grad school. Having known Ashley for as long as I have, I've had the pleasure of seeing her therapy skills in a variety of scenarios (through practicum and internship, as well as her post graduate work).
She is immensely knowledgeable and professional. Lately, she has been described as "quiet, but mighty!" Most of all, she is respectful of our clients and genuinely cares for them.
Honored to share the space with her!
No doubt this is the BEST place to get the BEST counseling service in ALL of St. Louis area.
