The Mental Health Blog
After the Storm: Caring for Our Mental Health after a Natural Disaster
On Friday, May 16th, 2025, a tornado tore through Clayton and parts of St. Louis with a force we rarely see. Lives were changed in an instant. Some lost homes, some lost businesses, and tragically, some lost loved ones. As a therapist who lives and works in this...
Marriage Counseling and Discernment Counseling: What’s the Difference?
Marriage is complicated—two people, intertwined lives, shared history, and sometimes, quiet questions about whether love can be rebuilt or if it has already slipped through the cracks. When couples seek guidance, they may enter marriage counseling, committed to...
Book Review: “Let Them” by Mel Robbins – Maybe Not for Everyone
Counselors and therapists often get requests for reading recommendations because many clients are eager for extra work outside the session. Personally, I think it is imperative for counselors to read the books they recommend. The self-help industry puts out a lot of...
Politics in Therapy
The problem is not about the politics, it is deeper and it is not the therapists job to ever get sucked into the context of the presenting issue (politics or otherwise). If they do, they are compromised by bias and must recuse themself. This would require self awareness.
From Butting Heads to Holding Hands: What it Takes to Partner in a Relationship
Staying in a committed relationship is a journey filled with countless shared moments, joys, and, inevitably, challenges. One of the most important aspects of a successful relationship is managing shared obligations. Whether it's raising children, handling finances,...
PART II: How DBT Can Change Your Life
Introduction Welcome back to my two-part series on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). In the first part, I introduced you to the fundamentals of DBT. Now, let's explore how DBT can be applied and learn more about how the skills taught through DBT can help improve...
PART I: Understanding DBT: What is it and how does it work?
Have you ever found yourself stuck in a pattern of intense emotions, destructive behaviors, and troubled relationships? If so, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) might be the solution you've been searching for. In this first part of a two-part series on DBT, I’ll dive...
6 years of Marriage: What I Learned So Far
Growing up, I never understood the meaning of marriage. I used to watch Disney movies and rom-coms where two people love each other and live happily ever after. I daydreamed about being swept away and falling in love, yet realistically, I did not see it as a...
The Process of Healing – Therapist POV
Most of my clients enjoy doing therapy with me because they say I am real, personable. I was told just this week, and it is not a unique statement, that I am the best therapist they have ever had. I receive this compliment frequently and I try not to take it to heart...
The Journey through Grief
My mother died somewhat unexpectedly on a Sunday morning. Her health had been declining and she was 81 years old, but nothing at the time seemed urgent—until it was. My father and I arrived at the hospital as her care team was performing CPR, and when we entered the...
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.
