About Middle Way Counseling and Consulting, St. Louis, Missouri

I am a mental health professional, and I am licensed to practice as a therapist and clinical social worker in Missouri and Massachusetts.

I have been in private practice since 2008. I opened Middle Way Counseling and Consulting in 2015 to serve adults and families in the greater St. Louis metro area.

At Middle Way, I provide a safe and confidential environment where we can work together to explore root causes and build coping strategies and resiliency. Because my therapeutic style is direct, interactive and practical, our work will challenge and empower you to make the changes you want in your mental and emotional health.

The name of my practice comes from an ancient Buddhist concept, known as the “middle way” or “middle path”.  It emphasizes the importance of living between extremes. When people train their minds to be curious, aware and flexible, they can achieve greater emotional stability and deeper interpersonal relationships.

Middle Way’s clients present with a wide range of mental illnesses and emotional health challenges that include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Trauma including PTSD
  • Eating Disorders
  • Addiction
  • Self-harm behaviors such as cutting
  • Personality disorders
  • Relationship problems
  • Difficulties with life transition

“The philosophy at Middle Way Counseling and Consulting is to provide cutting-edge, evidence-based services in a warm, empathic yet challenging environment.”

Dena’s Previous Experience & Professional Training

  • Past Experience

    Before moving to the St. Louis area and opening Middle Way Counseling and Consulting, I was a Clinical Team Manager at the Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital. I specialized in the treatment of trauma-related disorders, mood disorders, and personality disorders.

  • Advanced Training

    I have advanced training in several evidence-based treatments including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mentalization Based Treatment (MBT).

  • Community Health Center Therapist

    Prior to working at McLean Hospital, I was a therapist at a community mental health center. I served as the director of social services at a long-term care facility and the assistant director at a homeless shelter in Washington DC.

  • Graduate

    I graduated from The George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis with a Masters of Social Work (MSW).

Past President of Psychotherapy St. Louis.

Member of NASW (National Association of Social Workers)