—  WHO WE ARE  —

Find True North Therapy

To find personal and meaningful direction is to find your true north.

Our goal is to help you identify obstacles in your path, gain perspective, and make changes to correct the course.

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Meet Amy Kersten

LCSW

Hello there! My name is Amy and I am Licensed Clinical Social Worker! I have worked as a social worker for about 18 years. I completed my undergraduate degree in Social Work at the University of Alaska. As well as completed my Masters of Social Work degree at the University of Maine. I actually met my husband in Alaska, who has been in the military for 22 years, and we have a daughter who is in her first year of college. Our family relocated to Missouri where we have been for the past 5 years! It’s safe to say we have traveled all over.

I have experience working community mental health, educational systems, private practice, and have worked for the military for the past 10 years as well. I have always been a compassionate, accepting, and supportive person, so this field came very easy to me. I believe that an important part of the healing process is having a good therapeutic relationship, so that’s where I come in as your trusty confidant. I believe in a client-centered approach, which involves working with you on identifying and working towards your goals for therapy. That’s right, your treatments are about YOU! I have a background in treating trauma, PTSD, combat trauma, anxiety, depression, stress management, relationship issues, and life transitions. Where ever life takes you, I will have your back.

Feel free to book with me here!

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MEET Melissa Bagnall

LCSW, BCD

Hey! My name is Melissa and I am a board certified Licensed Clinical Social Worker (try saying that 5x fast!) with over 15 years of experience! I was born and raised in the North East and later relocated to Tennessee to complete my undergraduate degree in Social Work at the University of Memphis. After working for several years in community mental health and foster care, I relocated to Missouri, marrying my husband who is prior active duty military. I attended the University of Missouri to complete my master’s degree in social work with specialization in trauma therapy. Together, my Husband and I have three boys, ages 17, 10, and 3. In my spare time, I enjoys traveling, spending time with my pets, and anything recreational outdoors!

My client-centered approach to therapy, allows me to quickly build rapport through a compassionate and upbeat attitude. I am extremely flexible and easy going, often incorporating various therapeutic techniques based on your needs. I believe that one of the key factors for success in therapy is to set a strong foundation with OUR relationship. At Find True North Therapy, you will notice that both Amy & I are genuine in listening to your stories and problems. We love what we do and we make sure to pass that on to every single one of our Clients. When you book with us, you will always be respected, heard and protected from judgement. I specialize in working with persons who struggle with anxiety, depression, grief/loss, relationship conflict, family dynamics, parenting/co-parenting, stress management, ADHD, trauma, and PTSD. I am also trained as an EMDR therapist.

If you would love to know more, please feel free to book with me here. I would be happy to show you the possibilities of a more manageable and happy life. You do not have to do this alone and I am here to guide you!

 
 
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We all encounter obstacles, in relationships, families, careers, and other personal experiences. Therapy can be an avenue to work through these obstacles. Through a collaborative relationship in therapy, you will understand how your thoughts have been impacting the way you feel and the things you do. You will examine how your past experiences are playing a role in the way you view yourself, others, and the future.

Taking the step to start therapy can feel overwhelming. If you have specific needs or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us. We are here to answer questions and to assist you in navigating the process of finding the right therapist for you. Treatment is tailored to the individual goals and needs of each client.
 

 
 


We are a team of Licensed Clinical Social Workers with extensive training in evidenced based treatments and 18 years of clinical experience. We are military affiliated and provide military culturally competent treatment.

We welcome all, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, political views, or religious affiliation.

 

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—  GROW  —

Find the Therapy that’s right for you.

Individual Therapy:

Through individual therapy, you will find a space that is yours, where all your thoughts and feelings will be respected. You will work with your therapist, who will listen to you without any judgements, who will keep your best interests at heart. Your therapist will offer feedback to help you view things from a new perspective, learn skills, and help process thoughts and feelings that may be interfering with your ability to do the things you want to do.

Couples Therapy:

Couples therapy provides an opportunity for you and your partner to explore the parts of your relationship that may not be working well. We believe couples therapy is about helping you and your partner become open and curious about each other, and honest about your own thoughts and feelings. Each person brings their own values and beliefs into a relationship which impacts the way we interact with one another. Our approach is not about assigning blame or perpetuating shame. It is about working together to create the space that allows for you to find a way forward. Together, we can address how to best resolve conflict and options for improved communication. Find True North Therapy affirms and values all relationships and individualized goals within each couple.

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Adolescents and Young Adults:

Adolescence and early adulthood often pose unique challenges. The transition through high school to college or from college into the workforce can often be filled with excitement, frustration, loneliness, and confusion. Some of the most common issues we help teens and young adults with are relationship distress, anxiety and depression, family of origin issues, and career ambivalence. We provide a non-judgmental space to explore circumstances and behaviors that will result in identifying solid goals for change to build a solid foundation for the future.

Children & Parenting:

Children do not always have the ability to verbalize how they are feeling, and it often comes out in behaviors. Learn ways to communicate and understand the parent-child relationship, create space for child to safely communicate their feelings, set boundaries, and develop strategies to change behaviors. We can work with you child to address school related concerns, peer relationships, and self-esteem. Navigating parenting while children go through various transitions can be difficult. Therapy can be an avenue to identify strategies to help.

Families:

Each family is made of individuals with their own personality, needs, and ways of communicating. With the demands of daily life continuing to increase, it’s easy to feel disconnected from your loved ones and stuck in unhealthy patterns. Through family therapy, you can learn to connect in a healthy and safe way. Each member of your family has a valuable perspective on how to improve the family dynamic. Together, we can explore when to be flexible and when to set boundaries. We can help you navigate transitions that tend to create stress such as divorce or blended family issues. At Find True North Therapy, we will help you find a way to honor needs as an individual, while still balancing the needs of the family. Family therapy is about coming together to build strong and lasting bonds.

Therapy Alternatives

Walk & Talk Therapy:

We offer the option of walk and talk therapy. Research indicates that movement helps improve mood, reduce stress, anxiety, and helps with processing information. Please be aware that this occurs in public areas and limits confidentiality as you may run into people you know, and the conversation may not be 100% private. Locations for walk and talk therapy are Waynesville Park and the Engineer Trail located on Fort Leonard Wood

Telehealth:

Find True North Therapy provides telehealth services. This may be a good option for people may not live close to our physical location or if you are traveling. It also provides the convenience of being able to participate in therapy from the comfort of your home. Telehealth is provided through a HIPAA compliant platform that is easy to use, from your computer or app on your smart phone.

 
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—  FIND YOUR PATH  —

Book an appointment // Find Your Path

 

 

 

Insurance information 

 

Insurance and Billing:

We are currently in-network providers with these insurance companies.

Military One Source & Tricare

Please continue reading for Rates & Out of Network Service Information

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RATES

FREE 15 minute phone consultation

$100 for initial evaluation

$100 for couples and ongoing sessions

$75 for individual and ongoing sessions

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

We are considered an out of network provider for all other insurance carriers.

If you do not have one of the in network insurances we can still offer you a receipt for services that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Every insurance plan has their own unique out of network coverage, so we encourage all clients to call the customer service number on the back of their insurance card and ask the following questions:

1. Do I have any out of network coverage?

2. What is my out of network coverage for mental health services?

3. What is my out of network deductible? (Often insurance plans have separate out of network deductibles)

If you do have out of network coverage then you can submit the special receipt we create as a courtesy and your insurance will send you reimbursement for our sessions together.

 

 

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