Deanna opened Counseling Associates of the Four States, LLC in 2008  with the goal of providing high quality counseling services to the surrounding area. She recently sold the practice to her colleague Jacob Conklin, stating,   “I am confident that Jacob will expand the practice and maintain the integrity and quality of care that everyone has come to know and trust. I will continue working for Counseling Associates of the Four States and providing care to the community.”

Deanna has worked in the mental health field since 1989. She worked for the University of Missouri-Columbia Hospital in the child and adult psychiatric unit.  She worked with a multi-disciplinary team conducting testing and psychological assessment. In addition, she provided pre and post operative assessments for patients with anxiety disorders such as panic attacks and generalized anxiety disorder.

She has over 30 years of experience in providing individual, marriage and family counseling in a private practice setting. She was a licensed psychologist in the state of Minnesota and a clinic Rule 29 specialist where she reviewed all charts to ensure that diagnoses were accurate and documented properly.

Deanna is currently licensed in the state of Missouri as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC.) She is certified by the National Board of Certified Counselors, is a member of the American Counseling Association and the Missouri Chapter of ACA.  She is also a clinical supervisor for individuals who are provisionally licensed in the state of Missouri.

Deanna is also trained in EMDR which is the recommended treatment for trauma. She is also trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS) which is an evidenced based, non pathologizing way of treating a client that helps to understand and heal wounded parts of the person so that they can be the best version of themselves.

Deanna is also skilled in marriage and family counseling, specializing in the treatment of women’s issues such as, anxiety, depression, low self esteem and sexual trauma.  She is an advocate for healing early childhood trauma and also treats Dissociative Identity disorders as well as personality disorders.
Deanna believes that each person has the potential within themselves to heal from trauma and/or normal life experiences and to make the necessary changes to significantly improve their current situation and emotional symptoms. Deanna States, “I feel that it is my job to provide the atmosphere and therapeutic relationship to allow these changes to occur. You can be assured that I will help you gain the insight and the necessary skills to help you grow personally and develop a strong sense of self.”