Helping Professionals Interview Series: Family Counseling with Salina Pounds M.Ed., LPC, NCC of Lotus Rising LLC

At Compassionate Counseling St. Louis we want to support your whole family - which is why we offer individual counseling for kids, teens and young adults as well as therapeutic parent coaching.

And because supporting the whole family is so important to us, we love to connect with other helping professionals in the St. Louis area so that if Compassionate Counseling St. Louis isn’t the best fit for your needs, we can connect you with someone who is!

Today we want to connect you with Salina Pounds M.Ed., LPC, NCC of Lotus Rising LLC. Salina offers family counseling for families of teens in St. Louis, as well as working with couples and individuals!

You can learn more about how Salina works with families of teens, what she wants you to know about family counseling, and how you can connect with her below!

Why did you choose to become a counselor in St. Louis?

Salina Pounds M.Ed, LPC, NCC

I have always felt a deep connection to the St. Louis community. After earning my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from UMSL, I knew I wanted to build my practice here. St. Louis has a unique, tight-knit feel, and I wanted to provide a space, like Lotus Rising, where residents could feel truly heard and empowered. There is a profound resilience in this city, and it’s an honor to support my neighbors as they navigate their healing journeys.

Can you share a little about your approach to family counseling?

My approach is deeply rooted in attachment theory. I believe that the way we bonded with our primary caregivers in childhood creates a blueprint for how we show up in our current relationships. In family sessions, I focus on identifying these underlying patterns and creating a "brave space" where every member feels safe to speak and be heard.

At Lotus Rising, we view the family as a dynamic system. By understanding how each person’s attachment style influences their reactions, we can move away from blame and toward empathy. My goal is to help families strengthen their emotional bonds and create a more secure, supportive environment for everyone involved.

What happens during a first appointment with you?

Lotus Rising LLC

The first session is really about laying a foundation of trust. I start by taking a comprehensive family history to understand the story of the family. We’ll discuss the major concerns that brought you into therapy, but I also spend time assessing how you interact in the room. This helps us identify the goals you want to achieve together. Think of it as a collaborative roadmap where we define what healing looks like for your specific family.

How do you see anxiety showing up when working with families of teens?

Anxiety in teenagers often looks different than it does in adults, it’s frequently much quieter. It often manifests as a internal struggle; they may worry constantly about their social circles or carry a heavy fear of disappointing their parents. Because they often don't know how to articulate these feelings, it can come across as withdrawal or irritability. In family therapy, we work on bridge-building, helping teens find the language for their anxiety and helping parents learn how to listen for those quieter signals.

What do you wish people knew about going to family counseling?

I wish people knew that family counseling isn’t about fixing one person who is seen as the problem. It involves everyone because every member plays a vital role in how the family functions. Even if you don’t think you are the reason for the conflict, your presence and willingness to change your own interactions can be the catalyst that helps the whole family heal. It’s a team effort.

What other treatment do you provide besides family counseling?

Beyond family work, I offer couples counseling where we focus on breaking negative communication cycles and rebuilding intimacy through Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT). I also provide individual counseling that focuses on building self-esteem, establishing healthy boundaries, and processing trauma. My practice also utilizes specialized modalities like EMDR, EFT and IFS to help clients work through deep-seated emotional blocks.

How can people learn more and contact you?

You can visit my website at www.lotusrising-llc.com to learn more about my services, read my blog, or schedule a consultation.

Do you hold any groups or special classes?

Yes! I am very passionate about community wellness. I recently hosted a "Conquering Burnout" workshop for corporate wellness, and I plan to continue offering those. Looking ahead, I am excited to facilitate "Hold Me Tight/Let Me Go" workshops, which are specifically designed to help families with teens strengthen their emotional connections.

Share one fun fact about you that most people don’t know.

I grew up on a farm! My childhood was very hands-on with nature, I actually spent a lot of my time bottle-feeding baby animals, including cows, deer, and even llamas. It definitely gave me an early appreciation for nurturing and caretaking.

You can connect with Salina and learn more about Lotus Rising Counseling via social media!

Lotus Rising LLC

• Instagram: instagram.com/lotus_rising_counseling

• Facebook: facebook.com/SalinaLotusRising

• TikTok: tiktok.com/@lotus_rising

Curious to learn more about support for your family? Wondering if you need to connect with a therapist in St. Louis? Contact Compassionate Counseling St. Louis to set up a free 15-minute phone consult. We’ll talk about what’s going on and best next steps - and if we’re not the right fit, we’ll connect you with other wonderful St. Louis-based therapists, like Salina!

Curious to learn more about anxiety and anxiety-driven anger? Reach out to us at hello@compassionatecounselingstl.com. As child anxiety experts, we love working with kids, teens, college students and parents to help manage their anxiety, stress, and anger. Compassionate Counseling St. Louis is located in Clayton, MO and works with families by offering both in-person counseling and online therapy throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Ladue, University City, Town and Country, Webster Groves, Creve Couer, Kirkwood, Richmond Heights, and Brentwood. We also provide online therapy Missouri -wide to teens and college students. You can set up your first free consult on this website, on our consultation page.