Meet Kelsey: Anxiety Therapy for Teens in St. Louis, MO
Helping high-achieving teens feel steady on the inside, not just look steady on the outside
Hi! I’m Kelsey Torgerson Dunn, the founder of Compassionate Counseling St. Louis and author of When Anxiety Makes You Angry. I’ve been helping anxious, perfectionistic, and overwhelmed teens since 2012 — and I love watching my clients start to feel lighter, calmer, and more like themselves again.
Kelsey is an anxiety therapist, author, and founder of Compassionate Counseling St. Louis.
Let’s take a minute to acknowledge something: it can be scary to even start researching therapists. Especially when you’re used to being the one who “has it together.”
On the outside, everything looks fine — good grades, good friends, good plans. But on the inside? You might feel stressed, flustered, or like you’re one small step away from falling apart. If you stop moving for even a second, you worry the tears might not stop.
Sound familiar? Then you’re in the right place.
Who’s a Good Fit for Working With Me
Most of the teens I work with are high-achievers who feel anxious, pressured, or exhausted by their own expectations. You might be the teen who:
Feels like you have to be “on” all the time
Panics when things feel out of control
Has a hard time relaxing, even when you want to
Hides sadness behind busyness
Worries about letting people down
I’m especially passionate about working with teens who feel like their anxiety and perfectionism have started running the show. You might even describe yourself as a little “angry-anxious” — snappy when you’re really overwhelmed — which is exactly what inspired me to write my book, When Anxiety Makes You Angry.
If that sounds like you, we’ll get along well.
What It’s Like to Work With Me
Clients describe me as calm, compassionate, and straightforward (thank goodness, I named the practice correctly!). My style is warm and structured — you’ll always know why we’re doing something and how it helps.
In therapy, we combine CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) with mindfulness, guided visualization, and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). That means we slow things down enough to notice what’s happening in your body and thoughts, then build small, realistic skills you can actually use during class, tests, or tough social situations.
You’ll learn to:
Name and tolerate emotions so they feel manageable, not overwhelming
Use grounding and relaxation to ride out waves of panic
Practice flexible perfectionism — high standards without the constant pressure
Build kind, believable self-talk
Prepare for school and social stressors without spiraling
Each week becomes a chance to breathe, reset, and move forward.
How I Work With Parents
Parents, I know you want to help — and it can be frustrating when your teen shuts you out. My job is to protect your teen’s privacy while keeping you informed about themes, progress, and safety.
You’ll get short updates so you know how things are going, what skills we’re building, and what to look out for at home. If something’s concerning, I’ll be clear and direct. The goal is a team approach that supports your teen without overwhelming them.
Common Questions I Get
“How do I know if my teen needs therapy?”
If your teen seems constantly anxious, irritable, or withdrawn — or if perfectionism, panic, or pressure are making everyday life harder — therapy can help. Many families come in when grades are slipping, motivation drops, or your teen says “I don’t know why I’m so tired all the time.”
“Will you tell me everything my teen says?”
Not everything — and that’s intentional. Teens need privacy to open up. I share progress, themes, and safety information, but session details stay confidential unless there’s a safety concern.
“How long will therapy take?”
Most teens start to feel relief within a few weeks as they learn and practice skills. Deeper change — like building self-compassion and flexible perfectionism — usually takes a few months.
How to Reach Out
If you or your teen are ready to stop white-knuckling it through every week, anxiety therapy can help.
Schedule a free consultation through our website to talk with our intake coordinator about next steps, ask questions, and get matched with me or another therapist on our team.
Together, we’ll help your teen feel calmer, more confident, and more like themselves — inside and out.
Curious to learn more about how St. Louis therapy at Compassionate Counseling St. Louis can help you and your family? Reach out to us at hello@compassionatecounselingstl.com. As anxiety experts providing St. Louis therapy, 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.
