Helping Professionals Interview Series: Tina Cummings, LPC, NCC
Sometimes, the culture around us can affect how we view ourselves.
It’s easy to let what’s happening around us influence our opinions of ourselves. We live in a culture that is driven by social media and puts unnecessary pressure on us to look like we have it all together, all the time. Sometimes that pressure gets to be too much and we need help to manage that anxiety.
We reached out to Tina Cummings, LPC, NCC, to discuss how she approaches therapy with high-achieving clients. She talks about the importance of self empowerment, taking a break from “hustle culture” and getting to know her clients as a whole.
Why did you choose to become a therapist in St. Louis?
Prior to being a therapist, I was a school counselor in various St. Louis school districts. This role really exposed me to the diversity of the city, and the needs of our community that I wasn’t shown during my private school education. I wanted to take the work I was doing to the next level and focus on the actual counseling aspect of my job, which is hard to do as a school counselor. This led me to leave the school setting and work as a therapist in private practice.
What kind of treatment do you provide?
I do an integrative approach, which is basically a cocktail of different types of therapies. I combine CBT, motivational interviewing, REBT, person-centered, and solution-focused to best meet the specific needs of my clients. I also incorporate different strategies and activities from life coaching. One thing I have recently been experimenting with is combining brand strategy with self-identity to help clients define their own personal “brand” through self reflection and exploration.
What ages do you work with?
I work with women that mostly fall between ages 18 and 30 something, but I do work with pre-teen and teen girls as well.
What can women expect to leave with after working with you?
I hope that women leave with a newfound sense of self-empowerment, new insight on themselves and their behaviors they didn’t before think of, and strategies they can use to improve their quality of life.
Who are your favorite types of clients to work with?
Literally all the clients I have currently are my favorite types of clients - high-achieving, eclectic, and intelligent individuals who are looking to take a break from hustle culture to take time to figure out who they are and what they want.
What happens during a first appointment with you?
My intake sessions are 90 minutes long, which is a half hour longer than a “standard” therapy session. In this extended session, I really take the time to get to know you as a whole person - you’re in my office for a very particular reason, but there’s more to you than just that. This gives me a better sense of who you are so I can individualize future sessions.
Could you talk a little about your approach and how it plays into work with people recovering from anxiety?
I have a very straightforward yet empathetic approach in my work, which helps give my clients with anxiety a better sense of direction in their lives. I also have anxiety myself, which allows me to relate firsthand. Recently I have been starting to refer to anxious thoughts/cognitive distortions as “Karen,” which really helps my clients separate their rational thoughts from their anxious ones, and adds a little humor to an otherwise frustrating situation.
What do you wish people knew about getting therapy for anxiety and perfectionism?
I wish people knew that it’s okay and normal to be anxious about getting/going to therapy, and that it’s impossible to do or say the wrong thing in sessions since YOU are the only expert on yourself!
How can people learn more and contact you?
You can learn more by visiting my website, listening to my podcast and contacting me via email.
Share one fun fact about you that most people don’t know.
Everyone thinks I’m a dog person since I bring my therapy dog, Tank, to work. I actually prefer cats, and have two of my own at home, Seamus and Ollie.
Curious to learn more about anxiety treatment? Wondering if your daughter needs 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 Tina!
Compassionate Counseling St. Louis provides specialized anger management and anxiety therapy in St. Louis for kids, teens, and college students. We work in Clayton, MO and serve kids, teens, and college students throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Ladue, University City, Town and Country, Webster Groves, Creve Coeur, Kirkwood, Richmond Heights, and Brentwood.