Helping Professionals Interview Series: Dr. Kezia Jackson

At Compassionate Counseling St. Louis our team of anxiety specialists know that it is important to partner with the best providers in St. Louis to ensure that your child receives the best care for their unique needs.

Dr. Kezia Jacksona

This week we are thrilled to share with you our most recent interview with Dr. Kezia Jackson of Healing Spaces. Dr. Jackson and her team provide effective and quality care in both therapy and psychological evaluation services. Read her interview below to learn more about psychologists, what they do and how to work with the team at Healing Spaces.

The team at Healing Spaces.

How do Child Psychologists and Child Therapists differ in St. Louis?

It really boils down to their training, roles, and the services they offer.

As a child psychologist, I have a doctoral degree ( Psy.D.) in psychology, which means I've had extensive education and training in psychological assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. My role is often more specialized; I focus on diagnosing and treating a wide range of issues like anxiety, ADHD, learning disabilities, and more. I also conduct comprehensive psychological evaluations using standardized tests and tools to get a clear picture of a child's cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning.

On the other hand, child therapists usually hold a master's degree in counseling or social work. They primarily focus on providing therapeutic interventions to help kids overcome emotional and behavioral challenges. They offer crucial ongoing support through therapy sessions but might not have the same level of training in psychological testing and diagnosis as psychologists do.

So, while both psychologists and therapists are dedicated to helping children, our roles and the ways we go about it can be quite different.

How do you integrate therapy into your work as a child psychologist?

Integrating therapy into my work as a child psychologist and evaluator is a bit like having a secret superpower. While other therapists at the practice conduct more hands-on therapy sessions than I do, I see a handful of clients myself. When I'm evaluating a child, my therapy background kicks in and really helps me conceptualize the client’s difficulties; as I am interpreting the evaluation results, I can draw from my therapy background to get a clearer picture of the child's difficulties. It helps me figure out the best ways to help them and their family move forward. So, when we do get to a diagnosis, I can make really tailored recommendations that will be most effective for them.

Is this typical for child psychologists?

Well, it depends. Some might stick strictly to evaluations, while others blend in therapy. For me, having that therapy background helps improve the evaluation process. I love using every tool in my box to help kids thrive.

What can be considered when choosing between a Child Psychologist and a Child Therapist in St. Louis?

When you're deciding between a child psychologist and a child therapist in St. Louis, there are a few key things to consider.

From an evaluation standpoint, you really want someone who will look at your child holistically. Filling out a few forms might not give the full picture. It's useful to find someone who uses a variety of tests and measures—things like performance-based tasks, forms, observations, and clinical interviews. This approach helps ensure the evaluation isn't just informative but also provides clear guidance on what steps to take next and how to support your child at home, school, in therapy, and within the community.

When it comes to choosing a therapist, think about their training and specialization. Are you looking for someone who uses a specific modality like play therapy or EMDR? Do they specialize in areas relevant to your child's needs, such as trauma or behavioral concerns? But beyond that, successful therapy often comes down to fit. You want someone who connects well with your child and family. The best child therapies involve parents and caregivers, so find someone whose style matches what you're looking for—whether that's direct, structured, playful, or something else. It's all about what works best for you and your child!

What happens when a child goes to a psychologist? And what does a typical session with you look like?

Let's break it down into evaluations and therapy.

For evaluations, we usually start with an intake session with the parents. By the time your child comes in, they're often attending what feels like their first day of therapy. We'll explain why they're here in a way that's easy for them to understand. The evaluation itself involves various activities tailored to the child's age. This can include completing forms, doing some tasks, and having one or more interviews. We'll also observe your child at play to get a well-rounded view of their behavior and functioning. During this time, parents are often completing forms and providing additional information.

Therapy sessions can look quite different depending on the clinician's approach. It might be play-based, which is great for younger kids, or more talk-focused for older children. Some therapists use EMDR or other somatic therapies, which involve physical and sensory experiences to help process emotions. Therapy can involve just the child, the child and caregivers together, or sometimes just the caregivers. It's important to talk to your therapist about how they structure their sessions and find out what works best for your child and family. 

Child psychologists often focus on evaluations, but many also provide therapy. So, whether it's diagnosing and understanding the issues or providing ongoing support, we tailor our approach to meet each child's unique needs.

How can people learn more about working with you and with Healing Spaces?

If you're interested in learning more about working with me and Healing Spaces, we'd love the opportunity to work with your family!

To get in touch with us, you can call 314-472-3091 or email us at info@healingspacesstl.com. You can also find more information and book an appointment directly on our website at https://www.healingspacesstl.com. We're here to help and look forward to hearing from you!

Curious to learn more about getting treatment for anxiety? 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 Kezia!

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. We also provide online therapy to teens and college students throughout the whole state of Missouri.