Support for the dad you want to be
Confidential therapy with a licensed clinical psychologist for the emotional, relational, and identity shifts that come with fatherhood.
What is counseling for dads, exactly?
Fatherhood brings big emotional, relational, and identity shifts that often go unspoken. Counseling for dads offers a confidential space to work through challenges like anxiety, mood changes, relationship dynamics, and the everyday demands of parenting.
For dads searching for counseling for dads near me in St. Louis, Chesterfield, and the surrounding area, Your Village offers therapy with a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in perinatal mental health. With the right support, you can build insight, strengthen coping skills, and feel more grounded and connected as a parent and partner.
What brings dads to us
Tap anything that sounds familiar. Every dad's experience is different, and these are some of the reasons fathers reach out for support.
Becoming a dad
Maybe becoming a dad has felt bigger than you expected, and you're still finding your footing in this new role.
Anxiety & mood changes
You might notice more irritability, worry, or low mood than usual, and it's starting to affect your days.
Stress & burnout
Work, home, and parenting responsibilities can pile up fast. Feeling stretched thin is a real reason to get support.
Relationship changes
Life with a baby or young kids can shift things with your partner. Talking it through can help you feel connected again.
Your own childhood
Parenting can bring up old memories or triggers from how you were raised, especially if you want to do things differently.
A child's diagnosis
Coping with a child's diagnosis, special needs, or complex medical care can weigh heavily, and you don't have to carry it alone.
This list isn't exhaustive. If something feels off, trust that instinct and reach out.
Is counseling right for you?
Check anything that sounds familiar. There's no wrong answer. This is just a starting point for the conversation.
Check a few boxes above to see where to go from here.
Still deciding? A few things worth knowing
- ✓Therapy starts with an intake visit focused on you
- ✓Sessions are confidential and judgment-free
- ✓Support is available from pregnancy through every stage of parenthood
- ✓Reaching out, even just to ask questions, is never a wasted step
What to expect
Your first visit is an intake where we get to know you, what you're dealing with, and what you'd like to feel different. From there, we'll set goals together and shape each session around your needs.
- First visitNew patient intake
- What we reviewYour story, concerns & goals
- Who it's forDads at any stage of parenthood
- Stages supportedPregnancy, postpartum & beyond
- Session length50 minutes
- ApproachConfidential & judgment-free
- Focus areasStress, mood, relationships & parenting
- Treatment planBuilt around your goals
- What you'll buildInsight, coping skills & connection
Private pay rates
- New patient intake$200
- Therapy visits$175 (50 minutes)
- In-networkAetna, Anthem, UnitedHealthcare, UMR, Carelon, Quest
Questions about scheduling or costs? Reach out and we'll talk it through together.
Why support for dads matters
Dads feel the shifts of parenthood too, but often without a place to talk about them. Taking care of your own well-being builds the confidence and resilience you need to meet your child's needs, and it makes it easier to show up as the parent and partner you want to be.
What sets Your Village apart
One team, every specialty
Speech, occupational therapy, behavior support, and more work together under one roof, so your family isn't coordinating across separate offices.
Play Village
A dedicated, non-clinical play space where kids build skills and confidence outside of a typical therapy setting.
Insurance-friendly
In-network with major carriers including UnitedHealthcare, Anthem, UMR, BlueCross BlueShield, and Cigna, with private pay also available.
Plans built around your child
Every evaluation and treatment plan is shaped around your child's specific needs and your family's goals.
You're not just a client here
Your Village STL was built on community and real relationships. Families and providers work together, with your child at the center of it all. Whatever your child or family needs, you don't have to navigate it alone.
Get Started
Three simple steps to get started
Reach out
Fill out the form below and share a bit about your child and what's on your mind.
Schedule your evaluation
We'll find a time for your child's evaluation, about 2 hours, and answer any questions about pricing or what to expect.
Begin sessions and parent training
Start one-on-one sessions and hands-on parent training, with frequency based on your child's evaluation and goals.
Meet your behavior analyst
Stephanie Merker
Stephanie is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst licensed in Missouri, with a master's degree in Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas. Over more than 20 years in the field, she has worked in homes, clinics, and schools, and she's excited to return to her true passion: early intervention with young children of all abilities.
Her approach uses Natural Environment Teaching (NET), which weaves learning into a child's everyday surroundings so new skills are meaningful and carry over into daily life. She believes families are central to the process, and that teaching parents to use ABA strategies leads to more successful outcomes. Stephanie lives in St. Louis with her husband and two kids, and in her free time she loves traveling, reading, and volunteering at her kids' schools.
Frequently asked questions
We're in-network with Aetna, Anthem, UnitedHealthcare, UMR, Carelon Behavioral Health, and Quest Behavioral Health. Private pay is $200 for the new patient intake and $175 for each 50-minute therapy visit.
No. We support dads from pregnancy through every stage of parenthood, whether you're expecting, have a newborn, or are years into raising kids.
Yes. Dads can experience anxiety and mood changes during pregnancy and after a baby arrives. Our care is specialized in perinatal mental health, so we understand what this season can bring.
Common concerns include stress and burnout, anxiety, mood changes, relationship shifts, childhood triggers, guilt or self-doubt, and managing a child's behaviors or emotional needs.
Yes. We work with parents navigating complex diagnoses and medically complex children, helping you cope and feel more supported along the way.
The first visit is a new patient intake. We'll talk through what's bringing you in, your history, and your goals, then start building a plan together.
Therapy visits are 50 minutes, giving you dedicated time to talk openly and work toward your goals.
Reach out. We're happy to talk it through before you commit to anything.