Wesley Hirst

Wesley Hirst is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who helps people facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, addictions, and relationship or intimacy concerns. He uses plain talk and steady support to help people who feel stuck or overwhelmed. Wesley aims for an honest, respectful connection so clients can start making changes they want. Wesley brings 25 years of counseling experience to his work and draws on several practical approaches. He uses Trauma-Focused Therapy alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people build skills, manage upsetting thoughts, and reduce reactivity. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and existential ideas also inform his work when clients need emotion regulation tools or help finding meaning. In sessions Wesley focuses on trust and clear goals. He listens to a person's story, identifies patterns that cause pain, and practices new ways of responding together. Clients can expect straightforward feedback, mindfulness exercises, and concrete strategies for daily life. Wesley understands how life roles shape struggles because he has navigated many of those roles himself. He frames therapy as a partnership where the client’s values and hopes guide the plan. Outside of work he enjoys camping, backpacking, biking, music, and photography. People who want help with panic attacks, life purpose, sleep or eating concerns can bring those issues into sessions. Wesley works in Missouri and conducts sessions in English.

How therapy approaches translate to online work

Trauma-Focused Therapy focuses on helping people process and respond to traumatic memories so those memories interfere less with daily life. This work often combines careful, paced conversations with grounding and coping strategies to reduce distress. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches practical skills for noticing thoughts and choosing actions that match what matters most. It helps people move toward meaningful goals even when strong feelings or worries remain. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect and uses exercises to change patterns that keep problems going. CBT is commonly used for anxiety, panic, and mood concerns because it gives specific tools people can practice between sessions. Finding the most helpful approach is part of therapy. The therapist will work together with the client to decide which method or combination fits their goals, values, and challenges. That choice can change over time as needs shift. Confirm the available session formats before booking, since the biography does not list specific online or in-person options. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy day, allow shorter check-in meetings when needed, and reduce travel time. It also lets people use tools like guided mindfulness exercises and worksheets during or between meetings to reinforce skill-building.