Hi, I’m Kristin effan.
I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor providing Telehealth services for anxiety and stress treatment in the state of Missouri and the owner of Golden Hour Counseling.
I graduated from the University of Missouri - St. Louis (UMSL) in 2015 with my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and have worked as a counselor for the last 8 years. I’ve provided counseling support and guidance to hundreds of individuals during their darkest moments. I’ve held several roles over the years providing support to individuals for counseling and eventually made my way into leadership and management positions where I currently train, cultivate, and supervise staff alongside operating my private practice.
My true passion is helping individuals overcome their anxiety and stress. The constant cycle of worry, racing thoughts, panic/anxiety attacks, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, fatigue and obsessive internet searches about physical and mental symptoms - it steals your happiness and ability to be present. The never ending “what if” scenarios consuming your mind leave you feeling drained and dreading the days ahead. Your symptoms cause sleepless nights, irritability and emotional instability which impact your energy levels, school or work performance and relationships with friends, family and romantic partners. Many of my clients are often dealing with other co-occurring concerns in addition to their anxiety and stress including depression, codependency, grief, trauma, suicidal ideation, perfectionism, burnout, and low self-esteem.
You can expect our sessions to be laid back and informal. My therapeutic style bridges the knowledge of a counselor with the comfort of a friend. My calm, supportive demeanor and sense of humor allows for a safe space to lay your worries down for a while as we explore your unique concerns and work on solutions together to get you back on track and living in the moment again.
I’m not your stereotypical “buttoned up” therapist who only wears cardigans and asks, “How did that make you feel?” I love inserting pop culture references, humor, sarcasm, and colorful language in our sessions. I can guarantee I’ll show up as my authentic self in each session and I invite you to do the same. I genuinely love working with each of my clients. Watching them achieve their goals is truly one of the greatest privileges of my life.
I know how debilitating and overwhelming anxiety and stress can feel. My own therapeutic journey for Illness Anxiety Disorder (health anxiety) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder combined with my education as a counselor inspired my practice. Relief is possible to achieve. I want to help you develop new coping strategies to manage your stress, anxious thoughts and behaviors and ultimately - overcome your fears. We’ll work together to determine how your symptoms have been impacting your life and develop a plan to get you back on track.
Want to know more?
It can be difficult opening up to a stranger and you might be wondering who I am as a person. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family or binge watching my favorite TV shows. I love baking cupcakes, playing video games, and watching Blues hockey. I’m also a self identified weather nerd. I love severe weather and could probably quote the movie Twister by heart. I love all music, but the 90s reign supreme in my book.