Darlene Trumbo

Licensed Professional Counselor
Missouri License 2001031965
Certified EMDR Therapist

Background and Experience

Darlene completed her internship and training for licensure at the Center for Biblical Counseling and Education and at Meier Clinic in St. Louis. She obtained her Masters of Arts in Counseling degree from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. In addition to her training and direct counseling experience, Darlene is able to apply her life experiences as a wife of over 40 years, a mother of four grown children, and a grandmother to 12 grandchildren.

Special Interests and Services

Darlene sees clients on an outpatient basis. She enjoys working with women and men ages 18+ in individual, family, pre-marital, marital, and/or family counseling settings. Darlene believes in a holistic approach to counseling that addresses the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of healing from a Biblical perspective. She uses a variety of treatment methods, depending upon individual client needs.

Treatment Issues

Anger • Anxiety • Stress • Depression • Grief & Loss • Marital & Premarital • Parenting • Relational Issues • Self-Esteem Issues • Spiritual Concerns • Trauma • Women’s Issues

Insurance and Payment Options

Aetna • Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield (PPO and traditional) • Cigna • UBH • United Health Care • Private Pay

Education and Training

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Missouri-Columbia
Master of Arts in Counseling, Covenant Theological Seminary

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – Missouri
EMDR Certified Levels 1 & 2

Anger

An emotion characterized by tension and hostility arising from frustration, real or imagined injury by another, or perceived injustice. It can manifest itself in behaviors designed to remove the object of the anger (e.g., determined action) or behaviors designed merely to express the emotion (e.g., swearing). Anger is distinct from, but a significant activator of, aggression, which is behavior intended to harm someone or something. Despite their mutually influential relationship, anger is neither necessary nor sufficient for aggression to occur.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. Mild levels can be beneficial in some situations. It can alert us to dangers and help us prepare and pay attention.

Anxiety disorders differ from normal feelings of nervousness or anxiousness and involve excessive fear or anxiety. Anxiety disorders are the most common of mental disorders and affect nearly 30 percent of adults at some point in their lives. Anxiety disorders can cause people into try to avoid situations that trigger or worsen their symptoms. Job performance, schoolwork and personal relationships can be affected. However, anxiety disorders are treatable with a number of psychotherapeutic treatments. Treatment helps most people lead normal productive lives.

There are several types of anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, specific phobias, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and selective mutism.

Stress

Stress is a normal reaction to everyday pressures, but can become unhealthy when it upsets your day-to-day functioning. Stress involves changes affecting nearly every system of the body, influencing how people feel and behave.

By causing mind–body changes, stress contributes directly to psychological and physiological disorder and disease and affects mental and physical health, reducing quality of life.

Depression

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home.

Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include:

Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
Loss of energy or increased fatigue
Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., hand-wringing or pacing) or slowed movements and speech (actions observable by others)
Feeling worthless or guilty
Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
Thoughts of death or suicide

Grief and Loss

The anguish experienced after significant loss, usually the death of a beloved person. Grief is often distinguished from bereavement and mourning. Not all bereavements result in a strong grief response, and not all grief is given public expression. Grief often includes physiological distress, separation anxiety, confusion, yearning, obsessive dwelling on the past, and apprehension about the future. Intense grief can become life-threatening through disruption of the immune system, self-neglect, and suicidal thoughts. Grief may also take the form of regret for something lost, remorse for something done, or sorrow for a mishap to oneself.

Marriage

Therapy in which both partners in a committed relationship are treated at the same time by the same therapist or therapists. Couples therapy is concerned with problems within and between the individuals that affect the relationship. For example, one partner may have undiagnosed depression that is affecting the relationship, or both partners may have trouble communicating effectively with one another. Individual sessions may be provided separately to each partner, particularly at the beginning of therapy; most of the course of therapy, however, is provided to both partners together. Couples therapy for married couples is known as marital therapy.

Parenting

Parenting practices around the world share three major goals: ensuring children’s health and safety, preparing children for life as productive adults, and transmitting cultural values. A high-quality parent-child relationship is critical for healthy development.

Researchers have described different human parenting styles—ways in which parents interact with their children—with most classifications varying on the dimensions of emotional warmth and control.

Relationship Issues

Disagreement or confrontation between two or more members of a single group, as when people on a work team have different opinions about how best to accomplish a specified goal. Intragroup conflict poses a significant challenge to effective team functioning and has been divided into three primary types. Process conflict pertains to the logistics of task accomplishment, relationship conflict involves interpersonal incompatibilities, and task conflict concerns disagreement about the content of the task itself.

Self-Esteem

The degree to which the qualities and characteristics contained in one’s self-concept are perceived to be positive. It reflects a person’s physical self-image, view of their accomplishments and capabilities, and values and perceived success in living up to them, as well as the ways in which others view and respond to that person. The more positive the cumulative perception of these qualities and characteristics, the higher one’s self-esteem. A reasonably high degree of self-esteem is considered an important ingredient of mental health, whereas low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness are common depressive symptoms.

Spiritual Issues

Studies show that religious or spiritual involvement improves mental health and can be useful for coping with trauma. By centering the patient and their existing beliefs, psychologists can help people leverage their religious and spiritual resources as a source of strength during challenging times.

Trauma

Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical. Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships, and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea.

While these feelings are normal, some people have difficulty moving on with their lives. Psychologists can help them find constructive ways of managing their emotions.

Women's Issues

Woman-centered psychology is an approach to psychology that emphasizes the physical, psychological, and social experiences that are particularly characteristic of women.

Traditional gender roles have often defined and limited women’s activities and opportunities; many religious doctrines stipulate certain rules for women. With restrictions loosening during the 20th century in many societies, women have gained access to careers beyond the traditional homemaker, and the ability to pursue higher education.