Laura Fonseca, MSW, LCSW (She/Her)

Founding Manager/Clinical Therapist

I started Cornerstone Therapy in 2016, because I saw a need for quality counseling for children, adolescents, young adults, and their families in the St. Louis area.

Most recently, I worked as a clinical therapist at two St. Louis County grade schools, and I loved it! I enjoyed spending my days helping children thrive and become the best versions of themselves. Playing games, doing art activities, talking, and reading fun books with clients in the school setting was also a pretty great way to spend my day.

Before working at schools, I worked as a therapist at the Schiele Clinic in Ladue, SSM Emergency Departments, and McCallum Place Eating Disorder Treatment Center in Webster Groves. It was at McCallum Place that I realized that I truly had a passion for working with children and adolescents.  

I earned a Master of Social Work degree with an emphasis in family studies from Saint Louis University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Social Work from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Go Tigers!

In addition to my master's degree, I also completed a two year postgraduate Advanced Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Program and Child Adolescent Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Program at the Saint Louis Psychoanalytic Institute. This program taught me to better understand how people's major life events and circumstances shape them into the people they are today.

In my counseling sessions, I utilize non-judgement, kindness, empathy, and humor in order to create meaningful connection and a safe space for individuals to feel heard, seen, and supported. Additionally, I strongly value the use of evidence-based techniques, and I continually remain up to date with new research and approaches so that I can effectively help my clients reach their goals.

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”-C.S. Lewis

CLINICAL INTERESTS:

  • Anxiety

  • Adjustment Disorders

  • Depression

  • Emotional Abuse and Neglect

  • Family Conflict

  • Eating Disorders

  • Life Transitions

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder  (OCD)

  • Parenting

  • Self-Esteeem

  • Trauma

EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACHES:

  • Acceptance Commitment Therapy

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

  • Exposure-Response Prevention

  • Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • Motivational Interviewing

  • Psychodynamic Psychotherapy