About

I have worked as a psychotherapist in the St. Louis area for the past decade. I work with people not only to find relief from symptoms, but also to understand their meanings.

Olivia Carosello, MA, MSW, LCSW

I work with a psychodynamic or psychoanalytic approach, an in-depth form of therapy that fosters long-term and holistic change. One thing that draws me to this kind of work is that people tend not only to maintain changes initiated in psychodynamic treatment, but to continue to improve after therapy is complete. (See, for example, John Shedler’s article, “The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.”)

It can be exciting and potentially frightening to begin therapy. It is tempting to try to answer ahead of time whether it will help, and whether it will help to work with me in particular. I hope that a sense of my background and approach can help in that, and also want to acknowledge that the best way to answer these questions is to meet with a therapist and carefully attend to what it is like for you.

Training and Experience

Since getting a Master of Social Work degree, the bulk of my training has been in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. I graduated from the Advanced Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (APP) program at the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute, a two-year program on psychoanalytic theory, clinical practice, and human development throughout the lifespan. I continue to pursue additional coursework and training at the institute.

I have also received individualized training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and mindfulness, and have participated in numerous workshops on issues pertaining to trauma, including domestic violence, sexual trauma, and complex trauma.

Clinical experiences prior to private practice:

  • Individual and group therapist at the St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute and member of the Intensive Outpatient DBT Program treatment team

  • Individual and group therapist at Clayton Behavioral with a focus on substance abuse, depression and anxiety, mindfulness, and intensive treatment for young adults struggling to separate from parents

  • Individual and group therapist for substance abuse at Bridgeway Behavioral Health

  • Individual, couples, and family therapist at Lutheran Children and Family’s Health Services

  • Intern at Professional Psychotherapy Services

  • Intern at Victim Services at the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office

  • Independent rater for a doctoral dissertation on complex trauma

My office in Clayton, MO, near the intersection of I-170 and Ladue Road.