The Center for Mindfulness & CBT

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The Center for Mindfulness & CBT A mental health and wellness center offering mindfulness, CBT, and evidence-based practices.

An innovative mental health and wellness center treating children, adolescents and adults using Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). We offer Mindfulness and Mindful Yoga classes for the general population, as well as for those with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. We have Mindfulness classes for children and families, as well as group therapy for children and adults with Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors, such as hair pulling and skin picking. We specialize in treating anxiety, mood, behavior and eating disorders using evidenced based approaches to get you feeling better quickly. We teach Parenting Classes and Workshops to help you manage your child's behaviors and emotions. We also offer a variety of corporate programs, including Yoga and Mindfulness for stress reduction, as well as psychological evaluations and forensic services.

What if skin picking, hair pulling, nail biting, cheek biting, and other body-focused repetitive behaviors were met with...
10/13/2026

What if skin picking, hair pulling, nail biting, cheek biting, and other body-focused repetitive behaviors were met with understanding instead of shame?

Approximately 1 in 20 people will experience a BFRB in their lifetime. And yet, many people don’t know that there’s a name for what they’re experiencing or that treatment is available.

Awareness matters. It can help people realize that they aren’t alone. It can reduce some of the shame and isolation that often come with these behaviors. And it can help people find the support they need.

This BFRB Awareness Week, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to learn more and talk about BFRBs without judgment. You never know who in your life may be quietly struggling and need to hear that what they’re experiencing is real, common, and treatable.

Our Chief Clinical Advisor, Dr. Laura Chackes, wrote more about why BFRB awareness matters and what it could mean for the many people who live with these behaviors. You can read the full blog post here: https://mindfulstl.com/imagine-a-world-where-everyone-knows-what-a-bfrb-is/

Awareness starts with conversations. 🧡Yesterday, we spent time talking with clinicians and interns about The BFRB Founda...
10/13/2026

Awareness starts with conversations. 🧡

Yesterday, we spent time talking with clinicians and interns about The BFRB Foundation and how we can work together to increase awareness of body-focused repetitive behaviors.

Why does awareness matter?

Because greater understanding can help reduce the shame and stigma that too often surround mental health conditions, and BFRBs in particular.

Every conversation matters.

Every person who learns what a BFRB is matters.

And every time someone realizes they aren’t alone, we’re making progress.

This October, we’re committed to having more of these conversations and encouraging others to have them too.

Help us spread awareness. 🧡

The BFRB Foundation
bfrbfoundation.org

If you or a loved one are living with OCD, we want you to know that you are not alone, and help is available. We are pro...
09/19/2026

If you or a loved one are living with OCD, we want you to know that you are not alone, and help is available.

We are proud to be a sponsor for the St. Louis OCD Walk again this year, and are grateful that so many of our therapists came out to walk despite record high temperatures.

This is such a warm and loving community who we love to connect with any chance we get!

Back-to-School Scaries Are for Parents, Too!In her latest blog post, Elizabeth Ernest, LMFT, LCSW, RPT™, shares ways par...
08/27/2026

Back-to-School Scaries Are for Parents, Too!
In her latest blog post, Elizabeth Ernest, LMFT, LCSW, RPT™, shares ways parents can help their children navigate the transition:

Validate instead of reassuring. You don’t have to make anxiety disappear. Help your child learn that they can feel nervous and still do hard things.

Focus on what you can control. Practice routines, pack the backpack, choose an outfit, and prepare for the morning together.

Remember your own “what ifs.” You don’t have to solve problems that haven’t happened yet. Try reminding yourself: “If something comes up, we’ll figure it out.”

And remember: your child doesn’t need a parent who never feels anxious. They need a parent who models that anxiety can be managed, uncertainty can be tolerated, and new beginnings can be handled one step at a time.

Here’s to a school year filled with growth, learning, messy mornings, proud moments, and lots of opportunities to practice being brave.

As clinicians, so much of what we do requires focus, empathy, and emotional energy. But wellness isn’t only about rest a...
08/15/2026

As clinicians, so much of what we do requires focus, empathy, and emotional energy. But wellness isn’t only about rest and recovery. Joy, laughter, and play matter, too.

This week’s challenge: Do something simply because it makes you smile. Play a game, share a funny story with a coworker, listen to music you love, watch something that makes you laugh, or revisit something you enjoyed as a kid.

No productivity required. No purpose necessary. Just make a little room for fun.
Sometimes, taking care of ourselves means remembering that we’re allowed to enjoy life, too.

What if taking care of yourself came with a little extra motivation? For National Wellness Month, we’re challenging our ...
08/14/2026

What if taking care of yourself came with a little extra motivation?

For National Wellness Month, we’re challenging our staff to prioritize their own well-being with a little friendly competition and cash prizes along the way! From taking a walk or practicing mindfulness to journaling, exercising, spending time outside, or simply putting the phone away for 30 minutes, small acts of self-care can add up.

As mental health professionals, we spend so much time encouraging others to care for themselves. This month, we’re giving ourselves that same permission. Because self-care isn’t just something we talk about. It’s something we have to practice, too.

Meet the Provider: Sam, PLPCGet to know Sam and the collaborative, goal-focused approach he brings to supporting adults ...
08/13/2026

Meet the Provider: Sam, PLPC

Get to know Sam and the collaborative, goal-focused approach he brings to supporting adults and older teens (16+) navigating OCD, trauma, anxiety, and other mental health concerns.

Sam’s Quick Mental Health Tip: Focus on What You Can Control.

The world can feel unpredictable, and with everything going on, it can be easy to become overwhelmed by fear, worry, and all the things we wish we could change. When we get caught up in everything that feels out of our control, it can become difficult to focus on what we can actually do.

Focusing on what you can control doesn’t mean ignoring problems or pretending difficult things don’t exist. Instead, it means intentionally directing your energy toward the things you can influence while giving yourself permission to release the pressure of what you cannot.

The next time you feel overwhelmed, try this:

Take stock. Notice what you’re currently worrying about.
Separate what you can and cannot control. Ask yourself, “What part of this can I actually influence?”
Choose one meaningful step. Identify one small action you can take in the direction of what matters to you.
Practice letting go. Give yourself permission to release what you cannot change, even if only for a moment.

You don’t have to solve everything at once. Sometimes, creating a little more clarity starts with simply asking, “What is within my control right now?”

Sam is a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC) who earned his Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Missouri St. Louis in May 2026. His approach emphasizes collaboration, client goals, and feedback, using CBT as his primary modality while incorporating ACT and ERP. Sam has a particular interest in supporting individuals who have experienced OCD and trauma.

Self-care doesn't have to be extravagant or time-consuming. Often, it's the small, intentional choices we make today tha...
08/06/2026

Self-care doesn't have to be extravagant or time-consuming. Often, it's the small, intentional choices we make today that have the greatest impact on how we feel tomorrow.

This week's challenge: Do one thing that your future self will thank you for. It could be taking a walk after work, preparing a healthy meal, setting a boundary, scheduling a preventative appointment, organizing your workspace, or simply getting to bed a little earlier.

Remember, wellness isn't about doing everything perfectly. It's about making one intentional choice at a time that helps you feel healthier, more balanced, and better equipped to care for yourself and others.

How often does “what if?” keep you from taking the next step?Therapist Molly Brendle-Ayala, LCSW, decided to step outsid...
08/04/2026

How often does “what if?” keep you from taking the next step?

Therapist Molly Brendle-Ayala, LCSW, decided to step outside her comfort zone and try something unexpected: improv. What started as something intimidating became a lesson in mental flexibility, vulnerability, and learning to embrace the unknown.

One of her biggest takeaways? “Yes, AND.” Instead of letting one thought cancel out another, “and” gives us room to hold two truths at once:

I can be scared AND still try.
I can be uncertain AND keep moving forward.
Things may not go according to plan AND I can adapt.
I can feel uncomfortable AND learn something new.

Improv also offers an important reminder: sometimes we need to spend less time in planning mode and more time in doing mode. Plans can be helpful, but they don't have to dictate every step.

Being vulnerable, flexible, and willing to try something new takes practice. And sometimes, the best way to practice is alongside people who are willing to be vulnerable with you.

Address

967 Gardenview Office Pkwy
St. Louis, MO
63141

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 8pm
Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 8pm
Saturday 8am - 8pm

Telephone

+13145619757

Website

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