Meet Claire Welton, MA, Ed.D, PLPC

We were lucky to catch up with Claire Welton, MA, Ed.D, PLPC recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Claire, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

Confidence and self-esteem is something I work on day in and out with my clients. It’s something that is so easily stolen from so many people these days with social media and everyone playing the comparison game. Confidence and self-esteem have to come from within, an unconditional source, rather than conditioned. Once I figured this out, my anxiety lessened and I was able to unapologetically be myself.

I attribute all of this to God. My faith is everything to me, and God is my source. As a Christian, I believe that my identity comes from God, and nothing and no one can shake that. I recognize that any strength I have, or ability in my job or personal life, is again, a gift, strength or talent from God. I’m just a vessel and undeserving, but through Him, how He’s redeemed me, I have found the confidence to be able to live out the assignments He has for me, including being a wife, mom and mental health therapist.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a mental health therapist who specializes working with women and men who may be struggling with anxiety, depression, OCD, relationships, singleness, self-esteem/worth, and/or faith-based. Prior to this, I worked as a school counselor for 7 years in the Saint Louis area.

What’s most special and exciting about my career is I get to meet some amazing people and help them navigate some of the most intimate and vulnerable times in their lives. Every day is different, and every client is unique, even if many of them have similar root causes. I am accepting new clients and offer free consultations.

Another fun addition to my life is that my husband and I started a modern day gifting company in March of 2024 called Love, STL. We purchase only from small, local Saint Louis businesses and curate custom, client, branding, and corporate gifts, all while supporting small. Follow along on Instagram at @love_stl.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three skills that I think are essential in any self-propelled or client based careers would be the following:

1. Authenticity. We live in a world where multiple people share the same career. Rather than looking at it competitively (realistically, I can’t be a therapist for everyone in Saint Louis, so spread the love!) look at it as people will want you for YOU. Especially in a career like mine, you’ve got to not strive to be like everyone else, but to authentically understand who you are and what you bring to the table.

2. With that said, what’s your niche? Being a Christian mental health therapist puts me in a unique category. There are still plenty of those in Saint Louis, but it narrows down the pool and helps you connect with clients who are looking for what you offer.

3. Market, market, market yourself! Do not be afraid to use social media. I was able to amass over 50 clients in a short period of time because I show up consistently on social media (follow me at @jesus_and therapy). It’s hard enough to seek out a therapist and then to gamble if you think you’ll click, so I reframe myself being out there as a tool to help my future clients determine if they could see themselves sitting in a room with me.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

A book that has played an import role in my development is Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen. She so accurately and vulnerably shared her struggles with her faith and anxiety, and seamlessly provides therapeutic (CBT) ways to overcome your anxiety with not only God and Biblical thinking, but with psychologically backed research.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stl-ccc.org/claire-welton/
• Instagram: @clairelilywelton @jesus_andtherapy @love_stl

Image Credits

Schy H.