Profile / United States
Wesley Hirst, LPC
Missouri
Licensed Professional Counselor - Anxiety and Trauma
See online therapy options- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Mindfulness practice
About Wesley
Wesley Hirst is an LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) in Missouri with 25 years of clinical experience. He helps people with stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, addictions, and issues such as sleep, eating, parenting, anger, self-esteem, and ADHD. He also focuses on life purpose, panic disorder, and panic attacks.
Wesley uses a straightforward, practical approach in sessions. He draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. He also uses existential ideas and elements of the Gottman Method for relationship-related work.
Clients can expect clear, goal-focused conversations and concrete strategies to practice between sessions. Wesley describes therapy as a collaborative process where trust and honesty matter most. He uses methods like mindfulness exercises, skills for regulating emotion, and thought-behavior work drawn from CBT and DBT.
His background includes a master’s degree in psychology and extensive training in trauma, substance abuse disorders, marriage counseling, mindfulness, and adolescent behavior disorders. That training informs how he structures sessions and what tools he offers.
Outside of practice he spends time camping, backpacking, biking, taking photos, and listening to music. He mentions enjoying wildlife visits and being a pet lover. People who prefer practical, structured work to notice patterns and try different responses may find his style useful.
How therapeutic approaches are used in online sessions
CBT is focused on identifying patterns of thought and behavior and testing small changes to see what works. It helps with anxiety, panic, low mood, sleep problems, and unhelpful avoidance by giving concrete exercises to practice between sessions.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches noticing thoughts without fighting them and clarifying personal values to guide action. It is useful for coping with difficult feelings and moving toward meaningful goals even when discomfort remains.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers specific skills for regulating strong emotions, tolerating distress, and improving interpersonal effectiveness. These skills can be useful when anger, intense anxiety, or relationship conflict are present.
Finding the right mix of methods is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to decide which approaches to use based on goals, preferences, and how someone responds in early sessions. That collaboration includes deciding which skills and exercises to prioritize.
The biography did not specify session formats, so confirm current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and avoid travel time. They also let people practice skills from their everyday environment and bring real-life situations into the conversation.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
Missouri
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he help with most often?
He works with stress, anxiety, relationship problems, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, addictions, sleep and eating concerns, anger, self-esteem, and ADHD. Life purpose and panic disorder are noted additional focuses.
How would you describe his therapeutic approach?
He uses practical, skills-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Sessions emphasize noticing unhelpful thoughts and trying different behaviors between meetings.
What experience does he bring to sessions?
He has 25 years of experience and a master’s degree in psychology. His background includes extensive training in trauma, substance abuse disorders, marriage counseling, mindfulness, and adolescent behavior disorders.
What are his credentials and where is he located?
He is an LPC, Licensed Professional Counselor, practicing in Missouri.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English and he does not accept international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Confirm current online and in-person options before booking to know how sessions are scheduled.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.