Today we’d like to introduce you to TJ Kingsbury.
Hi TJ, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey to social work came to be through a combination of professional training and lived experiences. I have always been drawn to supporting others and understanding how people survive when life becomes overwhelming. When I was 15, my mother died of cancer. That loss had a profound effect on me, and through my teenage years I began relying on substances as my primary way of coping. After dropping out of high school and earning my GED, that pattern continued into early adulthood.
As a teen and young adult, I worked in neighborhoods across St. Louis, which gave me early, firsthand exposure to how poverty, limited resources, and other social factors shape communities and lives day to day. Over time, the way I was living stopped working, and I became more and more aware that I needed to make a change. In 2004, I made the decision to stop using illicit substances and began moving in a different direction.
That same year, I met the woman who would become my wife. She believed in my capacity for something more long before I did, and it was through her encouragement that I retuned to school, earning my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice and then my Master’s Degree in Social Work.
My career as a social worker started in hospice, where I was honored to work with individuals and families at the end of life. I later spent several years working for a local nonprofit organization, Concordance, supporting incarcerated adults as they transition from prison back into the community. I worked in multiple prisons across the state with individuals prior to their release, and continued supporting them after incarceration. That work deepened my understanding of trauma and further solidified the type of therapist I wanted to be.
Currently I have a small private practice where I support adults navigating grief, trauma, anxiety, life transitions, and all the other parts of themselves they may have been navigating alone.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The work itself hasn’t always been smooth, but I have always loved the work I do. One of the biggest challenges early in my career was learning how to stay open and present in emotionally intense settings without carrying everything home. This kind of work can take a real toll, especially when you’re still learning your own limits. Like many people in helping professions, I had to learn, sometimes through trial and error, that being effective means understanding and respecting those limits. Setting boundaries, seeking good supervision, and developing real self-awareness became essential to the kind of therapist I wanted to be.
Another challenge has been navigating seasons when my personal and professional worlds have collided. There were times when I had to slow down, reassess, and become more intentional about what I was doing.
After a major personal loss in 2023, it became even more clear that continuing forward without adjustment wasn’t going to be an option. I had to step back, recalibrate, and begin to work in a way that honored what I was now carrying rather than trying to force myself to push through.
Those challenges truly clarified who I am as a therapist. They pushed me towards a more grounded and authentic way of working. That perspective now shapes how I structure my private practice and how I support clients who are trying to make meaningful change without losing themselves in the process.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My private practice is built around honesty, depth, and authentic connection. I work with adults on things like grief, trauma, depression, anxiety, but also on all the in-between things that don’t always fit neatly into a diagnosis. Many of my clients come to me feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what they need from therapy or after having unhelpful or disappointing experiences with therapy in the past. They’re seeking a real, unbiased perspective and a space where they can show up as themselves.
I focus a lot on building a strong therapeutic relationship instead of giving advice or telling clients what they should do. I believe this is something that sets my practice apart; because I work in a deeply human way and don’t position myself as an expert with all the answers.
Therapy, to me, is a collaborative process. I walk alongside my clients as they learn more about themselves. I also don’t believe therapy requires any kind of crisis or major life event in order to get started. Sometimes people simply need a space to openly talk about work, relationships, parenting, or life in general. I strive to create a space that feels safe, honest, and authentic, and am deeply honored by the trust clients place in me when they share their stories.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I’ve always been observant and curious, even as a kid. I also was a bit of a class clown, finding that humor seemed to help people feel better if they were having a bad day. I was often the person others came to if they were struggling with something. As a kid and into adulthood, I enjoy spending time outdoors, hanging out with family and friends, and laughing as much as possible.
Pricing:
- Most insurance plans accepted
- Sliding scale private pay rates $30-$50/hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://care.headway.co/providers/tj-kingsbury?utm_source=pem&utm_medium=direct_link&utm_campaign=170504
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1628845
