Women Doing Good in St. Louis

As I launch Open Doors Counseling, my eye is turned toward the women of St. Louis—the ones I serve, and the ones who’ve shaped me.

Some of the most intelligent, generous, and quietly world-changing people I know live right here in this city. They’re scientists, teachers, therapists, mothers, writers, researchers, small business owners. Some of them are my closest friends. Some of them are total strangers whose work I admire from afar while whispering, Okay yes, more of that please.

They inspire me to grow—not just as a therapist, but as a human, a neighbor, and someone who wants to leave this world a little more whole than she found it.

So, I’m starting this series—Women Doing Good in St. Louis—to spotlight some of the remarkable women in this city who are doing meaningful, thoughtful work. Some I know personally. Some I’d faint if I met in real life. But all of them are women whose leadership gives me hope.

Let’s begin with someone who makes me want to stand a little taller:

🌿 Dr. Theresa Rose Bajt: A New Kind of Self-Care

As I began researching for this blog post, I came across an interview with Dr. Theresa Rose Bajt, and I had that gut-level reaction therapists sometimes get: a mix of admiration, curiosity, and “how can I get coffee with this person immediately?”

Dr. Bajt is a psychologist practicing here in St. Louis, recently named a Top Woman in Medicine. She offers clinical care, writes, advocates, and—just casually—has authorization to practice telepsychology in 39 states. Her work centers on what she calls the spirituality of personal growth, which is the kind of phrase that makes me want to clear my afternoon and dig into what that really means.

Because let’s be honest: in my work with clients, the big questions are often hiding just beneath the surface.

Why am I here?
Is this pain meaningful?
What does healing even look like?

Dr. Bajt seems like the kind of clinician who doesn't shy away from those questions—but meets them with wisdom, grit, and presence. I would love to be a fly on the wall in one of her sessions (ethically and invisibly, of course).

What really stayed with me, though, was her take on self-care.

She’s not peddling bubble baths and Pinterest mantras (no offense to either). She’s advocating for the kind of self-care that looks like showing up on purpose—especially when it's hard.

“Life means work,” she says. “I believe we are here on a spiritual journey in the human body. Spirituality always means growth of knowledge and peace.”

That hit me right in the nervous system.

Because let’s be real—so many women feel like they’re doing life all wrong if they don’t feel peace 100% of the time. In fact, they even feel like they’re getting self-care wrong if they’re not relaxed and glowing within 10 minutes. But what if self-care is sometimes uncomfortable? What if it’s walking around the block even when your body says “eh, later,” or reaching for a glass of water instead of numbing out, or choosing a rhythm that nourishes future-you, not just exhausted-now-you?

And bonus points for this: in the same breath, Dr. Bajt references Viktor Frankl and Reese Witherspoon—a combo that made me cheer. That kind of integration—serious and sparkling, depth and delight—is what I believe therapy (and life) should make room for.

Here are a few ways to learn more about Dr. Bajt and connect with her:

- Wikipedia
- Dr. Bajt’s website

Stay tuned for more posts in the “Women Doing Good” series. And if you know a woman in St. Louis who’s doing beautiful, brave, or bold work—send her my way or comment below! I’d love to keep shining a light.