Cherese M Alcorn, MSW, LCSW
CEO and Founder
Welcome Home
A Black Female Therapist Revolutionizing Mental Healthcare
Cherese M. Alcorn, MSW, LCSW, is the founder of Wellness Beyond the Chair and a "Black Joy Cultivator". She works to center Black joy in a world where people of color, and women in particular, spend excessive amounts of energy caring for others and very little energy caring for themselves. Cherese believes that "Black joy isn't just about happiness; it's a form of resistance against oppression.” Cherese is passionate about working with people in leadership roles because when leaders are well, employees are well. When employees are well, communities are well.
"Elevate your mind, elevate your leadership."
Cherese's mental health career began with a Bachelor of Science in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. Her work as a case manager supporting unhoused teen mothers after graduation quickly opened her eyes to disparities in mental health treatment. She found that her clients wanted her to operate in the role of their therapist instead of following up with referrals to community mental health providers. Cherese’s clients fueled the decision to obtain proper mental health training. So, she received a Master of Social Work from the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
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Cherese values being a lifelong learner. Her interest in generational trauma fueled by unconscious defense mechanisms inspired her to gain a postgraduate certificate in Advanced Psychodynamic Psychotherapy from the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute. Cherese stays involved with the Saint Louis Psychoanalytic Institute and proudly serves on its DEI-B board committee. She actively works towards creating an inclusive community for students, faculty, and staff.
"Let me help lead you from suffering and surviving to living fully and thriving!"
Cherese Specializes in Working with
Women of Color with disabilities.
Cherese excels at guiding decision-makers, change agents, and entrepreneurs, particularly those facing trauma and physical illness, towards achieving inner peace. She believes well-being comes from embodiment - when your physical body, mental health, and spiritual practices are in alignment. Cherese understands the difficulties of navigating a career and personal life while staying true to your identity, trusting your intuition, and learning to set and hold boundaries.
She is no stranger to navigating personal hardships and transforming them into triumphs. Cherese was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2017 and faced many challenges navigating bias and discrimination in the healthcare system and even faced employer discrimination due to decreased mobility. Cherese transformed her pain into power by starting her private practice as a response to working in professional environments that did not center the needs of women of color and/or disabled persons. This led to her developing a passion for working with persons navigating a chronic illness and/or pain.
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In 2024, Cherese created a non-profit named, Bridge to Abilities. BTA strives to build a compassionate, equitable community where all individuals
managing invisible disabilities (i.e. multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, cancer, or
mental health concerns, ect) and illnesses can achieve their fullest potential,
regardless of the challenges they face.
Healing That Moves Beyond Talk
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Your well-being deserves a multidimensional approach. Step into a space where clarity,
restoration, and transformation meet.
True transformation happens when the mind and body work together. Psychotherapy and sound healing create a powerful synergy—one that shifts not just how you think, but how you feel and move through the world.
Psychotherapy brings awareness, helping you process emotions, reframe patterns, and reclaim your narrative. Sound healing deepens this work, using vibrational medicine to regulate the nervous system, release stored trauma, and restore balance.
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This is not about quick fixes or surface-level relaxation. It’s about realignment. It’s about creating space for clarity, ease, and a deeper connection to yourself. When the science of the mind meets the energy of sound, healing becomes more than a conversation—it becomes a full-body experience.
Peace. Joy. Harmony. Love.
Explore Psychotherapy Treatments
Options with Cherese
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Sound Healing & Psychotherapy: A Powerful Combination
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Sound healing uses vibrational frequencies from crystal bowls, tuning forks, and gongs to calm the nervous system, release stress, and restore emotional balance. When combined with psychotherapy, it accelerates healing by clearing mental fog, reducing anxiety, and enhancing emotional regulation. The frequencies shift the body from fight-or-flight into deep relaxation, allowing for deeper therapeutic breakthroughs. This integrative approach bridges science and holistic healing, helping high-achievers think clearly, reduce burnout, and realign with their purpose. Experience the power of sound and therapy working together for lasting mental clarity and emotional resilience.
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Evidenced Based Psychotherapy Treatment Options
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COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY
CBT treatment is designed to help patients change their thinking patterns in order to reduce psychological suffering.
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Patients learn how to their thoughts, emotions, and behavior are interconnected.
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Identify cognitive distortions that create distress and learn to reevaluate them to reduce suffering in the present.
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Engage in problem-solving skills to cope with difficult situations.
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COGNITIVE PROCESSING THERAPY
CPT is utilized with trauma survivors presenting symptoms of PTSD. Sessions last for a minimum of 12 therapy sessions during which patients will:
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Get information on common cognitive, behavioral, and psychological reactions to trauma.
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Identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts with also know as stuck points.
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Complete regular out-of-session practice assignments in between sessions to reinforce concepts learned in treatment.
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PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHOTHERAPY
This treatment option works with conscious and unconscious psychological material helping patients gain deeper understanding into their thoughts, behavioral patterns, and defense mechanisms.
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Identify and deconstruct unhealthy defense mechanisms.
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Develop healthier defense mechanisms
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Heal attachment injuries.
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Discontinue undesirable coping skills for emotional pain.
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Develop secure attachment with oneself and others.