Stephanie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker licensed in Illinois (#149017469), North Carolina (C012423), Ohio (#I.204713), and Pennsylvania (#CW024545) offering therapy, assessments, and coaching services for adolescents (aged 14+), adults, and parents.

Stephanie practices from a neuro-affirming lens and believes the relationship between the therapist and client is the most important factor in effective therapy. Learning and reflection begins when a client is in a safe space to comfortably unmask and be genuinely themselves and self-understanding can lead to self-compassion. Stephanie utilizes relational therapy, polyvagal therapy, compassion-focused therapy, and interpersonal processes in providing neuro-affirming therapy. Stephanie also practices from a fat positive and health at every size perspective. Stephanie is an inclusive social worker and welcoming to all including Queer/LGBTQIA+ individuals.

What does it mean that Stephanie practices from a neuro-affirming lens? It means that she believes neurological differences, such as AHD and Autism (among others), are natural variations in the human genome. She believes in offering a compassionate and empowering approach to therapy helping clients thrive in a world that does not understand or accommodate differences and does not believe in the deficit based medical model that focuses on fixing or curing these neurological differences.

Coaching is not therapy, does not include a diagnosis, and focuses on providing psychoeducation, problem solving, and peer support around specific goals while therapy has a broader scope to address current/history of trauma, identification and management of emotions, and co-occurring concerns.