About stephen, lcsw-a
Why I love this work.
Therapy, to me, is about making peace with yourself and your life so that you can make peace with others. I love therapy because it reveals how a little attention, curiosity, self-compassion, and discomfort can lead to radical transformation in people’s lives. In therapy, we turn down the noise and make space to listen to your life, find ways to laugh through the hard stuff, and empower you to heal, grow, and live life to the fullest.
Unique Perspective as a Minister, Coach, & Teacher
I bring a decade of experience supporting others as a minister, coach, and a teacher into the therapy room.
As a minister, I’ve learned to help people find meaning in the midst of chaos and grounding in the midst of existential crises. As a coach, I’ve learned to help people lean into discomfort to overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and honor their values. As a teacher, I’ve learned that sharing new information can expand your perspective, which can change everything.
You’re a Person, Not a Problem
I believe that you’re a person, not a problem. Sure, you may have problems - and we’ll work together to address those as they come - but you’re a human being with inherent value, dignity, and potential. Therapy is an experiential reminder of your agency to grow, heal, and change how you relate in order to honor what you most deeply value and to live life investing in what really matters.
My Approach To Therapy
My clinical approach is person-centered, spiritually integrated, and solutions-focused. I ground my work in Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and practices that foster connection with the natural environment.
What this means is that you can expect me to
Ask curious, open-ended questions
Be attentive to the personal, relational, cultural, structural, and environmental
Explore values, motivations, and
Overcome resistance and develop psychological flexibility
I focus on anxiety, depression, relationships, grief and loss, burnout, adjustment issues, men’s issues, and religious/spiritual issues.
Background and Education
We are a good fit if —
You are open to exploring patterns in yourself, your relationships, or your life.
You value a collaborative approach to therapy.
You are looking for more than a quick fix and are willing to engage in the process of change.
You are interested in building a more meaningful, connected, and fulfilling life.
We are not a good fit if —
You are looking only for advice or quick solutions.
You are not interested in examining your role in recurring challenges or relationship patterns.
You are unwilling to make changes outside of therapy.