About Stephanie (she/her or they/them)

It takes courage to walk the path of your truest self. I believe that you already have within you what you need to be the person you are seeking. However, I also recognize that the world around us often restricts, oppresses, and/or harms these inherent strengths. Relationships and experiences with family, friends, significant others, culture, community, and our socio-political context affect our relationship with ourselves. When these relationships aren’t working, we experience suffering, distress, anxiety, depression, and pain. In our therapeutic relationship, I can help you find your way to wholeness, congruence, strength, safety and fulfillment within yourself.

Working with Me

In my work with you, I will make space to acknowledge and explore the personal, social, and political relationships and experiences that have impacted (or are impacting) your life. I will help you learn skills to navigate these challenges, and I will support you in affirming and reconnecting the who you truly are. 

My approach to therapy is grounded in queer-affirmative and social justice lenses. I see myself as a guide along your unique journey; I trust that you know who you are and where you need to go. My style tends to be directive, with a bit of humor. Life is hard and if we aren’t crying, I believe laughing can offer that release we need. I want to offer ideas, skills, and support in clarifying your next steps and solutions. I integrate learning and practicing DBT skills and IFS skills in our work together.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is a set of skills including mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness, each of which can be learned and called upon to help in a variety of challenges that may come up in your life. Internal Family Systems is a modality that allows us to work with the negative voices and narratives that get stuck in our heads and lovingly re-integrate the parts of us what may have been injured at various challenging times in our lives.

I am especially passionate about supporting and advocating for trans/non-binary youth and adults as they engage on their courageous journey to authentic living. I also enjoy supporting individuals who are navigating a transition to non-monogamy/polyamory or struggling inside of any relationship structure. I work with my white clients to explore their bias and privilege in order to promote healing and ending white supremacy.

On a Personal Level

My identities are gender-queer, butch, white, able-bodied, educated, middle class, and a parent (aka “Mada”). I love being on the beach; I find that nothing soothes me and brings me back to center like the sound of the waves. Travel is an important part of my self-care, as it enriches my life and expands my world. I also enjoy yoga, hiking and moving my body in ways that feel restorative. More than anything, I enjoy spending time with my loved ones and family.

Education and Training

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and supervisor in the state of Washington. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin. I went on to obtain my Master of Arts in Marriage and Family therapy from Antioch University New England. I have pursued numerous trainings in DBT and have led DBT skills groups for both adolescents and adults. I also enjoy and continue learning the Internal Family Systems model. I resonant deeply with injured and protective parts within us and have seen transformations with my clients with the use of this model. I am committed to ongoing self-work around anti-oppression and critically conscious practices.