Stephanie’s therapy background is holistic and person-centered. She believes that
clients are the experts and the driving force of change in their lives. She
approaches therapy collaboratively with genuineness, non-judgment, and
empathy.

Stephanie graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a
bachelor’s degree in Psychology and received her master’s degree in Clinical
Social Work at University of Maryland, Baltimore. She is fluent in Spanish and
has worked as a therapist at an outpatient mental health center where she
provided individual and group therapy, and has experience providing therapy to
adults with a variety of clinical presentations and concerns. She has an interest in
young adult’s mental health and well-being. Stephanie has assisted young adults with forming friendships and navigating conflict in interpersonal relationships while
addressing anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, loss and grief, and trauma that may be hindering healthy relationships from flourishing.

Stephanie uses a wide-range of evidence-based interventions such as strengths-
based perspective, motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT),
and solution-focused therapy. Stephanie is passionate about dialectical behavioral
therapy (DBT). She believes DBT is helpful for clients when handling intense and
difficult emotions without jeopardizing relationships. Stephanie is obtaining ongoing mentorship, supervision, and training with Amanda Pezzanite, LCSW-C, who is a DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™. As an eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) trauma informed trained clinician, Stephanie is mindful of the long-term effects that comes with trauma and works from a trauma focused lens and strengths-based perspective. She incorporates DBT, EMDR, CBT, and internal family systems (IFS) into her clinical practice. Stephanie looks forward to joining clients in their EMDR journey of self-discovery and emotional healing.

The path toward building a life is paved with skills, exposure, being mindful of
current emotions, and managing extreme emotions. The path of misery is not
using skills, acting on unwanted emotions, avoidance and employing numbing
behaviors.