Stacy Hurley

Hi, I’m Stacy L. Hurley, LCSW-C, and I’m not your “just sit there and nod” kind of therapist.

I bring over 25 years of experience working with children, families, and individuals navigating real-life challenges—things like relationship stress, trauma, parenting struggles, and major life transitions. I earned my Master’s in Social Work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work, with a concentration in Families and Children, and I’ve spent my career in spaces like child welfare, family preservation, reunification, treatment foster care, domestic violence and counseling.

I believe healing happens in relationships, safe, honest, sometimes messy, but always real. My goal is to create a space where you feel seen, heard, and supported while also being gently challenged to grow. I use approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Solution-Focused Therapy, but more importantly, I meet you where you are and tailor things to what actually works for you.

I’ve worked with just about every kind of family dynamic you can imagine—crisis situations, high-conflict relationships, reunification journeys, and everything in between. I specialize in working with individuals, couples, and families, especially those impacted by trauma, domestic violence, parenting stress, and communication breakdowns.

But here’s the real talk: I’m not just a therapist—I’m a human who understands that life doesn’t come with a manual. I value authenticity, humor, and connection in the therapy space. You don’t have to show up “perfect” here.

You just have to show up.

If you’re someone who wants practical tools, honest conversations, and a therapist who will both support you and keep it real with you, you’re in the right place.

My approach is collaborative, strengths-based, and grounded in real-life application.

I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you understand how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected—and how to shift patterns that aren’t serving you. I also use Solution-Focused Therapy to help you identify what’s already working and build from there.

But therapy with me isn’t one-size-fits-all. I pull from different approaches depending on your needs, including family systems work and trauma-informed care. I focus on helping you:

• Improve communication and relationships
• Set and maintain healthy boundaries
• Build emotional awareness and regulation
• Break cycles that keep you stuck
• Strengthen your sense of self and confidence

Think of me as someone walking alongside you, offering insight, tools, and sometimes a little gentle push when needed.

Your first session is all about getting comfortable and getting clear.

We’ll talk about what’s bringing you to therapy, what’s been weighing on you, and what you’re hoping will change. There’s no pressure to share everything at once—this is your space, and we go at your pace.

I’ll ask some questions to understand your background, your relationships, and what’s been working (and what hasn’t). Together, we’ll start identifying goals and what you want your life to look like moving forward.

You can expect a conversation, not an interrogation. And yes, you can expect me to be real with you, supportive, and focused on helping you leave that session feeling just a little more grounded than when you came in.