Steffany Knauer

I graduated from the University of Louisville Kent School of Social Work in 2009 and have spent my career working in community mental health, medical social work, and substance abuse treatment with pregnant and postpartum women. My approach to therapy is warm, down-to-earth, and collaborative. I believe healing happens best in a space where you can feel both supported and challenged — with honesty, compassion, and sometimes a little humor along the way.

Clients often describe me as sensitive, kind, funny, and genuine. I strive to create a relaxed, judgment-free environment where you can show up exactly as you are, whether you’re navigating anxiety, trauma, relationships, life transitions, or simply feeling stuck.

I believe therapy works best when you feel comfortable enough to show up exactly as you are — messy thoughts, complicated feelings, dark humor, uncertainty, and all. My style is relaxed, grounded, and conversational. I’m not the kind of therapist who sits silently with a clipboard or talks in confusing clinical language. I aim to create a space that feels safe, affirming, culturally aware, and genuinely human. As a lesbian therapist, I deeply value authenticity, inclusivity, and social responsibility, and I strive to make therapy feel accessible and welcoming for people from all walks of life.

Whether this is your very first therapy experience or you feel like you’ve already had 15 therapists before me, you do not have to have it all figured out before walking in. The first session is simply a place to start — we’ll talk about what’s bringing you in, what your life has looked like, what’s felt heavy lately, and what you’re hoping for moving forward. It’s also a chance for you to “try me on” and see if I feel like the right fit for you. Therapy should feel collaborative, not intimidating. My goal is for you to leave sessions feeling a little more understood, a little less alone, and able to exhale a bit easier.