Stephanie Hanneken

Most therapists treat what’s happening in your mind. I also look at what’s happening in your body.

I believe our brain is arguably the most important organ in the body — it is the command center for everything else. So why do we not put more emphasis on its health, and the ripple effect it has on our body and our lives? This question is at the heart of everything I do.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, EMDR-trained therapist, and Certified Personal Trainer. I graduated from Lindenwood University in Missouri with my Master of Arts in Professional Counseling in 2012, and founded Inspire Change Counseling in 2014 with a vision of creating a truly integrative approach to mental health care — one where clients receive a multi-disciplinary scope of care, not just a referral for medication.

My work is rooted in the holistic functioning of the whole person — mental, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual. Rather than defaulting to medication, I encourage clients to explore the full picture of their health: hormonal functioning, stress effects on the body and gut, and other somatic connections to mental well-being.

I collaborate with nurse practitioners, functional doctors, naturopathic doctors, and nutritionists who specialize in toxin reduction and healthy eating. Medicine is never dismissed — but clients get to learn other potential pathways to healing first.

I also specialize in EMDR therapy — a powerful approach where the client remains completely conscious and in charge, using the strength of their own mind to desensitize and reprocess memories that are affecting them in the present.

My personal experience with anxiety and trauma, alongside my clinical training, helps me connect closely with my clients and bring a level of empathy that goes beyond technique.

I will greet you each session with a smile and a genuine interest in knowing how you are doing. I am a firm believer that we are all just humans trying to do our best and I am not above anyone. I will always be there to earn your trust and help you feel comfortable. The first session will be goal setting and get to know you, unless the client wants to dive right in! I show up where you are!