Stephanie Whatley

I believe everyone deserves what they want out of life. I am available to support my clients through their journey of finding resolution, glimpses of hope and peace. Managing hardships/stress or navigating through mental/emotional instability can feel impossible alone, but I am here to walk alongside you. While you may be experiencing challenging, confusing or tough moments in life, I pride myself in creating the safe, nonjudgmental space that clients need in order to reach their goals.

Therapy isn't a "one size fits all" type of process and should be treated as such. The therapeutic process is designed specifically for each client. Clients deserve a therapist who will take the approach that is necessary for their unique needs. I work from an integrative approach with my client as the focus. I assess client needs and goals and will utilize evidence based practices to guide clients through their therapy journeys. Some approaches that have I have utilized and have specialized training are, person-centered, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), components of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT-Steps A), solution focused behavioral therapy (SFBT), family systems, Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE), the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT), trauma informed care and CAMS.

The connection between client and therapist is important. That relationship is one of the foundations of the therapeutic process. Clients can expect that the development of trust and mutual respect will begin in the first session. It is difficult for clients to progress through their treatment plans if they don't believe their therapist values them or understands their specific needs. Priority will be given to provide clients with a space to be heard and to begin exploring pieces of their journey they may have been impacted by or led them to their present state. Together, in subsequent sessions, treatment goals will be developed that incorporate where clients ultimately see themselves in the future. My hope is that after the first session clients feel validated and comfortable with the next steps of their counseling journey.