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I'm Laura Stephenson, LCSW, and my approach to therapy is balanced between compassion and motivation. I use both empathy and accountability to help people feel supported and create change. I also encourage clients to explore their life experiences and identity to better understand themselves and to help them decide on what needs to change.
My approach
I use several evidence-based therapeutic styles in my practice, including cognitive behavioral therapy, attachment-based therapy, compassion-focused therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, affirmative therapy, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. I also like to bring in as much science as is relevant, depending on the client's interest!
My focus
I work with adults and adolescents dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, self-harm, low self-esteem, stress, and relationship conflicts. I work with clients from all communities, and I am LGBTQIA+-affirming.
My communication style
I believe clients should always feel at least a little bit better after a therapy session and certainly never worse. I give clients the option to have structure and accountability in therapy, and I come prepared for each session. However, the priority is always whatever the client wants to talk about. I'm flexible, relaxed, kind, and attentive.
My journey to mental healthcare
I always knew I wanted a career helping people. I entered graduate school thinking I wanted to eventually run a non-profit, which I got the chance to do only a year after graduating. By directing multiple programs that help people in different ways, I learned how our problems often overlap (e.g., child abuse is compounded by racism) and that many of our problems are adaptive (e.g., people with anxiety disorders usually have a lot to worry about). I realized a few years later that I wanted to work with clients directly, not in administration, and that's exactly what I did. I love this work so much that I doubt I'll ever be on the other side again.
My goals for you
I try to help clients identify goals for therapy by the end of the first session. Sometimes this isn't possible until a second or even third session; however, we can usually settle on one or two general goals to at least get started. I check in with clients periodically to update (and sometimes add) goals and ensure our approach is working. Some people start therapy with specific goals related to daily functioning and eventually want to address broader, more existential concerns that have impacted them for years; for others, it's the other way around.
My first session with you
I use the first session to get to know the client, what they want out of therapy (sometimes people don't know, and that's ok, too!), and what style works for them. I ask general questions about their current life, and I will usually get some background information, as well, depending on what the client is open to sharing. I will assess symptoms, including onset, severity, and duration, and what they might have tried so far. We will ideally create a plan for therapy by the end of the first session.
