Stacey Halstead
I would describe my work as collaborative. I believe that people are the experts on themselves, and that my job is to collaborate with them to help them build the life that they want.
Going to therapy is an ultimate act of self respect. Knowing that you can feel better than you do right now, and that you deserve a happy life.
In my work with clients, I take the time to get to know who they are, what their life has been like, what are their struggles and what are their strengths.
First session
I hope clients leave their first session with me feeling like they were heard, seen and respected. Coming to therapy is brave, and is such an act of self respect.
Strengths
I tailor my approach to each individual. No two humans are alike; no two people experience a diagnosis the same way, no two people will want the same exact outcome from therapy. I meet a person where they are, and will provide whatever interventions are appropriate for them. Sometimes this will be challenging something that has been said, other times it will be allowing for silence and space. I am a big believer in somatic work; I believe that emotions arise to get our attention and teach us something. so anyone who works with me with definitely hear me ask "what are you feeling right now?" In order to understand our emotions we have to be able to name them. In order to name them, we have to sit with them for a bit.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is somebody who believes they deserve a happy and fulfilling life. Who knows they can feel better than how they feel now, and wants to work towards that. Whether the struggle is depression, anxiety, addiction, trauma, life changes, relationship issues, loneliness or self esteem, I believe all struggles can be figured out, and what often is needed first is a safe place to unpack them.
Origin story
I find people absolutely fascinating. I am truly inspired by the resiliency of the human spirit, and believe we are all here to have a fulfilling life. When things happen in this human experience that make this journey feel lonely, hard, scary or simply confusing, I am honored to work with people as they figure out how to get the life that they want and deserve.
Ongoing work together
Because life does not happen in a vacuum, sessions will focus on treatment goals but will also always have space for whatever is immediately happening in life. For that reason, some sessions will be highly focused on mutually agreed upon goals (increasing coping skills, challenging automatic thoughts, improving ability to sit through discomfort) and other sessions will be about what is going on that day (celebrating a new friendship, supporting grief of an unexpected loss).
Treatment methods
Somatic
When we have experienced depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, loss, and unexpected change, our inclination is often to shut down and avoid. A big part of healing is tuning in to ourselves, and honoring what we are feeling. In sessions, I create a safe space to be with emotions and fully experience them, so as to be able to move through them. I believe you have to feel it to heal it.
Location
Virtual sessions