I place a high value on authenticity, empathy, and self-awareness, both for myself and my clients as individuals, but also as a critical part of the therapeutic process (I also take advantage of the healing power of laughter whenever possible!). I aim to normalize and validate my clients’ experiences without judgment, and above all, to provide the most basic of human needs: to feel seen and heard. Hi! My name is Stephanie (Stephanie or Stevie is fine) and I have been providing therapy in NJ exclusively via telehealth for the last 3 years (prior to that, in person). If you have been struggling with symptoms of depression or anxiety, particularly if they are related to a traumatic experience, I would love the opportunity to work with you to reduce your mood- or anxiety-related symptoms, and to help you to experience a present that is not overshadowed or negatively impacted by situations and events from your past. I love working with women ages 20 to 30-something who are still in academia or just starting out in their careers, but also love working with women of any age. I frequently work with survivors of child sexual abuse, as well as those struggling with issues related to self-esteem/self-worth, but have treated clients with many different conditions, the most common of which are listed below. *My practice is focused primarily on treating adults who identify as female as well as being a welcoming space for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. I do not currently treat cisgender heterosexual males, children or adolescents. Visit my website for client feedback: www.of2mindstherapy.com

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In our first session, we will review the intake paperwork, I will share some information with you, and then will ask you to tell me about what brought you to therapy at this time. The first few sessions are really about building rapport, since there is very little that can be accomplished without a strong therapeutic relationship as a foundation. On the whole, clients can expect to get as much out of therapy as they are willing to put into it. And to laugh. A lot. And possibly cry, since I do have a track record of clients becoming emotional during our sessions (that's what tissues are for!) Different clients have different needs or goals for therapy, and in turn, I feel like I am somewhat of a different therapist to different clients. Some are very focused on learning coping strategies, while others are looking for someone to talk to who is objective, non-judgmental, and has a fresh perspective. Some are living with chronic physical, mental or other conditions and are looking for a holding environment in which they can grieve the loss of their independence, or their former life. But for me, the most important thing I want my clients to take away from our sessions is the feeling of being truly seen and heard, without judgment or reservation.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

While experience and education are an absolute necessity to do this work, I believe that my lived experience has had a profound impact on both my ability to build strong therapeutic relationships and to be a more effective therapist. In terms of strengths, I am unfailingly authentic, resilient, intelligent, curious, non-judgmental, and (at least in my personal life) hilarious ;) And by the way, all of those strengths? They were not so much developed as they were uncovered…through therapy. :)

Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.

My "dream client" is someone who comes to sessions ready to engage and with some idea of what they would like to focus on that day. I have found that the few clients that have felt that we were not a good match were looking to me to either choose the "topic of the day" or provide them with "answers" to all of their problems (spoiler alert: I don't have any!). The thing is, I can't know what you will feel ready to talk about on a given day, so it would be inappropriate for me to choose the focus of the session. But don't worry! I won't leave you hanging out to dry! You just bring the jumping off point and we'll follow where it goes. In terms of "having all of the answers," contrary to what some may think, that is not in the job description. My job is not to provide answers or tell you what to do. It is to listen, to ask the right questions, to provide a different perspective, and empower you to make choices that more closely align with your values and what matters to you most. I am not in the business of curing people, I am here to help you heal by learning to manage the symptoms that are causing distress or interfering with your ability to function in any way. There is nothing I can do to change the obnoxious co-worker who hangs out at your desk all day making off-color remarks. They are not the ones in therapy. But I can help you learn to manage your frustration and discomfort, while empowering you to feel able to create boundaries not only around your physical space, but also around the types of conversations you are willing to be subjected to. Specific areas of interest: -"Young adults," particularly young women in their 20s - early 30s who are still in academia or are starting their careers. - Trauma - Child sexual abuse - Mood (depression, bipolar, etc) - Anxiety (generalized, social, agoraphobia, panic disorder) - OCD - High functioning Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder, level 1 (formerly referred to as Asperger's Syndrome)

About Stephanie (Stevie) Willoughby LCSW