Hello!
My name is Stephanie Southard and I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with over 20 years of experience providing therapy to individuals, groups, and families/couples. I am warm and inviting and provide you with a judgment-free space to share your most bothersome thoughts and issues. Your therapy with me will always be YOU-centered as I will always meet you where you are at and develop goals based on what you want to accomplish during our time together. I am relatable, engaging, and accepting of the wonderful person you are and want to become. I utilize practices that are based on evidence, with CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) being my preferred practice because you cannot change your behaviors without first managing your thoughts and attitudes. I also like to include exercises and role playing as part of your treatment.
I was born, raised, and am currently residing on Long Island, New York. I received my MA in Social Work from Adelphi University in 1999 and have been working as a social worker ever since. I am a big homebody and I enjoy reading, writing, crafting, and hanging out in the comfort of my home with my family and pets. My passion is helping people figure out how they can live more meaningful, peaceful, and fulfilling lives with minimal and manageable stress and conflict. I look forward to guiding and supporting you on your journey through this process.
SPECIALTIES:
-- depression, the blues, post-partum
-- anxiety and irrational thinking
-- addiction and adult children of alcoholics (ACOA)
-- PTSD and personal experiences of traumatic events
-- OCD and habit forming and breaking
-- communication skills, empathy, relating, and acceptance
-- parenting and mom struggles, family dynamics
-- grief and loss
-- stress and anger management/coping skills
-- childhood trauma, abuse, abandonment, attachment
I am also familiar with domestic violence, child protective services, legal/courts, community resources, and I have an extensive knowledge of psychiatric diagnoses and medications. If I am unfamiliar with a term, condition, or problem, I will become familiar with it!
SERVICES OFFERED:
live chat, phone, video, and text
LICENSE:
NY State LCSW: # 73-072535 (expires 5/31/23)
EXPERIENCE:
24 years
Additional areas of focus: Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Grief, Sleeping disorders, Parenting issues, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, ADHD, Abandonment, Blended family issues, Body image, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain, illness, and disability, Co-morbidity, Codependency, Commitment issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Divorce and separation, Domestic violence, Drug and alcohol addiction, Emptiness, Family of origin issues, Family problems, Fatherhood issues, Fertility issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Money and financial issues, Mood disorders, Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD, Paranoia, Personality disorders, Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships, Postpartum depression, Pregnancy and childbirth, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-harm, Self-love, Sex addiction, Sexual dysfunction, Sexuality, Smoking / vaping cessation, Social anxiety and phobia, Somatization, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues
Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy
NY LCSW 072535
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Stephanie Southard. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
She's such an incredible and relatable person on every aspect. She's not a person that's going to the session looking at the clock to "complete" the session, instead she's there listening and coaching every session to work through what I'm feeling at the time. Would definitely recommend her to anyone that's looking for a "caring" therapist.
Written on Aug 23, 2024 after therapy with Stephanie for 4 months on issues concerning depression, family conflicts, self esteem, career difficulties, bipolar disorder, and adhd
Stephanie is personable and always emotionally available to truly dig into whatever it is that I have going on. She is a great conversationalist and thoughtful and insightful. I really enjoy our sessions and usually get something palpable out of the sessions that I can use as a strategy in my everyday life. 10/10, she's wonderful
Written on Mar 22, 2024 after therapy with Stephanie for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, grief, self esteem, coping with life changes, and adhd
I’ve been seeing her for around two years and I’ve been very pleased with the effort she puts into her work, I’ve definitely seen improvements in how I think about myself and others
Written on Feb 04, 2024 after therapy with Stephanie for 1 year and 9 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, self esteem, career difficulties, and coaching
2 sessions in I know Stephanie is the right fit. That says a lot.
Written on Jan 16, 2024 after therapy with Stephanie for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, and adhd
Stephanie is amazing. She’s so down to earth. She listens to me and makes sense of everything I come up with. She keeps it light and humorous with me which is really what I like in someone I’m spilling my heart out to. I almost quit therapy until I got Steph!
Written on Jul 13, 2023 after therapy with Stephanie for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, and career difficulties
Stephanie has been a rock. She listens, offers constructive feedback, and is supportive.
Written on Mar 21, 2023 after therapy with Stephanie for 9 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue