New to Grow
Welcome! I am Stephanie Okojie, an experienced licensed counselor (LMHC), but I'm always still learning! I have been counseling for 16 years, and professionally licensed for 7. I have recently transitioned to telehealth therapy. I have extensive experience counseling individuals of various cultural backgrounds, and have always been client-centered, allowing the client to lead the way in therapy. I use various approaches in counseling, depending on the needs and presentation of the client. I consider my clients the ones in charge of their therapeutic journey. I am simply their guide. Whether I'm learning new things about the world of psychology, different therapy interventions, or learning new things from my clients about their life or line of work, etc., I'm always learning, and I never feel like I "know it all" or "have all the answers." Part of what I love about my job as a therapist is that I get to learn alongside my clients - and we often exchange valuable knowledge and information.
Seeking counseling can feel overwhelming, and emotional even. I typically begin the first intake session by validating your present goal of seeking counseling as being checked off - you made it this far - this is the first step to change! We will spend this first session getting to know each other, and gathering your history, reason for seeking counseling at this time, and any goal(s) you have for therapy. I will also invite you to ask me any questions you might have about therapy or what to expect in the counseling process, going forward.
I believe the client is the leader in their own therapeutic journey. I honor my clients as authors of their own story, and I follow their lead as to what goals they have in mind for themselves, and tailor my therapeutic interventions to that which might best suit them, accordingly. I see the relationship between therapist and client as a collaborative partnership. Delivering empathy and unconditional positive regard for my clients is a priority, no matter what they have done or what they are going through. Research has shown that the Alliance between therapist and client is the strongest predictor of success in therapy. Therefore, I prioritize building a strong therapeutic relationship based on trust and mutual connection over a strict therapeutic modality. That being said, I often use CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) alongside Mindfulness to help clients who want to change negative thought patterns into more positive ones, so they can in turn improve how they feel and act, ultimately improving quality of life. I often incorporate Motivational Interviewing in my sessions, particularly if clients are struggling with feeling ambivalent or complacent to change potentially dangerous or risky habits in their lives. Depending on the client and what they communicate to me, I may not be as structured with my approach. The main component I always try to bring to my therapy sessions is Unconditional Positive Regard for my clients, no matter what - meaning that I welcome my clients to a safe space to discuss issues and goals without judgement, no matter what the issues are or what the clients may have done. In this space, my clients are met with empathy and never judgement. I consider counseling a "collaboration," because the client typically reaches their goals with a mutually agreed upon partnership between the therapist and client, coupled with a willingness on the client's part to do the work to achieve their goals, both by attending sessions faithfully, and also by doing any work between sessions for growth, as discussed together.
My ideal clients are young adults or individuals who are experiencing school or work stress, relationship challenges, or various life transitions. I specialize in helping people who are feeling "stuck" to become empowered to change the way they think and act, so they will in turn feel and be better. Some examples include those attending college or university, those experiencing job stress or those involved with family conflict.
Life Transitions
Peer Relationships
School Issues
ADHD
Anxiety
Child or Adolescent
Woman
Adults (18 to 64)
Elders (65 and above)
Teenagers (13 to 17)
Massachusetts
Arlo
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I typically use CBT alongside Mindfulness to help my clients change negative thought patterns to more positive ones, so they will in turn improve their behavior, which will then improve their life and how they feel. I often suggest that clients with negative thoughts or feelings keep a thought log, which can help them pinpoint where and when these negative thoughts or feelings are coming from, and then I guide them gently to leave the past in the past, the future in the future, and to just focus on the here and now, the present, and the physical sensations of now, and focus on present thoughts and goals without judgement.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I generally incorporate mindfulness with CBT and help clients focus on the present without judgement, and encourage them to stay mindful of every act they do, even outside the counseling sessions, focusing on physical sensations and deliberate mindfulness.
Motivational Interviewing
When clients are struggling internally with feeling ambivalent about a particular lifestyle change, I typically use MI to help them talk through their thoughts and measure their desire for change, helping them figure out their ultimate goal and their current stage of motivation for such change.
Christian Counseling
When I have clients who are interested in Christian based counseling, I typically incorporate CBT and Mindfulness with prayer or Biblical Scripture, as requested/agreed to by the clients.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
Research shows that the therapeutic relationship between therapist and client is the single most determinant as to the success of the client's outcome in therapy - building a professional therapeutic relationship based on trust, unconditional positive regard, and led with empathy are the hallmarks of how I use a person-centered approach in my counseling sessions. This is the single most utilized method of therapy in my practice, and is often combined with other modalities.