LMHC, 15 years of experience
New to Grow
Hello! I'm Stephen Kaplan. I have 15+ years of experience counseling adults, young adults, adolescents, and youth toward mental health and social and emotional well-being. Before entering private practice, I counseled high performing adolescents. I have significant experience as a counselor in the Gay/Queer community having spent 9 years as a group facilitator with the StopAIDS Project and Q-Action in San Francisco. My journey in this field has been driven by a deep commitment to helping individuals create the change in their lives that they want to embody. I am affirming of people all along the sexual orientation spectrum including those who identify as Bi/Pan, Lesbian, Asexual/Aromantic or who are questioning. I am affirming of people all along the gender spectrum, including those who identify as Trans, Nonbinary, or who are questioning. I am a passionate singer of classical, pop music, and show tunes. You can often find me at a local karaoke night. I'm an avid traveler and am recently back from an extended sabbatical having touched 5 continents. I enjoy cooking (and eating) diverse cuisines, speaking Spanish in conversation, occasionally dancing salsa or merengue, and watching Star Trek.
In our first session, we'll spend most of our time getting to know one another, focusing on identifying what's brought you to therapy at this time in your life. We'll also start thinking about how you'll know when therapy has accomplished what you want it to. If it's your first time working with a counselor, we'll also talk about what therapy is like, and I'll answer any questions or concerns you have.
My therapeutic philosophy is rooted in one key principle: unconditional positive regard. You have intrinsic worth just as you are, right now. You are the expert on your own life. You will drive the process, determine what you want to work on, and are free to change your mind or stop at any time. I will be your guide and counselor, listening, understanding, and reflecting your thoughts and feelings.
I offer specific support to clients in the LGBTQ+ community, neurodiverse clients, clients experiencing anxiety, and clients who identify with or have been diagnosed with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.
With CBT, we can examine how cognitive distortions might contribute to your experience of problems and how breaking those patterns can lead to feelings of well-being. We’ll also examine letting go of behaviors that might have been helpful to keep you physically and emotionally safe in the past, but feel as if they are not serving you well now.
You, as the client, are the expert in you. Using SFT, we might identify helpful strategies together crafted from your own experience, along with some strategies that I know have worked for others to craft a plan that feels organic to who you are and who you want to be.
What we experience as Queer individuals, though, is mediated by the current socio-cultural context we inhabit that decenters Queer people's experiences, creates toxic shame, and limits our freedom. Within a safe and supportive environment in session, you'll be able to focus on your own empowerment within the current context, build a space for centering your well-being, and address any other stuff that might be brining you to therapy too.