LPC, 7 years of experience
Hi, my name is Stephanie Perez, and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor based in Austin, Texas. As an Air Force Veteran and Martial Artist originally from California, I am also a mother to two sons, ages 14 and 20. I received my Master's in Clinical Counseling from Colorado Christian University. In my practice, I am a spiritually oriented psychotherapist who employs various therapeutic modalities to help you align with your truest self. My approach includes mindfulness-based techniques, such as somatic approaches and Internal Family Systems, to aid clients in discovering their inner sense of self and direction.
In our first session, we will begin with introductions; you will then be invited to share about your past experience with treatment, what you are currently working on, and what brings you to treatment now. As you tell me your status and circumstances that bring you into treatment, you can expect me to be very engaging, supportive, validating, nonjudgmental and understanding. I will ask introspective questions in an interview style approach. I will be attentive to your internal part system as you present yourself and help you to make space for the parts of you that you may feel ashamed of. We will then discuss your goals in treatment and how I may be able to assist you with that.
Emerging from a challenging background, both in my family and through my resilient experiences as a Staff Sergeant in the military, I've refined my skills in assertive communication and boundary-setting. Concurrently, I've embarked on a profound journey of spiritual development, cultivating an interest in the study of diverse religious practices and esoteric teachings. As a Taoist yogi, I embrace a holistic approach to wellness. I believe that one of my greatest strengths as a provider lies in my energy, which is both gentle and assertive. I provide a nonjudgmental space and a deep understanding of the human psyche's positive and negative aspects. Concurrently, I will encourage you, present challenges, and occasionally pose difficult questions, always with compassion. My goal is to offer individuals the opportunity and security to discover all facets of their identity, both the light and the dark.
I often collaborate successfully with individuals aiming to regain their voice and assert their presence in relationships. Those who grew up with neglected boundaries may adopt behaviors such as people-pleasing, harboring unspoken resentments, succumbing to guilt trips, and experiencing difficulties with anger management. They typically find it challenging to assertively communicate their feelings, needs, and limits. Additionally, I work effectively with clients who are receptive to spiritual introspection, existential inquiry, the development of emotional intelligence, and the questioning of mental constructs.
3 ratings with written reviews
April 28, 2025
Stephanie works hard to provide me with solutions. She is an excellent listener, makes me feel very comfortable in opening up to her, and is very open-minded. She is well versed in many different aspects of psychology and she challenges me to dig deep within myself to bring out the best in me. She is supportive in pointing out the positive attributes of myself, which I don't always easily recognize. Honesty and accountability are important to her and I always feel great after our sessions.
April 3, 2025
A natural and divine healing experience when someone works with their heart and soul. This was exactly that, thank you immensely.
February 14, 2025
Stephanie is so great to work with! She listens SO well, is truly authentic, compassionate, open-minded, and very helpful in a variety of areas. She's devoted to helping me and encouraging me to think differently about different aspects of my life. She's also very warm and makes me feel so comfortable in talking to her about anything at all. I am very grateful for Stephanie and highly recommend her!
I am trained in the IFS model and I love using it in my sessions. It provides me with a perspective to understand and view the client. This model allows me to work with my clients to help them achieve a nonjudgmental perspective towards themselves and access a higher sense of self. This facilitates healing the internal parts system and their relationship with each other.
My approach to treatment is based on mindfulness. I advocate for the integration of mindfulness practices with treatment, as they are crucial for personal growth. I frequently assist clients in recognizing their somatic experiences and emotional responses during treatment, which often reveal profound insights. Mindfulness is an excellent practice that promotes being present and deepens self-awareness.
Treatment goals frequently align with the DBT model. I focus on fostering mindfulness in clients, enhancing distress tolerance, emotion regulation, communication, and interpersonal effectiveness. I value the philosophy of balancing acceptance with change, facing the difficult realities of our inner selves and our shadows, and acknowledging and asserting boundaries with others and oneself.
At the heart of my therapeutic work is Schema therapy, which involves identifying individual core belief systems and structures that, although often subconscious, drive and control behaviors. Delving into the intricacies of the belief and schema systems allows one to discover these unconscious limiting beliefs and engage in their reprocessing and reframing.
Existential therapy emphasizes free will, self-determination, and the quest for meaning. It concentrates on self-awareness, self-reinvention, and the acceptance of anxieties and existential fears. This approach is particularly relevant when one feels that nothing matters, and profound questions about life, the universe, and spirituality emerge. It involves exploring existence and one's relationship with the surrounding world.