Welcome! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience helping others cope with day-to-day stressors and changing long-standing negative thoughts and behaviors using a combination of psycho-education and cognitive restructuring. This leads to greater self-awareness and the ability to offer ourselves the same compassion and understanding that we would give others without a second thought. Learning to see ourselves in this more neutral and accepting way leads to greater self-esteem and decreases self-doubt and negative judgement.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
During an initial evaluation, my goal is to get to know you and what you are looking to achieve in therapy. I also want to know what you have found helpful, and not so helpful, in the past. Obtaining information about your childhood, education, employment and social/ family life will give me a better picture of you as a whole person and how the issue(s) you wish to address impact different areas of your life, as well as how different areas of your life impact you. I want you to also feel free to ask me about my professional experience and some limited information about my personal life. In addition to being a therapist, it is important that you see me as another human being- no different than yourself.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I am easy to talk to, down to Earth and non-judgmental. I empathize and validate people's experience while gently pointing out discrepancies, when appropriate, and challenging unhelpful thoughts or behaviors. I can acknowledge barriers and challenges to change while gently pointing out that doing nothing will lead to the same place we started.
About Stephanie Seitz
Specializes in
Serves ages
Licensed in
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Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have seen Cognitive Behavioral Therapy be effective for a variety of issues/ difficulties including depression, anxiety, grief, relationship difficulties/ break-up and poor self-esteem. This treatment leads us to explore the impact of our thoughts on our feelings and behaviors and work to alter the thoughts that lead to unwanted thoughts/ feelings.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
While DBT was initially utilized for those who have severe trauma, suicidality and Borderline Personality Disorder, over the past twenty-five years it has been shown to be effective for a wide variety of issues. DBT focuses on creating a Life Worth Living and increasing both awareness and acceptance of our emotions without letting them control our overall mood or behavior. The four main concepts of DBT are Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation and Distress Tolerance. While it does take work and practice, I have witnessed clients who have tragic histories find peace, purpose and fulfillment using this treatment modality.
Psychoeducation
Sometimes much of what a person needs is information about what they are experiencing. This often leads to understanding and greater acceptance as well as decreased negative judgment vs the assumption that they must be crazy or broken- which is never the case. Knowledge is power, and once a person understands what they are dealing with, they can focus on how to best work with and address the issues at hand.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Similar to DBT and CBT, ACT helps clients identify and accept their emotions in order to effectively work through them. Doing so then allows clients to take actions, that may have previously been avoided, to address situations that are causing stress and difficulty in their lives.