Hey There! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 7 years of experience, I specialize in working with BIPOC clients, utilizing trauma-informed approaches alongside liberation practices. My focus is on providing a safe and empowering space for individuals to navigate and heal from their past traumas while fostering personal growth and resilience. Through compassionate and culturally sensitive therapy, I aim to support clients in reclaiming their narratives and achieving emotional well-being and empowerment.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
During our initial session, we'll start by getting to know each other, creating a comfortable and safe space for you to share openly. You're encouraged to discuss whatever feels most natural and relevant to you. We may explore your background, including personal history, cultural influences, and any experiences that have shaped your current situation. This session is an opportunity for you to express your goals, concerns, and aspirations, while also allowing me to understand your unique perspective and needs. Together, we'll lay the groundwork for our therapeutic journey, fostering a strong connection and setting the stage for meaningful progress and growth.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
As a therapist, my greatest strengths lie in my non-pathologizing approach, where I view each client as a whole person rather than focusing solely on diagnoses. I am genuinely curious about my clients' experiences, which allows me to delve deeper into their unique perspectives and stories. I bring honesty and authenticity to our sessions, creating a space where clients feel safe to explore their thoughts and emotions openly. While I maintain a firm stance when necessary, I do so with compassion and empathy, understanding the importance of both support and accountability in the therapeutic process. Overall, my approach is grounded in respect for each individual's journey, fostering empowerment and growth through genuine connection and understanding.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
Your ideal client is a BIPOC professional who finds themselves in a period of transition, whether it be career-related, personal, or both. They are ready and eager to prioritize their well-being and are seeking guidance to center themselves amidst life changes. They are open to exploring new perspectives and are committed to personal growth, seeking to cultivate greater joy and fulfillment in their life journey.
About Stephanie McWoods
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Brainspotting
In my practice, I utilize brainspotting as a powerful therapeutic tool, particularly with clients navigating trauma or seeking personal expansion. Brainspotting offers a unique approach to healing by allowing clients to access deeper layers of their subconscious and emotional experiences, bypassing the tendency to intellectualize their feelings. I integrate brainspotting into my sessions as a means of facilitating profound insight and transformation. By identifying specific "brainspots" associated with emotions or memories, we can access and process underlying trauma or barriers to personal growth more effectively. This method enables clients to connect with their inner wisdom and emotions in a profound way, fostering deeper understanding and healing. In my practice, I tailor brainspotting techniques to each client's unique needs and goals, providing a supportive environment for them to explore and process their experiences. Whether it's addressing past traumas or facilitating personal expansion, brainspotting serves as a valuable tool in helping clients move beyond surface-level understanding to achieve profound insight and lasting transformation.
EMDR
In my practice, I utilize Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) as a highly effective treatment method, particularly for clients grappling with trauma. EMDR serves as a powerful tool in helping clients process and resolve distressing memories, allowing them to move beyond the grip of trauma and regain a sense of control and empowerment in their lives. I integrate EMDR into my sessions as a means of facilitating profound healing and transformation. By utilizing bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping, we engage both hemispheres of the brain to process traumatic memories in a more adaptive way. This process enables clients to reprocess traumatic experiences, reducing the emotional charge associated with them and fostering resolution. In my practice, I tailor EMDR therapy to each client's unique needs and experiences, providing a safe and supportive environment for them to explore and process their trauma. Whether it's addressing single traumatic incidents or complex, longstanding trauma, EMDR serves as a valuable tool in helping clients get "unstuck" from the grip of past experiences and move forward with greater resilience and empowerment.
Narrative
In my practice, I utilize Narrative Therapy as a powerful treatment method, particularly for clients seeking to reclaim their personal narratives and shed identities that have been imposed upon them. Narrative Therapy offers a collaborative and empowering approach that focuses on separating individuals from their problems and external labels, allowing them to rewrite their stories in a way that aligns with their true selves and values. I integrate Narrative Therapy into my sessions as a means of facilitating clients' exploration and reconstruction of their life narratives. Through guided conversations and exercises, clients are encouraged to reflect on their experiences, beliefs, and values, ultimately reclaiming agency over their own stories. This process enables clients to shed the identities that have been imposed upon them by external forces and societal expectations, allowing them to center themselves and embrace their authentic selves. In my practice, I tailor Narrative Therapy techniques to each client's unique needs and goals, providing a supportive and non-judgmental space for them to explore and redefine their narratives. Whether it's addressing past traumas, challenging societal norms, or exploring personal values, Narrative Therapy serves as a valuable tool in helping clients reclaim their stories, find centering, and live more authentically.
Strength-Based
In my practice, I have extensive experience utilizing Strength-Based Therapy as a transformative treatment method aimed at empowering clients and fostering a positive self-view. This approach is instrumental in helping clients recognize and harness their inherent strengths, talents, and resources to navigate life's challenges with resilience and confidence. I integrate Strength-Based Therapy into my sessions by collaboratively identifying and amplifying my clients' unique strengths and positive attributes. Through compassionate exploration and dialogue, I help clients recognize their abilities and accomplishments, reframing their narratives to focus on their inherent capabilities rather than solely on their challenges or limitations. By emphasizing strengths, this therapeutic approach supports clients in building confidence, re-centering themselves, and feeling more empowered in their lives. Together, we work to cultivate a deeper understanding of their strengths and how they can be leveraged to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. Throughout the therapeutic process, I encourage clients to take an active role in identifying and utilizing their strengths, fostering a sense of ownership and agency in their journey towards personal growth and fulfillment. This approach not only promotes a more positive self-view but also empowers clients to approach life's challenges with resilience, optimism, and a renewed sense of purpose.