- Mindfulness and ACT
- Practical coping skills
- Grief and addiction
About Stephanie
Stephanie Petersen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Missouri and a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in Michigan with 14 years of experience. She uses straightforward, skills-based work to help people manage stress, anxiety, grief, addiction, and life transitions. She also supports those dealing with self-esteem, career shifts, relationship and family concerns, parenting strain, and intimacy-related issues.
Stephanie blends cognitive behavioral techniques with mindfulness and acceptance-oriented methods. She teaches practical coping tools and helps people notice how thoughts and behaviors affect their daily life. Sessions often include looking at past experiences, identifying unhelpful thinking patterns, and trying small behavioral changes to test new ways of responding.
Her background includes medical social work in hospital settings and home health. She has provided telehealth therapy since 2020 and brings experience with caregiving stress, chronic illness, and grief work. This practical background informs how she supports people through health-related and life-stage challenges.
Stephanie frames therapy as a collaborative effort. She aims to be encouraging and nonjudgmental while helping people clarify goals and build skills. Her approach is direct but warm, focusing on strategies people can use between sessions.
Outside of work she enjoys reading, travel, movies, music, martial arts, gardening, and time with her French bulldogs. She encourages clients to take small steps toward the life they want, one practical skill at a time.
How her approaches translate to online therapy
Stephanie commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in her work. ACT focuses on clarifying values and taking meaningful action even when difficult thoughts or feelings are present, which can help with grief, anxiety, and life changes. CBT looks at patterns of thinking and behavior and teaches practical techniques to change unhelpful habits and reduce symptoms like anxiety and low mood.She also integrates mindfulness practices to help people notice thoughts and bodily reactions without getting swept away by them. Mindfulness can support stress management, coping with chronic illness, and increasing emotional awareness. Together these approaches offer skill-building and self-awareness that translate well to online sessions.
Finding the right approach is collaborative. She will work with each person to pick methods that match their goals and preferences, adjusting over time as needs change. The therapist helps set concrete goals and practices between sessions to make progress.
Session format options are not specified in the biography, so confirm current session options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit care into a busy schedule, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time so people can use session time for focused work on stress, financial strain, caregiving needs, or addiction recovery.
Areas of focus
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, addictions, self-esteem, parenting strain, relationship and family conflicts, ADHD, and related issues.
What is her general therapy style?
Her style combines cognitive behavioral methods, mindfulness, and acceptance-based approaches while also using psychodynamic and motivational interviewing elements when helpful.
How long has she been practicing?
She brings 14 years of experience, including medical social work, home health, and telehealth practice since 2020.
What credentials and regional licenses does she hold?
She holds LCSW and LMSW credentials, listed as MO LCSW and MI LMSW, and practices from Michigan-based licensure details provided in her profile.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted, so she focuses on work within the stated licensing regions.
How does payment or cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to work with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.