Stefanie Dearman
She/Her/Hers
NOT ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS!
Stefanie believes that the relationship between a therapist and client is the most important part of the healing process, and she uses this relationship to facilitate change and growth. Stefanie creates a safe therapeutic space by being nonjudgmental, validating, and affirming, but she is not afraid to (gently) challenge clients if they are feeling stuck or are acting in ways that don’t align with their own values. She is warm and compassionate but can also be a bit snarky and sarcastic. She loves to laugh and brings humor into sessions whenever possible. In addition, Stefanie recognizes that all areas of life impact our mental health and wellbeing and views client concerns through an intersectional lens of racial and social justice and feminism.
Stefanie is passionate about working with individuals who are part of the LGBTQIA2+ community or are questioning any part of their identity. She also has a special interest in supporting individuals have experienced religious or spiritual trauma and helping them unpack and overcome the unique challenges this can cause. Underneath it all, however, Stefanie is just a human who enjoys helping other humans no matter who they are or what problems they are navigating in life.
In sessions, Stefanie operates from a Humanistic, trauma-informed lens that centers the client in the healing process. She understands that clients know themselves better than anyone else and believes that they should be in the driver’s seat during the therapy process. She also understands that individuals with trauma do not always find relief with traditional talk therapy. In these cases, Stefanie offers Brainspotting—a “bottom up" approach that can help individuals identify, process, and release previous traumatic experiences that aren’t accessible to the conscious mind. Additionally, Stefanie frequently utilizes concepts from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, internal family systems, and attachment theory.
Stefanie holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Alabama and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling and Psychological Services from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Stefanie is currently working under the supervision of Katie Snell (MA, LMFT) and is on track to become a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor.