Stephanie Brands, LCSW
Co-Owner

Hi! I’m Stephanie Brands, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and I currently hold a clinical license in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. I am able to provide online services in all 3 states. Since 2015, I have provided a number of therapeutic services to those dealing with challenging life experiences. I have experience in both inpatient and outpatient behavioral health hospital settings working with adolescents aged 12-17 and adults 18-99 years struggling with depression, anxiety, self harm, suicide, bipolar depression/mania, schizophrenia, domestic violence, ADHD, and anger.  I have worked in inpatient detox and outpatient addictions programs with patients and families. I utilize a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and motivational interviewing (MI) in my groups and individual sessions and have a client-centered therapy approach.

My method to therapy is to be genuine, humble, and understanding towards all my clients. I understand that each client is an individual and unique, and I tailor each session to the needs of the client. I want my clients to come in feeling secure that they can be themselves without judgement and work on areas of their lives that are creating instability and stress. How you see me in sessions is how I am in my everyday life. I will get excited with you when something great happens, and give you support and encouragement when working through emotionally trying times.

My approach is to always meet my client where they are mentally and emotionally. As a therapist, I hope to provide you with the tools necessary to be able to manage outside of therapy, as well as provide a fun and meaningful experience. I understand that opening up to someone new is hard and can be uncomfortable. Building trust with my clients is top priority, and I strive to create a safe and inviting environment for my clients in hopes that they are able to feel relaxed while engaging in the therapeutic process.