Stephanie Southard, LCSW

Stephanie Southard is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 26 years of practice. She offers a warm, nonjudgmental space where clients set the goals and guide the pace of work. Sessions focus on what the client wants to change and on practical next steps to move forward.

She often uses cognitive behavioral techniques to help people notice thoughts that drive unhelpful behaviors. Role play and small exercises are commonly used to try new ways of responding between sessions. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and attachment-informed ideas also shape how she helps clients build values-driven lives and safer relationships.

Stephanie has a long background in community work and understands how life stressors stack up. She has experience with depression, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, sleep disruption, parenting challenges, and relationship concerns. She also addresses areas such as blended family issues, body image, caregiver stress, chronic illness, codependency, and communication difficulties.

Her work tends to be practical and down-to-earth. She helps people develop coping tools, improve communication, and manage mood and behavior in day-to-day life. Stephanie encourages a collaborative process where the client’s preferences shape which skills and strategies are tried.

Based in New York, she brings decades of front-line experience to sessions. Outside of clinical work she enjoys reading, writing, crafting, and spending time with family and pets.

Approaches that guide online sessions

Stephanie often uses cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people spot and change thought patterns that lead to unwanted behaviors. CBT is practical and skill-focused, useful for anxiety, depression, sleep issues, and many habit patterns.

She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which helps people clarify their values and take small, meaningful steps even when difficult feelings are present. ACT is helpful for stress, chronic worry, and coping with life transitions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped in the past. Together they decide whether to emphasize CBT skills, ACT practices, attachment ideas, or a mix that fits the person’s needs.

The biography lists live chat, phone, video, and text as session formats. Confirm which of these are currently offered before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight, and let people use phone or text options when less connection bandwidth is needed. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, role plays, and homework to work in these formats so therapy remains focused on real-life change.