Stephanie Colace

Therapy should be collaborative between the client and their therapist. A client should be able to realize their potential and act upon it by identifying their goals and feeling successful and satisfied in each one of their primary life domains (mental, physical, spiritual, social, financial, environmental and vocational). Too often, clients are intimidated by the therapeutic process, so I recognize that just coming to therapy is a courageous act, a bold one committed to self-examination and growth. My aim is to create an environment where a client feels safe and secure to explore their doubts and limiting behaviors until they are able to identify their strengths. Creating an environment free from societal or environmental judgement, I seek to assist clients in moving away from self-destructive thoughts or impulsive behaviors to a life of healthy coping, empathy and self-control. Using my professional experience, I have learned that change occurs when a client dials down their negative beliefs and negative self-talk and realizes self-compassion and investment in the growth process. Working with individuals that are struggling through a transition whether that be high school to college, work world to retirement, marriage or divorce, or becoming new parents energizes me. I especially enjoy working with women who often struggle between balancing caring for others and self-care. Women, in particular, have experienced marginalization in the workplace, identity loss during the caring and rearing of families, and often have had trauma related to toxic relationships. I am excited when women can discover their resiliency and tap into it, learn to implement boundaries and seek what they desire and deserve. Then they are able to determine who and when to trust, experience deep connections and advocate for their equitable treatment. I enjoy seeing my clients dispel constraining and unhelpful societal expectations and embrace their authentic selves — one’s “true nature”— without apology. My clients make the most progress by identifying what makes them happy unencumbered by guilt. My approach is artful, utilizing the technique that the client feels most comfortable with and elicits the best response. It may be Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, or Trauma Therapy. For some clients, bibliotherapy, psychodynamics, or worksheets may be beneficial. For others, journaling, expressive therapy or the use of podcasts is beneficial. Of course, no one size fits all clients. However, I adhere to evidenced-based techniques that have been subjected to rigorous studies aimed at what is most successful.