What drew you to start a part-time practice in Winter Park?

I live in Granby full-time and have been practicing in Evergreen for the last 10 years. Having a practice closer to home made more sense.

What inspired you to become a therapist? What other types of services, practices, or education do you provide?

I have been in this line of work since I was in 7th grade. I've always been the person people bring hard things to. When I found out that I could make a living at this, it just made sense. I also have been a therapy client and I find that having a person to help us unpack the story of our lives is invaluable. I also am a professional speaker and trainer for educators and parents. I provide online classes for educators and parents as well.

Describe your ideal client.

My ideal client is a person who is curious: about him/herself, the world around him/her, and our experiences. I love working with adults who are exploring why they do what they do and how can they break various generational cycles of behaviors that our families pass down. I've worked with children, families, adults, veterans, and adoptees. The human experience is an honor to witness.

Why are you passionate about your work?

I think it's extremely hard to be human. Having someone in our court and on our side is such a gift. When a therapeutic relationship allows a human to heal, grow, and change in a direction that he/she wants to, it creates a passion in me.

Favorite mental health care tip:

Understanding our neurology and brain development is a game changer. Getting curious about how our stress response system is wired and what we can do to work with our wiring is so helpful.

What do you wish people understood about counseling and mental health? What is a common misperception you'd like to clarify?

I wish people understood that feelings, emotions, pain, and heartache are all a symptom of the human experience. It's what makes us messy and beautiful. Having a safe space, with a safe person, can allow us to explore these experiences and we don't have to be dominated by them. Going into the tunnel of feelings and emotions actually helps us come through on the other side in a more neutral space and ready to show up for our lives.

What are your areas of specialization? What experience and/or perspective makes you and your practice unique?

I've been a clinician for almost 20 years and I've had over 20,000 therapy sessions. I specialize in trauma. People who have been through the hardest experiences typically land in my life: abuse, neglect, adoption, war, substance abuse, divorce, and domestic violence. My certification in the Neurosequential Model gives me a unique perspective because we are looking at a person from in utero to current and understanding how all of our developmental experiences have impacted us and wired us along the way.

What is your favorite moment of seeing how counseling can positively impact clients?

I love when clients reach out after years and share stories of wins or share how what they learned in therapy is impacting their own parenting, life, and relationships.

How can people learn more about you? Provide any details about your location and availability.

I have a website: https://www.gobeyou.org and people can email me at stacy@gobeyou.org. Currently, I am only providing telehealth services. I am open for new clients, depending on scheduling.