Stephanie Petersen, LCSW, LMSW - Therapist in Michigan

CBT methods
Mindfulness practice
Motivational interviewing

About Stephanie

Stephanie Petersen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Missouri and a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in Michigan with 14 years of experience. She works with adults on common problems like stress, anxiety, grief, self-esteem, career changes, addiction, and anger. She also helps people facing relationship and family tension, parenting concerns, and the strain of caregiving.

She uses straightforward, skills-focused methods. Sessions often include practical coping skills and thought-work to reduce reactivity and manage strong feelings. Stephanie draws on cognitive behavioral ideas and mindfulness practices to help people notice patterns and try different responses.

Her background includes medical social work in hospitals and home health. That clinical experience informs how she talks about illness, chronic conditions, and caregiving stress. She has provided telehealth counseling since 2020 and is familiar with clinical and life transitions that come with medical issues.

In sessions she reviews past experiences and current thoughts to increase self-understanding. She also uses motivational interviewing techniques to support behavior change when substance use or other addictions are involved. Psychodynamic ideas may be part of exploring recurring relationship patterns.

Stephanie keeps language plain and practical. She focuses on small, usable steps people can take between sessions. Outside of work she enjoys reading, travel, movies, music, martial arts, gardening, and playing with her French bulldogs.

How her ACT, CBT and mindfulness work online

Stephanie uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify what matters to them and take small steps toward those values even when emotions run high. ACT focuses on noticing difficult thoughts and choosing actions that align with personal priorities.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and to practice alternative responses. CBT is practical for managing anger, anxiety, and depressive thoughts by changing how people interpret situations and react to them.

Mindfulness therapy teaches simple exercises to increase awareness of physical sensations and urges before they turn into outbursts. Mindfulness can help reduce reactivity and support calmer decision making in tense moments.

Finding the right mix of approaches is collaborative. The therapist will work with the client to choose methods that fit their goals, needs, and preferences, and adjust those methods as work progresses.

If you want to try online sessions, confirm the current session options before booking. Stephanie has provided telehealth counseling since 2020, but specific formats are not listed here; check the scheduling details to learn which formats are offered. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time so sessions fit around work or family responsibilities.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Grief Self esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changes

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementDepressionCoachingCompassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stress Chronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommitment issuesCommunication problems Control issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDivorce and separation Domestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issues Forgiveness Guilt and shameHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivity Infidelity Isolation / loneliness JealousyLife purposeMidlife crisis Money and financial issuesObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSexual dysfunctionSmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues Young adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

14+ years

Listed in

Michigan, Missouri

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What types of concerns does she help with?

She works with stress, anxiety, grief, anger, depression, addiction, relationship and parenting issues, and caregiving stress among other concerns.

What is her therapeutic style?

She uses practical, skills-based work grounded in cognitive behavioral ideas, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing to help change thoughts and actions.

How long has she been practicing?

She has 14 years of clinical experience, including medical social work, home health, and telehealth counseling since 2020.

What are her credentials and where is she based?

She is an LCSW in Missouri and an LMSW in Michigan and practices from Michigan in the United States.

Which languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English.

Does she work with people outside the United States?

International clients are not currently accepted.

How much do sessions cost?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I start a first session?

Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.