Stephanie McCarthy

Steph is currently studying full-time to become a licensed professional counselor in clinical mental health counseling at Geneva College. Steph is a wife, and mother to two sons who are 7 and 4.5. Steph is also very passionate about her Samoyed dog. He was truly her firstborn "fur" son who is now 9.5. She is truly a "boy mom." Steph has a unique background with a previous career as a cosmetologist for the past 18 years with a focus on holistic and non-toxic professional hair services. It is this career that developed her passion for helping others and engaging with individuals on a one-on-one basis. Steph has so much compassion for women who are trying to manage and "do it all." Steph would love to help women with stress management and to be a support person for expecting and new mothers. For anyone, stress can lead to chronic illness. Steph appreciates holistic and integrative practices, as well as inviting faith-based approaches into therapeutic relationships. Steph believes in the wellness model of taking care of the mind, body, and soul.

Steph has personally received healing and transformation from a faith-based mind-body protocol called Splankna, which also incorporates some EMDR and tapping techniques to help the physical body release stored emotions under God's provision. These stored emotions can come from major and everyday traumas and over time can lead to psychosomatic symptoms and physical illness.   I have taken the level one certification course and would love to become master's level certified in this technique. Steph would also love to get more training in Somatic Therapy. Steph is so excited to attend training at CBI, and learn from the best.  After this semester, Steph is very interested in becoming a Gottman Certified Counselor.

Steph recently worked as a Behavior Support Specialist under the framework of person-driven approaches and non-violent communication pieces of training from Marshall Rosenberg. Steph has learned so much in a very short time and is thankful for this experience working with the Adult IDD population.  The most important takeaway from this position is that "all behavior is a form of communication." When the behavior becomes louder and more problematic, most human beings are expressing feelings of unmet needs. Empathy and connection are what most people are asking for.