Stephanie Mullins, LCSW
Areas of Expertise:
Trauma/PTSD, Marriage, Relationships and Boundaries, Depression, Anxiety, Grief, Mindfulness, Chronic Pain and Chronic Disease, Coaching through Work/Life Stress
Experience and Background:
Stephanie has her Master’s Degree in Social Work and, as a military wife, has moved around and had many amazing experiences in the field. While working at Cleveland Clinic of South Florida, she gained experience in crisis intervention, addictions, end-stage disease, trauma/surgery/ICU and end of life decision making and care. Stephanie worked with a top neurologist in South Florida while interning with the Multiple Sclerosis Society of South Florida. She assisted the medical team by supporting clients and their families in navigating the multitude of questions, overwhelming stress and oftentimes grief from diagnosis to treatment options and the many lifestyle changes to come. She will always have a heart for those who battle chronic diseases.
She then worked for an inpatient psychiatric facility which was a proving ground for the new therapist. She learned from a multi-disciplinary team of skilled clinicians and is humbled to have been able to come alongside clients experiencing the worst days of their lives. Inpatient or intensive mental healthcare can be intimidating but also wonderfully transformative. It was in the inpatient unit she witnessed the amazing power of group therapy.
Finally, Stephanie was commissioned as a Mental Health Officer in the United States Air Force. She diligently worked in individual counseling, group therapy, suicide prevention, new parent/post-partum services, substance abuse, program management, domestic violence and prevention of child abuse and neglect. In the Air Force she worked with clients with a wide range of needs and diagnoses, all job types, various deployment histories, and from all branches of service. She learned how to navigate the Military’s requirements for maintaining a ‘ready-to-deploy force’ while providing the best care and attention to every client, from the high-achieving-military-leader types to the young Soldier or Airman, trying to navigate being away from home for the first time with the high demands and oftentimes the high cost of the Military service.
Therapeutic Approach:
Stephanie utilizes a variety of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-i) Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) Prolonged Exposure (PE) Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) Motivational Interviewing (MI) Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Gottman Method Couples Therapy Trained, Gottman’s Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work Facilitator Trained
Stephanie’s philosophy aligns with person-centered therapy, where unconditional positive regard, genuineness, and empathetic understanding form the foundation of the therapeutic relationship. This safe, respectful, non-judgmental space enables clients to explore their experiences, build resilience, and develop greater self-awareness—ultimately leading to enhanced well-being, stronger relationships, goals attainment and a renewed sense of hope and purpose.
Stephanie’s philosophy aligns with person-centered therapy, where unconditional positive regard, genuineness, and empathetic understanding form the foundation of the therapeutic relationship. This safe, respectful, non-judgmental space enables clients to explore their experiences, build resilience, and develop greater self-awareness—ultimately leading to enhanced well-being, stronger relationships, goals attainment and a renewed sense of hope and purpose.
Personal philosophy:
"Thankfully, most of us will not personally know the depths of depression, the ugly scars of trauma, the overwhelming weight of guilt or shame, trying to do life with crippling anxiety, the complexities of moral injury, the pain and confusion of crisis of faith, loss of relationship, or grief that feels just as intense, long after the loss.
I consider it a privilege to have been invited in by courageous clients who have shared these deep pains and heavy burdens. Together we navigate a way forward, through the overwhelming feelings, the record of negative thoughts and the many doubts that change can happen. To honor my clients’ precious time and resources I encourage use of learned skills and homework outside the therapy office; this is the way to keep momentum of effort. I strive to keep the client’s goals in sharp focus, motivating them in the direction they originally charted."
Personal Background:
Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband and children. When she can find the time, she likes to catch up with her friends. She enjoys cooking, baking, reading, playing with the kids, camping trips and volunteering.