Stephanie Southard, LCSW
Supportive therapist for practical family and parenting challenges
Book with Stephanie- Years in practice
- 26
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- New York
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Addictions
- Focus
- Self esteem
About Stephanie
Stephanie Southard is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 26 years of experience. She focuses on practical, down-to-earth support for parents and individuals facing stress, anxiety, mood changes, addiction, and relationship or family strain. Stephanie offers a warm, nonjudgmental space and starts by hearing what matters to each person.
She uses approaches that help people change thinking patterns and build skills. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) features in her work to spot unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors.
Background and approach
She also draws on Attachment-Based and Client-Centered ideas to strengthen relationships and honor each person's goals. Sessions include hands-on exercises such as role play and practical tools to manage emotions. Stephanie helps people build routines for better sleep, steady mood, and clearer communication at home.
She also addresses specific parenting worries and family dynamics in ways that fit everyday life. Her background includes a Master of Arts in Social Work from Adelphi University and long experience in New York. She is familiar with domestic violence issues, child protective services, and community resources, and she keeps learning about diagnoses and medications when needed.
Stephanie aims to help people reduce stress and create more meaningful routines. She helps set realistic goals that match each person's pace. Her style is relatable, patient, and focused on real change.
People can expect straightforward strategies, coping skills, and an emphasis on what works in day-to-day life.
What Stephanie works with
Everything Stephanie lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Stephanie helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Fertility issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Postpartum depression
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sexuality
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Stephanie lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Therapeutic approaches you can use online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice painful thoughts without getting stuck in them and choose actions that match their values. It can help with anxiety, stress, and moving through life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety, depression, and sleep problems. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships affect current patterns and helps people build healthier ways of relating, which can be useful for parenting and family issues.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they try techniques and adjust the plan based on what helps in real life.
Online therapy makes it easier to fit sessions into busy family schedules. Video calls let visual cues guide role play and coaching, phone sessions work well for lower bandwidth or shorter check-ins, and live chat or text messaging suit quick questions or ongoing support between sessions. These options provide flexibility so parents and busy adults can keep momentum while managing day-to-day demands.
Questions people ask about Stephanie
What concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, parenting and family dynamics, trauma and abuse, grief, sleep problems, anger, career strains, bipolar and ADHD among other related concerns.
What is her general therapy style?
Her style is warm, approachable, and goal-focused. She centers sessions on each person's needs and uses practical exercises like role play and skills coaching.
How long has she practiced?
She has 26 years of clinical experience working in New York and beyond, supporting people with a wide range of life and mental health challenges.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds a Master of Arts in Social Work and is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in New York. Her professional work is based in New York.
Which languages and international options are available?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
What session formats does she offer?
Therapy is available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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