Rebecca Stegmann

LPC

In my first session with clients, I ask as many questions as possible to learn more about the person I'm sitting with in the room. I like to get to know my clients as people, not as diagnoses or disorders. While we'll certainly talk about the symptoms they are experiencing and how that's impacting their life, I also like to ask clients about their family relationships, friendships, careers, hobbies and interests, strengths, and identity. Towards the end of the first session, we'll begin to discuss goals for treatment and what they want to get out of their time in therapy. This process, called treatment planning, is something that I like to do very collaboratively with clients so they know exactly what to expect from therapy. Finally, we'll talk about the frequency of our meetings and what future sessions will entail.

Through my work with adolescents and adults who have experienced trauma or really struggled with depression and anxiety, I've learned that humans are incredibly resilient. Even when my clients are going through their hardest days, I'm inspired by their hard work in making better choices for themselves and striving towards their goals. It's not easy to be battling mental health issues, and I'm really privileged to see my clients become their best selves week after week.

I take a trauma-informed, client-directed approach to therapy. I believe that all of us have experienced trauma in some form through our lives, so I stay sensitive to those tough memories and help clients explore how those moments have impacted their sense of self and general behaviors. Being client-directed means that I don't go into a session with a specific agenda; rather, I know the goals that are important to my clients and allow them to process and explore things as they come up naturally, at their own pace. My ideal client is someone who feels ready to work on themselves and dive deep into their thoughts, feelings, and actions.