Stephanie Cooper LMHC

I spent the first couple years of college and all of high school being undecided on what I wanted to do with my career. At one point, I wanted to be a math teacher because I was fairly good at it. That was until I got to Calculus, and I nearly failed the class. My next career choice was to be an Occupational Therapist (OT). I even chose my college based on their programming for OT. However, before even starting any classes for OT I switched my focus to psychology and counseling. I was fortunate to have a psychology class in high school and it kept in the back of my mind. I truly enjoyed learning about the brain, people's unique reactions to stress, biology, social dynamics, and trauma coupled with how this can affect their daily life. A part of me just knew this is what I wanted to do. I wanted to help people work through trauma, stress, and a variety of issues. I take the skills that I've always had for teaching and applied it to how I approach therapy.

I am a very honest and genuine person. I approach therapy in a transparent way. I do not believe there should be secrets that I keep from you since this is your therapy. I believe there is always a way to explain the process or what I am thinking in an appropriate and therapeutic way.

My life philosophies are to 'Just Breathe' and 'find the good'. To me, 'Just Breathe' is how I focus on the here and now as well as keep moving forward. If you are breathing, you are surviving. I take this approach in therapy in that sometimes we get caught up in futuristic worries or concerns of the past and we need to take time to be present in the here and now. Sometimes we also need to acknowledge the importance that we are here and we survived. When I think of 'Find the Good', I think about always looking to the brighter side of things. I practice from a strengths-based approach where I focus on finding your strengths and acknowledging how they got you this far and how they can help you overcome your current obstacles.

• Washington, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LH61255915

I started work towards a mental health career in 2011. I have worked in multiple inpatient psychiatric hospitals in 2 different states. During my time working inpatient, I have worked with a wide variety of presenting problems, diagnoses, and populations. I often work with individuals who experience anxiety, depression, life transitions, psychosis, and trauma.