Stephanie is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist with over a decade of experience providing therapy to children and teens. She is passionate about creating a warm, playful space where kids feel safe to express themselves and heal through connection.

Stephanie is trained in EMDR therapy and loves combining EMDR with play therapy — a powerful approach that helps children process trauma, manage anxiety and depression, build confidence, and develop healthy coping tools. Steph, along with parents and educators, has seen firsthand the incredible impact these therapies can have on children’s growth and healing.

Before joining The Counseling Nook, Stephanie spent five years working in the West Virginia school system, where she developed and implemented social-emotional learning and mindfulness programs to support students’ emotional regulation, resilience, and well-being. Her work with the nationally recognized Inner Explorer Program at Henry J. Kaiser Elementary was featured for demonstrating how daily mindfulness practices can improve focus, behavior, and emotional health in children.

Stephanie currently serves on the West Virginia Association for Play Therapy Board, where she continues to advocate for and advance play-based interventions across the state. She loves challenging herself to stay on the cutting edge of therapy for kids — continually learning, growing, and integrating new approaches that help children thrive.

As both a therapist and a mom, Stephanie knows how hard it can be to watch your child struggle and wonder how best to support them. She feels deeply honored to do this work each day and is grateful for the trust parents place in her to support their children’s healing and growth.

Follow Steph on Instagram @playtherapistwithcurls