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Stephanie Howard

Therapist profile

Stephanie Howard, LCSW

California

Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Relationships and Parenting

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About

  • CBT techniques
  • Psychodynamic work
  • Parenting support

About Stephanie

Stephanie Howard is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California with 17 years of experience. She works with adults on stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, depression, and related life changes.

She trained at the University of California, Berkeley and has worked in inpatient and outpatient mental health settings, schools, and community-based clinics. That background shaped a practical approach to day-to-day problems. Sessions tend to focus on what is happening now and what steps feel doable next.

Stephanie uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Psychodynamic Therapy in her work. CBT helps people notice patterns of thought and behavior and try new strategies. Psychodynamic ideas look at how past experiences influence present feelings and choices.

Her style is client-centered, which means conversation and plans are guided by the person in front of her. She draws on strengths people already have and helps them build new skills for coping, parenting, and handling work or family stress.

Typical concerns she sees include parenting strain, grief, workplace issues, adoption and foster care matters, postpartum depression, compassion fatigue, and family of origin problems. She also works with mood concerns such as bipolar symptoms, addiction-related stress, and ADHD-related challenges.

Stephanie aims to be straightforward and respectful in sessions. People who want a mix of skill-building and reflective work may find this approach useful. To begin, follow the site's steps to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.

How sessions work

How Stephanie’s approaches translate to online work

Stephanie often draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Psychodynamic Therapy when meeting with people. CBT is practical and focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavior changes. It can help with anxiety, mood shifts, and parenting routines. Psychodynamic work looks at how past relationships and experiences shape current feelings and repetitive patterns, which can clarify why certain family or relationship issues keep coming up.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will review what matters most to the client and try methods that fit their goals and preferences. Over a few sessions, they can adjust focus toward more skills-based work or deeper exploration depending on what helps most.

The biography did not list specific online session formats, so confirm the current options before booking. In general, online work can make it easier to fit sessions into busy days, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and offer flexibility for people who cannot travel to an office. Licensed professionals use these options to help people balance therapy with parenting, work, and other responsibilities.

Areas of focus

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseParenting issuesDepression

Also works with

AddictionsFamily conflictsGriefSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

Adoption and foster careFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsIsolation / lonelinessMulticultural concernsPostpartum depressionPregnancy and childbirthSelf-loveWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Psychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

17+ years

Listed in

California

Languages

English

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of issues does she help with?

She works with stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, depression, addictions, family problems, grief, self-esteem, and related topics.

How would she approach my parenting or family concerns?

She combines client-centered conversation with concrete strategies from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and longer-term psychodynamic reflection to address parenting strain and family-of-origin issues.

How much experience does she have?

She has 17 years of professional experience across inpatient and outpatient mental health, schools, and community-based clinics.

What credential does she hold and where is she based?

She is an LCSW licensed in California.

Can I see her if I live outside the United States?

Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats are offered?

The original biography did not specify session formats; confirm current session options before booking.

How does payment work and what does it cost?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I get started with a first appointment?

Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.

Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.

Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.

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Stephanie Howard

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