Welcome to my page! My name is Stephanie Willard, and I am a therapist with over ten years of experience in individual counseling. I specialize in grief and traumatic loss, as well as the treatment of depression and anxiety. I enjoy working with the queer community, as well as teens and adults from diverse backgrounds. I particularly enjoy working with women and bring a feminist perspective to treatment.
I would describe myself as genuine, nonjudgmental, and warm. Empathy and positive regard are the basic foundations of therapy (and you will certainly get those with me), but I do believe it is my professional responsibility to bring a little more to the table. I enjoy engaging in direct communication and challenging my clients in order to push toward personal growth. I enjoy connecting with people and consider it an honor to be someone’s therapist. I truly believe that therapy can be helpful for anyone.
A typical session with me tends to be focused on a specific topic, usually set by the client with my guidance if necessary. That might look like us discussing a recent conflict with a partner, working on exploring particular symptoms, or discussing themes from early childhood that continue to impact you today. I have found that staying focused on a particular subject is the best way to achieve insight or learn new coping strategies and quickly moves us away from surface-level conversation.
I believe in finding a therapist who is a good fit for you and offer free ten minute phone consultations to make sure we connect and that I am competent in the areas in which you’re seeking assistance. This is not a one size fits all relationship and I encourage you to consult with a few therapists before making a selection. I am currently offering either telehealth or in-person sessions at my office in Timonium.
I live and work in the Baltimore area, and in my spare time enjoy viewing and learning about art, reading novels (my favorites are Jacqueline Woodson & Yaa Gyasi) , listening to podcasts (Bitch Sesh and My Favorite Murder are my top ones), and spending time in my yard with my German Shepherd, Mister. Check out the wellness tips section of my site—you might find some valuable information on there. I look forward to working with you!