Phillip Thomas Stepka, PsyD. (He/Him)

Approach Description: I approach therapy from the perspective that each individual enters this world with a unique nervous system and temperament. The environment we are born in interacts with our personal design and shapes how we think, feel, and approach the world. In instances where the goodness-of-fit between ourselves and the world is healthy, safe, and consistent, we develop internal and external resources for navigating life well. When we experience TOO MUCH bad (e.g., trauma, stress, abuse) or NOT ENOUGH good (e.g., lack of safety, basic needs, neglect, rejection, inconsistent love/support) this impacts our bodies and minds leading to a myriad of struggles. These can include relationship problems, overwhelming emotions, chronic vulnerability to medical concerns, problematic behaviors and patterns. My approach to therapy includes the following: 1) Develop a comprehensive understanding of your experiences, concerns, values, and goals in order to set the foundation for a trusting healing relationship. 2) Develop stress/emotion management skills to provide early relief to overwhelming reactions to current stressors. 3) Utilize state of the art and evidenced-based approaches to heal the original experiences that have caused long-term distress or vulnerability to present day stressors. 4) Provide new and growth-enhancing experiences that strengthen internal resources to more effectively manage the present and future in the services of enhanced wellbeing.