Stephanie Thiessen, MA, LMHC

You might be navigating shame, burnout, perfectionism, or feeling out of step with the world around you. Maybe you’re exploring your neurodivergence, healing from religious harm, or learning how to soften self-criticism. My clients are deep thinkers and feelers who are ready for a different kind of therapy—one rooted in authenticity, self-compassion, and the safety to show up exactly as they are. I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a trauma-informed, emotionally focused, and compassion-centred approach to therapy. My work is rooted in Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), which means I help clients understand the emotional patterns that shape their relationships—with others and with themselves. Alongside EFIT, I integrate shame resilience and self-compassion frameworks that allow us to explore what’s beneath the surface without getting stuck in cycles of self-blame. These tools help create space for healing, curiosity, and self-trust to grow. I’ve spent years deepening my understanding of how shame shows up in our lives—particularly for those who’ve been told they’re “too much,” “too sensitive,” or not enough. I believe therapy should be a space where we can unlearn those messages and build something new. Over time, I’ve also specialized in applying these approaches to support clients navigating religious trauma, perfectionism, and neurodivergent identity. I’ve done focused study and training—including Megan Anna Neff’s “The Lost Generation” program—on supporting autistic adults who may have gone undiagnosed for years, and I work from a neurodiversity-affirming lens that honors difference rather than pathologizing it. Whether you’re processing high-control religious experiences or starting to explore what a neurodivergent identity means for you, I bring a nonjudgmental, grounded presence to help you reconnect with your inner knowing. Clients often come to me feeling out of step with the world—like they’ve had to mask, perform, or hustle for belonging. In our work together, there’s no need to explain away your emotions or pretend to be okay. I hold space for the messy, tender parts—without rushing toward solutions or quick fixes. Instead, I focus on helping clients integrate sustainable systems, new patterns, and compassionate growth that actually support their life. My goal isn’t to change who you are, but to help you get closer to your values, your voice, and your self-compassion. Therapy with me is collaborative and deeply relational. I don’t sit back with a clipboard; I show up with warmth, clarity, and the belief that healing happens in relationship. If you’ve ever felt like you had to choose between being accepted and being authentic, my hope is that this can be a place where you don’t have to choose.