she/her

Stephanie SandbergenLMFT

Stephanie Sandbergen avatar

Location

Virtual, California

Insurance Accepted

Anthem Blue Cross Of CA, Health Net/MHN, Aetna, Cigna/Evernorth, Blue Shield of California

Communication Style

Action-oriented, Affirming, Humorous, Solution-oriented, Warm

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Focus areas

Anger Issues, Anxiety, Body Image, Depression, Family Conflict, Grief, Life Transitions, Panic, Relationship Concerns, Stress, Women's Issues, Workplace Stress

Experienced with

Parents, Blended families, Students

Years of Experience

10+

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I genuinely care for my clients and show them empathy, acceptance and validation with a sense of humor.

License number

#80051

Therapy style

I have over 10 years of experience working with clients from various backgrounds, including adults, the elderly, parents, couples, families, and LGBTQIA+ clients. I specialize in depression, anxiety, loss, grief, attachment, emotional intelligence, effective communication, and mindfulness, and I have a passion for learning, having attended dozens of training courses on topics such as art therapy, narrative therapy, spirituality, support group facilitation skills, anger management, and trauma-informed care. I work from humanistic and systems approaches, which include helping clients gain a healthier understanding of themselves, find meaning in life, and explore their roles within their systems. I genuinely care for my clients and show them empathy, acceptance, and validation with a sense of humor. I am patient and will also challenge my clients to step outside of their comfort zones with the goals of incremental progress and improved quality of life. I focus on the entire person: physical, mental, social, and spiritual. I utilize a variety of approaches such as mindfulness, expressive arts, journaling, and nature while modifying my techniques to be more eclectic depending on what is helpful for each client. One approach I use is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which explains that our thoughts can influence our emotions, which then influence how we behave. With this modality, clients can learn to identify negative or distorted thinking patterns and challenge them. Another approach I use is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, which teaches skills to regulate emotions, tolerate distress, communicate effectively, and be more mindful in everyday life.

Approaches

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
  • Harm Reduction
  • Interpersonal Psychotherapy
  • Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Solution-focused
  • Strengths-based

Languages Spoken

English

Education

BA - Sociology, University of California MA - Psychology, St. Mary's College

Interests

I love spending time with my family, friends, and cats. I enjoy nature, travel, sports, music, photography, and eating out. I collect coins, postage stamps, and stickers. I love to bake, cook and of course eat!