Therapy, Consultation and Training
206 State Street, Suite 9 Northampton, MA 01060 (413) 588-8423In this video segment, Stephen talks about:
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Core Concepts from Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics© including:
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The variable impact of trauma on children and
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The importance of relationships in reducing the negative impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences.
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This video was taken as part of a project by Sara Heinonen and Alexandra Pigeon which can be located here
Youth and Families:
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Early Developmental Trauma
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Attachment Challenges
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Gender Identity Development
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Depression
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Self Development / Identity Development
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Family Relationships
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Stepfamily / Blended Family Issues
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Parenting Issues / Challenges
Adults and Couples
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Trauma
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Issues Related to Identity and Oppression
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Transgender Identity / Transitioning
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Communication
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Attachment
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Depression
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Family / Intergenerational Issues
Ways I Can Help:
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Provide assessment and recommendations based on the Neuroseqential Model of Therapeutics© developed by Dr. Bruce Perry
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Support you in better understanding your own feelings and needs and communicating these with others
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Provide a compassionate, reflective, slow and supportive place for you to think things through and develop new ideas
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Helping you pay attention and respond to the signals that your nervous system is sending you in day to day life
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Thinking critically with you about the impact of various forms of oppression in your difficulties
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Recommending concrete, specific, and do-able strategies for self soothing and regulating
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Helping you better understand how your difficulties make sense based on your experiences
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Believing strongly in the possibility for things to change and get better
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Helping you reprocess difficult memories using EMDR and the Flash Technique
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Advocating for you and your family with schools, other providers, etc
EMDR and Flash Technique Trauma Reprocessing
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EMDR was originated by Francine Shapiro in 1987 and has a robust scientific evidence base supporting its success as a trauma treatment.
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The Flash Technique was originated by Dr. Philip Mansfield and has a growing evidence base as a “less intense” approach to trauma reprocessing
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Both Flash and EMDR use proven approaches for “soothing the alarm response” in our nervous systems, allowing us to safely recall difficult experiences and access our brains’ powerful capacity to integrate and re-story painful and stressful thoughts, emotions and sensations formed during these experiences.
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Both approaches incorporate “patterned, repetitive, somatosensory input” (a phrase originated as part of the NMT© approach developed by Dr. Bruce Perry) – in the form of eye movements, vibrating hand-held paddles, tapping etc as ways to soothe the nervous system so we can safely access and reprocess traumatic / difficult memories.
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Both approaches rely on the remarkable innate capacity of our brains to re-work these past experiences in ways that recognize our strength, power and wisdom
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We focus first on building skills, strengths and capacities to manage stress before getting into reprocessing work
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Feel free to book a consultation to talk about whether or not either of these approaches might work for you – for more information please see the links below!
“Stephen has consistently approached my child as a whole person with integrity and a mind and opinions all her own. I credit much of her growth to his skillful work with her and his ability to bring her very complex and diverse family together to work as a team on a common project – meeting her needs.”
My Background:
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I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with over 20 years of experience in therapeutic practice. After completing my Master’s degrees in both Social Work from Smith College and Mental Health Counseling from UMass Amherst, I’ve dedicated my career to understanding and treating trauma, family dynamics, and complex mental health challenges.
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My clinical expertise has been shaped through extensive training in several evidence-based approaches, including EMDR therapy, the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT), Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). As a mentor in the Neurosequential Network and a former fellow at the Child Trauma Academy, I bring a deep understanding of how trauma and neurobiology impact mental health.
My Approach:
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I integrate an understanding of neuroscience with developmental trauma, years of training and experience in family and couples therapy and a lifelong commitment to cultural humility and anti-oppression approaches with clients who identify as members of BIPOC, LGBQ+ and Trans communities.
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My main way of working is helping you understand why it makes sense that you might experience different types of challenges and difficulties based on “what happened to you.” I work with you to help you identify your feelings and needs and communicate these effectively to others in your life. I specialize in helping understand how the brain responds to stress and trauma, developing specific strategies for managing difficult feelings, and co-creating safety and stability in our work together.
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I have specialized expertise with individual trauma assessment and treatment with both adults and children using the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics©. I’m trained in EMDR and working towards certification in that approach. I’ve had advanced training in couples therapy including the Gottman approach. I feel very comfortable working with families, individuals and couples.
“Stephen is a compassionate, experienced professional with excellent communication and relationship building skills. He was able to get through to our teenage son at a very difficult time in his life. He provided us with much needed support and essential resources to help us better understand the emotional difficulties our son was experiencing. His kind and supportive nature was invaluable to us as parents and I would highly recommend his services.”
“After my separation and subsequent divorce, I wanted and felt like I needed a male therapist. Stephen is a wonderful listener and thoughtful partner in this process of understanding connection, attachment, resistance, fear, and strength. Stephen is incredibly knowledgeable, extremely relatable, and empathetic. He moves with me through some hard moments. Stephen helps me hold it together, walks with me when I fall apart, and laughs with me in between.”
“Other therapists turned us down for services because our family structure and presenting issues were ‘too complex,’ but Stephen rose to the challenge. Stephen’s practice is more than just fifty minutes in an office; he is willing to work with whole families in order to put the child’s needs in context and to best tailor his approach to each child’s unique situation. His work is trauma-informed, comprehensive, and systematic; he is as interested in the impact of trauma on a child’s neuropsychological development as he is in the effect of the child’s family structure on how she relates to the adults in her life. He is open to feedback and always willing to try new strategies if something doesn’t work.”
