My Approach to Helping
Stephanie Buckley-AMFT Marriage and Family Therapist (ADHD, OCD , Anxiety, Depression and Bipolar Disorder) Accepting New Clients. Updated (April 2025)
Hi, I’m Stephanie Buckley, AMFT, a therapist, mother, and advocate who helps families and individuals untangle the emotional chaos of anxiety, depression, OCD, bipolar disorder, and ADHD.
If you're a parent running on fumes from emotional blow ups shut downs or constant worry about your child or loved one, you're not alone. I help families like yours find clarity, calm and REAL solutions that actually work. Whether it's ADHD, Anxiety, OCD, depression or emotionaly dysregulation, I combine evidence-based therapy with lived experience.
I specialize in working with children, teens, young adults, and parents who are overwhelmed, burnt out, or stuck in survival mode. Whether it’s racing thoughts, mood swings, obsessive thinking, or complete shutdown, I help you get underneath the behavior and build real strategies that create calm and connection again.
As a mother to a now-thriviing and incredibly creative 22-year-old son with neurodivergent needs and a wife of more than thirty years, I understand the complicated, beautiful, and often exhausting path that families walk. I know what it feels like to search for answers, to advocate when you're tired, and to hold hope even in the hardest seasons. That lived experience isn’t separate from my work, it’s part of the foundation. It’s why I connect so deeply with the families I serve. I specialize in helping children, teens, young adults, and parents navigate ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder with compassion, structure, and tools that actually help in the day-to-day moments that matter most.
I combine Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, and Exposure Therapy to help clients make meaningful progress without getting stuck in shame or analysis paralysis. We’ll focus on what’s already working, build tools that fit your daily life, and create routines that support emotional regulation and communication without judgment.
I offer in-person therapy in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes, El Segundo, and throughout the South Bay. I also see clients anywhere in California via telehealth, with evening and weekend appointments available for busy families and working professionals.
Let’s build your path to peace together!!
I also know therapy is more effective when it considers the whole family. That’s why I involve parents, siblings, or caregivers when appropriate helping you understand what’s really going on beneath the surface and how to create sustainable change together.
You’ll find that my approach is practical, compassionate, and deeply grounded in both lived experience and clinical skill.
I am an AMFT Marriage and Family Therapist who utilizes Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral and Exposure Therapy to help adolescents, teenagers, young adults and families navigate their way through their struggles with attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD, Bipolar, Anxiety and Depression.
Who I Work With
Children (ages 5+), Teens, and Young Adults
Parents of neurodivergent children or teens
Individuals navigating ADHD, OCD, Anxiety, Depression, or Bipolar Disorder
Families seeking calm, structure, and improved communication
Couples navigating ADHD within their relationship
My Approach to Helping
If you’re feeling like nothing is working and you’re exhausted from trying to hold it all together, you’re not alone. You don’t have to figure this out on your own anymore.
I specialize in helping children, teens, young adults, and families struggling with ADHD, OCD, Anxiety, Depression, and Bipolar Disorder find a clear path forward. Using a powerful blend of Solution-Focused Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Therapy, I help my clients build the skills they need to shift what’s not working and amplify what is, without wasting time or getting stuck in a cycle of shame.
Why Solution-Focused Therapy Works
Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) helps clients focus on what’s working and build from there. Instead of digging endlessly into the past, we look at the present and ask: What would things look like if they felt a little better? Then, we create small steps toward that version of life.
Examples of SFT in My Practice:
For Families: Helping parents notice the small wins and build routines that support emotional regulation and structure at home.
For Teens: Identifying one area where they feel stuck and co-creating a weekly goal—like turning in one assignment or improving one conversation at home.
For Adults: Reframing “everything is overwhelming” into “what’s one thing I could feel good about today?” and building on it session by session.
How I Use Exposure Therapy
Exposure Therapy is a safe and effective method that helps clients gradually face the things they fear or avoid, while learning how to regulate anxiety and emotional discomfort along the way.
Examples of Exposure Therapy in My Practice:
For OCD: Supporting a child who fears contamination by touching a “germy” object and resisting the urge to wash—building confidence through repeated practice.
For Social Anxiety: Coaching a teen to say hello to a peer, then slowly build toward speaking up in class or attending a group event.
For ADHD Avoidance: Helping a young adult begin a task they’ve been dreading (like cleaning or answering emails) for just 5 minutes while tracking success and regulating stress.
For Panic or General Anxiety: Encouraging clients to practice breathing through uncomfortable body sensations without running from them helping them prove to themselves they’re safe.
For Depression: Gently guiding someone who’s withdrawn to re-engage with life—starting with small steps like opening the blinds, going for a walk, or texting a friend back.
How I Use CBT
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps clients recognize how their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are connected. By learning to challenge unhelpful thought patterns and develop healthier ways of thinking, clients become more emotionally regulated, confident, and grounded.
Examples of CBT in My Practice:
For ADHD: Teaching clients to replace “I never get anything done” with “I’m learning how to break tasks into steps.”
For Anxiety: Helping clients challenge catastrophic thinking like “I’ll fail” and replace it with “I can do hard things even if I feel nervous."
For Depression: Guiding clients to identify negative self-talk like “I’m a burden” and learn how to reframe with “I’m having a hard time, but I’m still showing up.”
For OCD: Helping clients observe their intrusive thoughts without judgment and learn how to respond with facts instead of fear.
For Bipolar Disorder: Supporting clients in recognizing early signs of mood shifts and creating thought-based action plans for stabilization.
But what truly sets my approach apart is my deep belief in family involvement. Therapy works best when we understand the full story and no one tells that story better than the people who live it together every day. When we invite in the perspectives of parents, siblings, and caregivers, we gain critical insight into what’s really going on beneath the surface. We get context. We get clarity. And from there, we create change that actually sticks. While not every session includes all family members, bringing everyone together, at least initially, helps me understand the dynamics at play and how they’re affecting each individual.
This kind of insight often accelerates the healing process. Every person plays a role within the family system, and by understanding those roles, I can offer more effective strategies and tools to help each member navigate daily struggles, overcome barriers, and move through challenges with greater clarity and connection. Families don’t need more blame or more guilt. They need tools, direction, and a safe space to breathe again. My role is to help you untangle the chaos, strengthen what’s already good, and guide your family toward a calmer, more connected future.
It's also important to note, I’m not just a therapist, I’m also a mother to a now-thriving neurodivergent 22 year old son, and I’ve been married for over three decades. I bring both clinical training and lived experience to every session. I know the heartbreak, the resilience, the trial-and-error, and the beauty that can come from doing this work together.
If you’re scrolling through profiles hoping to find someone who truly gets it, someone who can offer not just support, but real strategies, steady guidance, and deep compassion, you’ve found the right place. Let’s build a path to peace for you and your family. You don’t have to wait any longer.
If you would like to get an idea as to how i approach therapy, I host The Path to Peace Therapy Podcast, which is in it's 3rd season with 36 episodes. My weekly podcast is a supportive resource filled with practical tools, relatable stories, and real solutions for families navigating ADHD, OCD, Anxiety, Depression, and Bipolar Disorder. It’s not a replacement for therapy, but it is the next best thing: a compassionate, Solution-Focused and Cognitive Behavioral guide to help you feel more equipped, more connected, and a little less alone. Listen to The Path To Peace Therapy Podcast on Apple & Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
You can also visit my website https:www.thepathtopeacetherapy.comblog, Looking for real answers and practical tools to support your family’s mental health journey. Visit PathToPeaceTherapy.com, where I’ve written over 65 powerful blog posts designed to help families and individuals better understand and manage ADHD, OCD, Anxiety, Depression, and Bipolar Disorder. My blog goes beyond just talk, I provide real-world tools and strategies that spark lasting change.
You’ll find practical guidance on everything from improving sleep hygiene, implementing nutrition changes (like reducing artificial dyes such as Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 1), and building consistent exercise and movement routines, to using deep breathing techniques, emotional regulation tools, and family-centered approaches that support connection and calm. These blogs are not a replacement for therapy, but they do provide valuable insights, education, and real-world tools you can begin using right away. Tools to help loved ones understand what they might be struggling with or to help to educate a family member who might be grappling with how to help.
When I tell you that I truly get it! I do!
Whether you’re a parent searching for answers, a young adult trying to find balance, or someone who’s just tired of feeling stuck, these posts are here to offer hope, clarity, and direction. Your path to peace starts with understanding what’s really going on and knowing what to do next.
Start exploring today and take the first step toward a calmer, more connected life.
