Stephanie Clowdus, LCSW

Counseling can be the process of exploring and naming the stories we hold about ourselves, then identifying which parts of these stories resonate with one’s true self. Your history and present experience, along with my training and expertise, can tell us invaluable information about you. - Improve your coping skills. - Explore & make changes to your relationship with a substance or out of control behavior. - Manage self critical talk and limiting beliefs. The process of psychotherapy is collaborative. We start by determining goals you have, short- to long-term, and by building an authentic therapeutic relationship. Psychotherapy can be addressing your past, sorting through the ways it shows up in your life, to get relief. I support people in moving through the effects of trauma, including integrating survivorship into one’s life story and managing difficult emotions and behaviors resulting from trauma. Part of psychotherapy can also be getting practical tools to make sense of the thoughts, behaviors, and emotions you’re experiencing now. I work through harm reduction, psychodynamic, and trauma informed approaches. I also use mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused interventions, among others. Addressing systems of power and oppression is part of my work, and I aim to be sensitive to how your cultural identities and lifestyle inform your experiences and values. I am sex-positive, gender-affirming, and size neutral. If you are new to therapy, or nervous about connecting in this way, I commend you and your willingness to try counseling.

In-person sessions for individual adults (Oakland) | Telehealth video session for individual adults (California) Schedule a consultation with me with online booking at Clowdustherapy.com | Information for finding a therapist, including low cost & Medi-Cal options at clowdustherapy.comresources

I truly like to get to know new people, and - with time and patience - learning about their intricacies. I like asking questions that others might be afraid to ask, and I welcome humor as a way to deepen connection. I like working with all folks; I especially like working with helpers, artists, activists, and LGBTQIA+ people.