Stephen Gutknecht,LCP

Hi there, I am Dr. Stephen Gutknecht! My approach stems from both Cognitive Behavior Therapy as well as Existential theory. I believe how we communicate with ourselves, and others, changes the perspective we hold and are seen through. When people are empowered through being heard, emotionally supported, helped to develop skills they have a greater ability to lead emotionally healthy lives. I have treated people suffering from mild emotional issues and those with severe psychological dysfunction. These issues range from anxiety and depression to PTSD, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. I have worked with people from all walks of life and professional backgrounds. This includes special populations of LGBTQ++, those with intellectual disability, and homeless.

I set an easygoing posture to help people feel more at ease. I hold a safe spot for therapy. People may become intense or as casual as they desire. I empower people to guide our conversation topics and how we proceed in therapy. This is their life. I am but a person offering a service. I was fortunate to have mental health professionals in my life from an early age. I feel they enriched my life and my ability to strive through life’s problems. I have always felt a strong desire to give back to my community. I love talking with people. Becoming a Psychologist seemed to be the best fit for me.

I believe clients know what they wish to achieve through therapy. I listen to their ideas. I then help them prioritize their goals and shape them into SMART goals which can be measured over time. A person’s first session usually consists of listening to their story, problems, and what they hope to achieve. I believe people are interviewing me. This helps them decide whether to commit to me as their therapist. A certain amount of relational chemistry is beneficial to the therapy. I, in turn, am interviewing the person to ensure I have the knowledge and experience they will need.