Stephanie Dobbs, LMFT

Practical, client-centered support for stress and addiction

About Stephanie

Stephanie Dobbs uses a warm, client-centered approach to help people facing stress, anxiety, depression, and addiction. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 25 years of experience.

Background and approach

Stephanie emphasizes respect for each person's strengths and choices as the starting point for change. She listens first and shapes sessions around what the client needs.

That can mean practical coping skills for anxiety, goal-focused steps for addiction, or support navigating LGBT concerns. Sessions aim to be straightforward and focused on what helps most in daily life.

Stephanie draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to spot unhelpful thinking patterns and build new habits. She also uses motivational interviewing to strengthen a client’s own reasons for change and solution-focused methods to set clear, reachable goals.

Trauma-focused approaches are used when past events affect current mood or relationships. Over her career she has worked with people dealing with midlife shifts, mood disorders, caregiver stress, and issues specific to women’s health.

Her style is collaborative - she partners with each person to decide what to try and when to adjust the plan. Sessions move at a pace the client can manage.

Stephanie practices from Washington and offers sessions in English. She encourages small, practical steps people can use between meetings.

The goal is to make progress that fits real life and feels sustainable.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on understanding the person's perspective and building on their strengths. In practice the therapist listens, reflects what she hears, and works with the person to set goals that feel right to them. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps people identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors to reduce anxiety and improve mood. It is useful for stress, depression, and many everyday problems.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Stephanie will talk with each person about what feels most useful and will try options together. This is a collaborative process where goals and methods can change as progress is made.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs. Video is close to an in-person conversation, phone can be easier when bandwidth is low, live chat is good for brief check-ins, and messaging supports ongoing, shorter exchanges between sessions. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent around work, caregiving duties, or travel.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist help with?

Stephanie helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, and addictions. She also focuses on LGBT issues, caregiver stress, midlife changes, and women’s concerns.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her style is client-centered and collaborative. She listens first, then blends cognitive behavioral, motivational interviewing, solution-focused, and trauma-informed tools as needed.

What background and experience does she have?

She has 25 years of professional experience working in clinical settings. That long experience informs how she tailors practical strategies for each person.

Where is she licensed and based?

She holds the LMFT credential and is licensed in Washington. Sessions are provided from her Washington practice location.

Which languages are supported for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English only. International clients are not currently accepted.

What session formats are available?

Sessions can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Different formats can suit different needs and schedules.

How does cost and billing work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to start therapy?

Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 25 years
Licensed: Florida, Washington
Languages: English