Female, Anonymous - The Colony, TX 

What I like most about my sessions is having an advocate in my life to help me navigate and process my thoughts and emotions. I like that I have accountability in doing the work to heal and applying what I've read in the recommended books. I enjoy having an outside perspective on what I'm dealing with, and I appreciate Stephanie's knowledge of God's word. 

During my work with Stephanie, I have learned to forgive others and myself and, as a result, live in freedom from resentment. I have more peace and freedom knowing that I don't have to hold onto things of the past. Especially painful memories from when I was younger growing up with a mom who I felt wasn't there for me and was overbearing and demanding. When I decided to forgive my mom, I really found that my perspective shifted. I saw that my mom was always there for support, and she supported me in ways that she could. She wasn't always able to be there for everything, but she did her best with what she had, and I find a sense of gratitude in that. I don't have to live with resentment or be upset anymore about whatever happened years ago. 

I'm learning to take better care of myself by setting healthy boundaries and learning when to say 'yes' and 'no' to work requests, friends, and family. I feel comfortable knowing when to rest and when to push through. I feel like I have life balance and overall peace. Also, with loving and taking care of myself, I've found that it's necessary for me to do even the littlest things like getting my nails done or buying myself something nice. I've also learned to add humor to my relationship with my boyfriend, which did not exist before. I have more patience and a grace for myself and others, and I'm becoming better at knowing when I'm betraying myself and not being a friend to myself.

My relationship with God has improved, and I find myself spending my morning drives in prayer and praise. I am more aware of how it's necessary to read the Bible, and I'm better able to stay grounded in the truth. I know God is my provider, and I'm reminded of His grace daily. 

Tina Casey - Winchester, VA

When I became a client, I was seeking advice on getting over my boyfriend of 7 years. I was given tools on how to deal with negative self-talk and confidence. Everything incorporated God’s word and I needed that. My boyfriend and I got back together, and both started doing couples counseling. The sessions have made such a dramatic improvement in our relationship. We went from an affair, to separation, and then got back together again - this time even stronger than before. With our sessions, we learned healthier communication habits and have more respect for one another. Total game changer! We now listen to each other "to understand" instead of listening "to respond".

​What I liked most about our couples sessions was how I felt like we were on an "even playing field". One of us was never made to feel better or worse than the other, and we were given different ideas to try out in our relationship. We have incorporated the skills given to us and we work things out a new way instead of arguing. We have been actively working on leaving the past in the past and moving on together. My personal relationship with God has also become stronger. I’m wanting to learn more. I’ve asked Him to be part of our relationship and to help guide our hearts toward Him. I believe since I have invited Him in things have changed for the better. I now put more effort into living God’s word.

James Longo Jr - Scottsdale, AZ

What I liked most about my sessions with Stephanie was being able to speak what was on my mind and not feel judged. I liked that she was able to relate things I was going through back to the Bible. She has a great way of articulating things so I can understand them. We never moved on from a topic until I completely understood it or was comfortable with grasping what it was. I liked that even though the sessions were on Zoom they still felt very personal.

During our work together I learned how to see myself through the eyes of God. I have a better understanding of how God loves me, and I feel like a child of God. As a result, I've gotten over my rejection mindset and the tendency to be a people pleaser. I am now able to make time for myself and say "No" to things that don't serve me. I dive into the Bible a lot more now and read it with intentionally rather than as a checklist. I trust that God has my best interest in mind at all times and that everything I go through is a steppingstone to the future and my end place in heaven. 

Additionally, I learned how not to let myself get in the way of my own life and calling. I learned that I have a voice and should use it to help others get through their traumas. I am strong, confident, and know I will be able to make a positive impact on this world. This has helped me see that I could be a Christian Counselor as well. To this end, I have started the Christian Counseling Training Course and look forward to having my own counseling ministry one day soon.

Kristine Pellegrino - Dracut, MA

I have seen a lot of change in my life, and it's been encouraging. I have learned how to navigate and heal the pain of growing up without a present father. Releasing my worldly father from the bondage of expectations and placing God in that position was extremely healing for me. My worldly father may never be able to be the father I need him to be, but God can be. Knowing my identity in Christ and placing God at the center of every aspect of my life, has impacted my heart and spirit for the better. 

​I have released the old "story in my head" that was holding me back and have created a new story that I now live my truth from. Every day is not perfect, but I am more aware of when I fall into old patterns, and I can implement healthy boundaries for myself much more often.

​What I like most about my sessions is that I never feel rushed to work through something. Even if we are over time, Steph always make sure to allow room for healing if we are still working through a topic. I also admire the level of trust I felt right from the start without fear of judgement. Most importantly, it was crucial that I confided in someone who loves God's word and lives by it. I feel comfortable and honored recommending Stephanie to friends or family who may need counseling as well. 

Brianne McDonough - Norwood, MA

What I like best about my sessions with Steph is that they bear fruit! I’m heard, validated, challenged, and held accountable! I no longer need to perform for God's love and acceptance, instead I live from a place of already being loved "in Christ". I can allow myself to rest and not feel I have to strive so much. As stated in 1 John 4:18, “Perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” And, in 1 John 4:18, "We love because he first loved us.”

​My relationship with the Lord is much more beautiful and consistent. I now live in a steady flow with God rather than being up and down based on my performance, moral barometer, the kind of day I had, or how “good” or “bad” I was. I am allowing myself to "be okay with myself" and to let go of the fear of being wrong! Knowing I’m an adopted daughter of God and not a slave, I can live in freedom - free of bondage to religious performance, perfectionism, or inadequacy. Condemnation is no longer a tenant in my head renting invaluable space. Love and peace rent the space now! ❤️🙏🏼🙌.

Female, Anonymous - Pawtucket, R​I

What I really enjoy most about my sessions with Stephanie is that "she gets it" and understands where I'm coming from. I like that she challenges me without being harsh or judgmental. I feel like she genuinely cares for my growth and development in all areas. She is also incredibly encouraging, and I really appreciate that. I have gained clarity on some of the issues I face in my life and learned tools that I can use so that these challenges don't cripple me. I also have a better understanding of my behavior. I

​'m practicing how to identify when I'm giving life to a negative mindset so that I can stop and practice more positive self-talk. I am working on breaking agreement with inner vows, thoughts, and beliefs that no longer serve me. My relationship with God has grown, and I no longer feel as closed off as I was. I no longer feel like I need to perform for God (or others), and I understand where that comes from now and that it is not true.

Dereck Boyd - Bridgewater, MA

What I like most about our sessions are the conversations we have; they can be very encouraging. Not only am able to express how I feel but I am able to open up about creating things that help me become a better man instead of keeping it all in. During our time together, I have learned what rejection is, why I have excessive neediness, more about God and His word, and I have developed more confidence talking with females. I am applying what I have learned by reminding myself that I am good enough and that I am loved by God.

​My prayer life has improved, and I started writing down prayers and scriptures that I post on my wall. I am also more aware of my neediness and back off when people don't answer me by not frantically texting or calling them. I better understand God's will for my life, and I'm more grounded in the knowledge that I am loved by Him in Christ.

​Female, Anonymous - Norton, MA

I have learned to focus on being more mindful and to take a second to think about things before I react. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn and a lot to work on, but that working on anxiety and depression is something that won't happen overnight. I am genuinely working every day to apply what I have learned. For example, I am thinking more win-win when it comes to things that might bring me anxiety but that bring other people joy. Also, I'm gentler in my reactions with my kids and husband; I think more before I speak; I'm more mindful to reframe negative self-talk; and I am fueling my body with healthier choices.

​I have become closer with God, and I reference the Bible more frequently as compared to before (I didn't even have a Bible before I started counseling! 😬) What I like best about Stephanie is her openness and ability to be honest. She is caring and doesn't enable poor behavior but helps to others with ways to react differently so they can improve their behavior.

Karen Harris - Mansfield, MA

One of the issues I presented when I started counseling was feeling disconnected from God. I learned a lot about loving myself and staying away from negative self-talk. I learned that I am loved by God and that my sins are forgiven in Christ. I am confident that there is nothing I can do to make God stop loving me. When I pray now, I can sense the Spirit of the Lord because I have released myself from condemnation. Also, I learned how to practice being more assertive rather that giving into my anger.

​I have become more aware of the thoughts that enter my mind and how to reject, question, and reframe them. I've realized feelings are not above the truth of God's word. Today, I am being more intentional and applying the strategies I learned by not letting negative thoughts fester or stew. Stephanie is very down to earth and easy to open up to. I like her practical advice and the resources she gives... And of course, I love the fact that this is Christ-based counseling.

Briana Tondreault - Foxboro, MA

I learned how to cherish myself and to speak more positively about myself. I learned how to shift out of a negative mindset, set boundaries, heal a rejection mindset, and be more assertive. I also learned that I WAS causing a lot of my own problems and addressed it in a comfortable safe setting with someone who is not judgmental. I found Stephanie easy to talk to and someone who always has great advice.

​As I move forward, I am growing in the knowledge of God. Understanding how He views me is helping me transform the way I see myself to align with the way God sees me. When I feel myself falling back into negative thinking patterns, I go back over older assignments to help remind myself of what I learned. Even if I haven’t conquered everything yet, I’m more mindful of what I’m doing.

Female, Anonymous - North Providence, RI

Stephanie has been such a blessing to my life. I have been meeting with her for 4 months and have learned so much. I struggled with self-image, self-worth, and ultimately self-love. I learned that I had a rejection mindset and didn't fully understand the depth of God's love for me which, at its core, created so many of my struggles. Through Steph's counseling I now understand that God's love and grace for me "in Christ" is unconditional. This understanding has enabled me to give love and grace to myself and others.

​I no longer have a rejection mindset, which had held me back for 20+ years. I no longer put my worth, acceptance, and love in others, but rather, look to God for all I need. I understand God is everything I had been seeking. He is the ultimate Father. Humans are imperfect. They can't fill us up like God can. I enjoy how Steph is SO thoughtful. She truly gets to the root of the problem and doesn't just put a band aid on the client. I appreciate how she doesn't hold herself back and is honest with her insight and advice. REAL healing requires REAL advice.

Mary Wagne - Boynton Beach, FL

I worked with Stephanie for about 3 months and can honestly say I feel more alive now! I was scared of starting therapy at first but Steph really made it something I looked forward to. These counseling sessions opened a flood gate of information and emotions that before I tried to just bury and bottle up. During my sessions, I wasn't only just talking about my emotions but I really had to examine myself as a whole. I liked how Steph would not only listen but would also hold me accountable. There were times when it felt like chunks of weight had been dug out of myself and just thrown away. The weight has lifted out of my heart and it feels great! I have learned how to handle issues in a healthier manner that before would really bother me.

My relationship with God has also improved and I feel more connected. I always knew Jesus loved me but my heart didn’t grasp it completely. Now that it has, I lean to God more, and my life feels like it makes sense. I remind myself that God loves me every day. I don’t allow the enemy to bring me down like he did before. There will always be issues in life but I am committed to not "fall back" to old patterns. Today, I love myself better and have created necessary boundaries to protect myself and my family... And doing so has made me feel so much better. Things are falling into place and it’s amazing!

Jessica Murphy - Attleboro, MA
​
My favorite thing about my first session was that at the end there was a plan in place. After my first session, I knew immediately that change was coming in the best way. Each time I meet with Steph it is like meeting with a trusted advisor who listens to you, and then in turn teaches you too. There are so many things I have gained and learned from our sessions together. I learned how to recognize and reframe negative self-talk. I now find myself reframing bad thoughts that come up throughout the day. I also learned more about how to set boundaries in my life and have successfully applied boundaries at work.

​The skills I have learned with Steph have given me more confidence in myself. Lastly, my relationship with God has only improved since my sessions with Steph. Adding another Bible study with new people in my life has allowed me to broaden my scope of reading. It also has allowed me to hear different perspectives of the Bible and learn more from other people too.

Female, Anonymous - Palm Springs, FL

​I have started to learn how to love myself and how not to think so negatively about myself, my body, and my mind. I learned that God created me the way He wants, and now I can appreciate that. I have stopped complaining about things that are in my power to change. Whenever I find myself thinking negatively, I try to stop it and think more encouraging thoughts. When that doesn’t help, I write whatever I’m feeling down in my notebook and write something true and encouraging about myself. I try not to jump to conclusions and draw negative assumptions.

​I’m finally understanding that I can find a way to change the things that are in my control to work on. I'm also allowing myself to grieve the loss of my mother instead of suppressing my emotions. I am now reading God's word more and learning to put my trust in God. I’ve been trying to include God more, and I find myself trying to better myself more for Him. What I liked most about my sessions with Stephanie was how she would go over things that I need to do that helped to guide me in the right direction.

Saskia Ridley - Lake Worth, FL

​I have gained so much from my sessions! I can honestly say that I have been set free from scary thoughts. I have learned ways to deal with anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and so much more. Stephanie not only help me with all that I was going through, she also provided me with so many resources to help me in my journey. I am so grateful that God lead me to her. I am applying what I have learned simply by practicing them with every opportunity I get. What I have learned has changed so many things for me. I like the fact that I had someone listen to me and really care about my wellbeing. I never felt rushed to end a session or pressured to say anything I wasn’t ready to talk about.

Female, Anonymous - Chicago, IL

Throughout my time with Stephanie, I have gained insight into many of my life challenges and tools to use when I am triggered. I am using the information to increase my self-awareness and decision-making. What I like most about our sessions is how Stephanie is consistent, validating, non-judgmental, supportive, and is able to meet me where I'm at. 

​Kathleen Carlow - West Wareham, MA

Through my sessions with Stephanie I have been able to get to the root of my pain. Understanding this root cause has helped me to heal and move on from an extremely painful past. My current relationships and stressors were a direct result of a rejection issue I was completely unaware of. I couldn't see clearly into my behaviors and actions because I had an overwhelming fear of being rejected. I didn't know that I had developed habits to try to protect myself but in reality I was destroying the relationships around me and not allowing myself to fully trust and forgive. With Stephanie's help, I was able to see things more clearly. She encouraged me with scripture and sent me a book about rejection that has opened my eyes to what fear of rejection looks like and why it's unhealthy.

Also, I can see how the rejection in my life (my dad leaving, abuse, betrayal etc.) was plaguing my relationship with God. I would automatically assume I wasn't going to be loved and by doing that I would distance my relationship from God. Though I have always had "child-like" faith and felt the presence of God, my issue was accepting that I was worthy of God's love and presence. By facing my rejection issues I have been able to see that I can choose to accept His love as He freely gives it. I am worthy of being loved because God says I am, not because I had a "perfect upbringing" or because my father's choices. I am worthy regardless of the pain in my past! Now I am able to look at myself as being in control of my life rather than as being a victim.

I am applying what I have learned by being able to objectively look at my emotions and reactions. I can see that the times when I am feeling emotions of unworthiness and rejection, that 99.9% of time they are not true! I see when I am setting myself up for rejection before it even happens and I am stopping the lies from the enemy from entering into my life. I feel like I am in control of my life, where as before I was jumping back and forth from every emotion and overwhelmed with confusion. I can now walk into a situation, without fear that I will be rejected but rather with confidence that I am worthy of being loved and accepted. I am no longer a slave to my stronghold of fear of rejection.

My relationship with my boyfriend was also completely toxic, and we both suffered from fear of rejection and trust issues. Now, our relationship is filled with hope and trust. We are both closer to God, and our communication has grown and continues to grow. We listen and have a better understanding about why we do the things we do. We understand that as a woman my greatest need is to "be loved" by him; and as a man his greatest need is to "be respected" by me. I have also been able to forgive him from his wrong doings. My greatest fear was being able to place my trust in him again but I can honestly say that I am filled with joy and continue to believe him and trust his word. Trust is a decision, not a feeling and I can't be holding on to his wrong doings. I was forgiven so he deserves it too!

What I love most about my sessions with Stephanie is the overwhelming care and understanding I feel. She listens and helps me to see the issues at hand. I am not afraid to be open and honest because I know that she cares and desires to help me. I love going chapter by chapter in the book she sent me. Stephanie counsels us both (my boyfriend and I) separately and together and has created an environment for us to feel comfortable opening up and not being ashamed of our issues. She is our saving grace!

Female, Anonymous - Coconut Creek, FL
​
When I first started with Stephanie, my intentions were to become more spiritually grounded, live according to God's word more, learn how to handle confrontations better, and address my depression and anxiety. In our 5 months working together, I have grown stronger in my faith, learned to pray and plan more, and I'm becoming a more balanced person overall. One of the topics we are focusing on is learning how to set healthy personal boundaries which I am finding very beneficial.

​Also, during the course of our time together, I mentioned suffering from physical pain. Together we came up with a plan of action for getting clarity on the source of my pain (and possible source of my anxiety) and I now have a plan for moving forward towards healing my body.

One of the things I like most about working with Stephanie is our prayer time and the sense that I am not walking alone in the Spirit. I really feel as though I have a sister in Christ. I also attend her weekly Women's Bible Study as often as I can as way to stay connected to God's word and other women. I definitely have found that my relationship with God has become more stable. I have learned that no man is an island and that it is okay to reach out to others for help if I need it.

​