Stephanie Bealer, LMHC
Clinical Mental Health Counselor - tLMHC
Cedar Rapids IA
I work with clients through a compassionate, collaborative, and trauma-informed lens. I aim to create a safe, affirming space where clients—particularly neurodivergent adults, LGBTQ+ individuals, and survivors of trauma—can explore their identities, emotions, and lived experiences without fear of judgment. Grounded in humanistic values and unconditional positive regard, I foster strong therapeutic relationships built on trust, empathy, and respect.
I integrate psychodynamic exploration, attachment theory, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and narrative therapy to help clients understand the origins of their struggles and reclaim their personal narratives. I also incorporate bottom-up approaches, including nervous system regulation and body-based awareness, to support trauma recovery at a physiological level. Tools like Compassionate Inquiry and Motivational Interviewing help deepen insight, foster self-compassion, and encourage meaningful change.
Whether working through anxiety, depression, identity development, or the impact of systemic oppression, I tailor my approach to each client’s unique needs—and, when appropriate, in the future, may integrate psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy to complement and deepen the healing process.
I am a Clinical Mental Health Counselor (t-LMHC) in the state of Iowa. I am an independent therapist practicing at Waxwing Psychological Services. I am a founding board member of the Neurodiversity Coalition of America and also offer mental health and neurodivergent consulting services to individuals and organizations. I am currently creating a portfolio of accessible worksheets and resources. I have personal experience navigating depression, anxiety, complex trauma, and late-in-life ADHD and Autism diagnoses (AuDHD). I bring empathy, compassion, and insight to my work with neurodivergent adults, domestic violence survivors, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those facing complex mental health challenges. I have personal experience as the recipient of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), as well as firsthand knowledge about the recreational and therapeutic uses of psychedelic substances. I believe psychedelics offer an intriguing, evidence-based complementary modality that has the potential to expand the therapeutic benefits and progress of clients in the psychotherapeutic setting. I am passionate about the neuroscience of trauma and its healing through nervous system regulation, and I have an appreciation for various modalities, including Somatic Experiencing, Transforming the Experience-Based Brain, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Brain Spotting, EMDR, and Mindful Movement. I am also passionate about dismantling stigma, providing psychoeducational support, and creating inclusive, trauma-informed spaces.
Beyond being a practitioner, I am passionate about advocacy. I advocate for systemic change, aiming to increase access and affordability to mental health care services, improve insurance reimbursement rates, standardize workplace accommodations for neurodivergent individuals, and push for policy reforms, including student loan forgiveness for mental health practitioners. My mission is to help individuals feel seen, supported, and empowered, and to bring forward and strengthen their inherent resilience, problem-solving skills, and internal resources, equipping them to cope more effectively in the future, even after therapy ends.