Stacey D. Conner, MA, LPC-S
How are you doing, really?
Does your life sometimes feel like a docudrama? You know the kind where you're watching in disbelief, shaking your head wondering what crazy thing will happen next? Or maybe you feel like you're doing your best to "just keep swimming", but life seems to be coming at you in tidal waves; dragging you under faster than you can doggy paddle back to the surface. Relationships, work, finances, parenting, family, friends, health can feel exhausting and overwhelming. Even on the good days it's a lot to manage and bad days can leave you feeling like it's just too much. I get it and I'm here to help.
As a client-centered counselor specializing in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) my priority is to help you connect the dots between life, relationships and emotions. My goal is for us to build trust and rapport in a safe, non-judgmental space to get real with yourself, maybe even a little vulnerable. Don't worry, I don't bite!
We are all doing the best we can to navigate this thing called life, but we don't have to go it alone. You may think you should have it all figured out and it may even look to others like you've got it all together. If you don't feel that way on the inside though, please reach out. Prioritize your well-being. I would love to help you get started today.
It’s OK not to be OK.
So, you’re considering counseling…maybe for the first time or maybe you’ve tried it off and on for years. Let me see if I can guess a few of your thoughts and questions: Is this going to work? Do I really want to tell my story (or tell it again) to a new counselor? What if they’re weird? What if they think I’m weird? Will they judge me? My trust issues make it hard to be vulnerable. Am I/we too broken to be fixed? I’ve had a bad experience with counseling and don’t know why this time would be different.
Does any of that sound familiar?
Well, let me just say I’ve had all those thoughts and questions at some point in my own therapeutic journey. That’s perfectly normal! I am a professional counselor, but I am also a client and I truly believe in the therapeutic process both professionally and personally. The felt experience of being on your side of the couch is one of the greatest assets I bring to our counseling relationship. Education, training and experience are certainly important factors when selecting a counselor, but it’s just as important that you feel comfort, connection and trust during our time together. Those are must haves for a successful experience and they are my primary goal and standard for every session.
A little about EFT
Humans are hardwired for connection and through that modeled experience in our sessions, you will learn how the relationships in your life (including with yourself) are impacted by your emotions and attachment style. When you feel something, what is the story you tell yourself that makes that feeling make sense? How do you know that story is true? What if it’s not? How are your feelings informing your behavioral response to a particular situation, person or experience? This process is the basis for Emotionally Focused Therapy and is the approach I primarily utilize. It applies across all types of relationships and is such a powerful tool for clients to use whether they’re in individual or couples counseling, a family system or even a professional relationship. In addition to being emotion-based, my sessions are client-centered and solution-focused. I want you to leave feeling empowered to take charge of your own life and equipped with tools and strategies that you can immediately implement.
Will this work?
As for those questions: yes, counseling absolutely works if you work at it. You will always get 100% from me, but the personal benefit is going to be greatest when you fully commit to the process. A compassionate counselor will actively work to build rapport and trust so that you feel safe to be vulnerable with your feelings and emotions. You will never be judged. Don’t stress about feeling weird or thinking you’re broken in some way. Most people are hardest on themselves and while you might think that would drive positive change, the guilt and shame we carry often becomes a barrier to change. As you come to understand the moves you make and why you make them, growth comes much more authentically and has a much longer lasting and positive impact in your life and relationships. A greater sense of self allows you to live in the fullness of who God created you to be and I am honored and humbled to walk alongside you on your journey.
A Little About Me
I began working in the counseling field in 2000 after completing my bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas A&M University and master’s in counseling from Sam Houston State University. I have enjoyed helping clients in a variety of settings including non-profits, hospitals, schools and private practice. My therapeutic approach is client-centered. In session you might hear me say, “you lead, I guide” meaning I share the tools and skills and you take action to employ them in your daily life. My approach is professional but approachable. I take this work very seriously, but myself, not so much. The last thing you want is a stuffy shrink that feels distant and judgmental. I’m also a client, and I know I don’t want that either! I have a very casual and laid-back approach with a healthy mix of trust, rapport, humor and challenge. I love this work and am passionate about helping people achieve their goals and improve their overall well-being. I’m a counselor but more importantly I’m a woman, wife, mom, daughter, sister and friend so I understand intimately that a life well-lived is a life rooted in quality relationships with yourself and others. My life revolves around family, friends, health and wellness, live music, sports, travel, dogs and home. I look forward to walking alongside you in your journey to well-being and balance.