Stephanie Halvorson, LMHC

(she/hers)

Bringing over 12 years of experience as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor my approach to counseling is client-centered and grounded in trauma-informed care—combining compassion, science and practical tools for lasting change. I am an EMDRIA Certified EMDR therapist and incorporate this approach regularly in my sessions. I integrate evidence-based modalities to include CBT, mindfulness, IFS, and other somatic-based approaches.

I provide counseling to individuals, couples and families, primarily working with clients ages 12 and older. My specialties include complex trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, domestic violence/abuse, interpersonal relationship challenges, and self-esteem concerns.

My professional experience spans working in a community mental health center, conducting crisis and risk assessments in a hospital, and counseling students in school settings. I am passionate in providing care to First Responders and have had the honor of being contracted with Cedar Rapids PD for the past 5+ years, serving in multiple roles . In my partnering with the PD and other local Fire Departments I co-facilitate critical incident debriefings, provide education and resources to peer support teams, as
well as offer ongoing counseling to First Responders and their family members. This work has deepened my appreciation for the unique stressors, strengths and sacrifices of those who serve on the front lines.
Holding space for my clients is truly a sacred part of the work for me. I am humbled and privileged to be present with clients as they access courage and vulnerability to move through their pain towards growth and renewal. I believe that therapy works best when it honors the whole person-their story, their strengths and their resilience-and that true healing happens in an environment built on trust and collaboration. I strive to create a space that builds insight for clients and leads to empowerment and change that feels both possible and sustainable. I integrate current findings and professional training from neuroscience to build understanding on how our brains and bodies respond to overwhelming experiences-and how this same system holds the innate capacity to recover and thrive. Healing happens when we begin to trust the body’s natural, adaptive processes. In partnering with my clients, I help them build awareness of their internal experiences, strengthen their emotional regulation, and reconnect with a sense of safety and self-trust.

In my personal time I enjoy hanging out with my family and friends, reading, singing and strumming away on my guitar, consuming lots of coffee, engaging in something creative, and researching some kind of nerdy subject since I am a life-long learner/student.