Stephanie Banks(She/Her/Hers)

Stephanie Banks is a Licensed Professional Counselor based in Slidell, La who works with various populations across the life span to include adolescents, young adults, and adults. In addition to working as a Behavioral Health Therapist with youth, families, and individuals with substance dependence issues, she has worked with adolescents transitioning out of the foster care system, individuals who have been subjected to homelessness, Veterans, previously incarcerated men and women and individuals exposed to trauma. Her mission is to encourage, edify, and exhort individuals and couples to transcend debilitating emotions, thoughts, and feelings to develop effective relationships with God, others, and self.

Stephanie employs an emotion focused and faith-based therapeutic perspective. She believes expressions of underlying vulnerable emotions are central in changing interpersonal and intrapersonal interactions and re-establishing healthy emotional bonds. Based on the spiritual meaning, the heart is the internal center of man's will and emotions. In addition, scientific research has identified emotions as an essential factor in adaptive and maladaptive functioning due to emotions guiding one's actions.

Stephanie works as a coach, uplifting and motivating her clients to work on positive recovery capital such as hope, resilience, trust, and self-efficacy. When a client first comes in, the environment is warm and accepting without judgment. Empathy and unconditional positive regard are the essential techniques of supporting her client to feel comfortable and hopeful.

Stephanie is also a Licensed Addictions Counselor (LAC), Certified Belief Therapist, and Certified Symbis Pre-Marital Facilitator and an qualified Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) with the Louisiana Department of Transportation (DOT). She has obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from Tulane University and a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialty in Forensic Counseling from Walden University.