Therapist Spotlight: Stephanie David, LLPC

Stephanie is a therapist who recently joined the team at GPS Guide to Personal Solutions. She works with children, adolescents, and families, and is also passionate about supporting women and adults who are interested in play therapy or navigating life’s challenges in a collaborative and supportive space.

Stephanie helps clients work through concerns such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and other emotional or behavioral challenges. She integrates several therapeutic approaches into her work, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, and psychoeducation. With parents and adults, she also incorporates parenting strategies, Family Systems Therapy, Existential Therapy, and other frameworks that help individuals develop a sense of identity outside of the many roles and “hats” they may carry in life.

When describing play therapy, Stephanie explains:

“It’s a space where you can truly be yourself—where we can learn from our strengths, interests, and experiences. Those parts of us shape who we are. Together, we can explore how to use those strengths to live a healthier and more fulfilling life.”

Through these approaches, Stephanie works collaboratively with clients to build emotional regulation skills, develop effective coping strategies, strengthen anger management, process grief, and navigate life transitions. Her work is rooted in a strength-based perspective that focuses on each client’s resilience and potential for growth.

Stephanie’s path into counseling began during her undergraduate studies. She originally started college as a Biology major on the pre-medicine track with the goal of becoming a pediatrician. However, during an Introduction to Health Psychology course, she visited a Children’s Advocacy Center as part of a class field trip. While touring the facility and learning about the experiences of children who had faced trauma, she felt a powerful shift in her career path.

That same day, Stephanie returned to campus and changed her major to Psychology.

She went on to complete her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2020 and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Counseling Psychology, with a focus on working with children, families, and adults.

Stephanie describes the motivation behind her work this way:

“I’ve always been curious about how the mind works. I want to help kids when they feel helpless and need guidance. My goal is to empower them and help give them a voice.”

When asked what a first therapy session with her might look like, Stephanie emphasizes connection and collaboration:

“I’m here to empower you. Our first session is about getting to know each other, building rapport, and identifying goals for therapy. We’ll explore what’s going on in your life and how I can best support you. Therapy is a collaborative process—we learn from each other. You may teach me things I hadn’t considered, and I hope to help guide you toward achieving your goals and creating a healthier life.”

Outside of her work as a therapist, Stephanie prioritizes self-care and creativity. She enjoys listening to music, caring for her plants, painting, experimenting with new recipes, and seeking out new experiences. She also values spending relaxed, meaningful time with friends and family.

Stephanie approaches both life and therapy with compassion, care, and structure. She believes therapy can provide a supportive space where clients feel safe enough to explore their challenges and rediscover their strengths.

“Life can be hard and overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. Therapy can be a cozy, supportive space where we bring what’s overwhelming in your mind into the open and work through it together. I want to help you see what you can bring into this world. Many people forget that—but no matter your age, everyone can benefit from therapy and take steps toward growth. Let’s take those steps together.”