Stephanie Cusanelli, LSW Intern

Life transitions can leave you feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or uncertain about what comes next. Therapy can provide a place to make sense of those changes, better understand yourself, and develop the confidence to move forward. I work with adults navigating anxiety, relationship and family concerns, stress, self-esteem challenges, identity development, and significant life changes. My goal is to create a warm, nonjudgmental environment where you feel heard, validated, and deeply respected—and comfortable enough to show up authentically and talk about the things that may be difficult to discuss elsewhere. My approach is warm, collaborative, and strengths-based, while also being active and practical. I draw from person-centered therapy and incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, and mindfulness-based techniques to help clients gain insight and develop useful coping strategies they can carry into everyday life. I am particularly interested in working with young adults, parents, and individuals exploring questions of identity, as well as those navigating stress and major life transitions. I also bring a trauma-informed, socially conscious perspective to therapy, recognizing that our relationships, environments, cultures, and life experiences can all influence our emotional well-being. I believe meaningful progress begins with a trusting therapeutic relationship in which you feel supported while discovering your own strengths, resilience, and capacity for change. I earned my Bachelor of Psychological Sciences from the University of Connecticut and am currently pursuing my Master of Social Work while completing my clinical training as an MSW intern under supervision. My developing clinical interests include young adult mental health, identity exploration, trauma-informed care, and the ways social and environmental factors affect mental health. Through my graduate education and supervised clinical experience, I am continuing to deepen my training in evidence-based approaches such as CBT and DBT while developing an individualized, compassionate approach to helping clients achieve their goals.