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YOU DON'T HAVE TO CARRY
THE STORY OF THE PAST ALONE.
Healing for Adults, Parents, and Teens: Breaking Generational Cycles, One Conversation at a Time.
Whether you are an adult navigating your own burnout, a parent seeking to support a struggling teen, or a young person looking for a safe space to be seen—you are not broken. You are navigating a complex history.
I’m Stephanie Hardison, LCSW, a Fat Liberation Therapist and Brainspotting Practitioner. I offer a unique space where adults and teens alike can be seen, heard, and validated. Together, we will heal the wounds that have been passed down, so you can build a future where you feel safe to thrive, and your family feels free to rest.
Welcome to The Climb Counseling
I believe in a world where you don’t need to shrink to fit in. My practice is rooted in fat liberation, queer-affirming care, and trauma-informed practices.
I specialize in the whole family dynamic. I work with:
Adults (parents and non-parents) who are ready to heal their own generational trauma and body shame.
Parents & Caregivers who want to understand their teen’s pain without repeating the mistakes of their own upbringing.
Teens who need a safe harbor to express their authentic selves without fear of judgment.
Wonder if you have out-of-network benefits?
I accept out of pocket payment as an out-of-network provider. The good news? Your insurance plan may still help cover the cost. Enter your information below to find out instantly.
For Parents: You Can Support Your Teen by Healing Yourself
It is common to feel helpless when your teen is struggling with anxiety, depression, or identity issues. Often, the very things that make it hard to connect with them—your own unresolved trauma, body shame, or fear of the future—are the same things your teen is facing.
I help parents & caregivers navigate this by:
Validating Your Teen’s Experience: Learning how to support a queer, BIPOC, or neurodivergent teen in a world that often tells them to hide.
Healing Your Own Triggers: Understanding how your own generational trauma might be unconsciously affecting your parenting or your relationship with your child.
Building Bridges: Creating a home environment where your teen feels safe to share their struggles without fear of judgment or "fixing."
Modeling Liberation: Showing your teen that it is possible to live unapologetically, regardless of body size, identity, or societal expectations.
If you are ready to break the cycle and support your teen with confidence, I am here to walk that path with you.
For Adults: Reclaim Your Space & Your Rest
Welcome home to yourself. You’ve spent so long being the strong one, the first to make it, and the one everyone leans on that you might have forgotten what it feels like to just be. This is a space where you don’t need to perform, hustle, or shrink. Whether you’re ready to rest without guilt, heal your relationship with your body, or simply breathe in a room where your whole identity is celebrated, you are welcome exactly as you are. Let’s leave the "shoulds" behind and build a life that feels like home.
Release Rest Guilt: Learn to rest without feeling like you’re failing or letting others down.
Heal Your Body Story: Move beyond shame to find joy and peace in your skin.
Break the Cycle: Gently uncover and release the generational patterns that keep you stuck.
Embrace Your True Self: Create a life that aligns with who you are, not who the world expects you to be.
For Teens & Young Adults: A Space to Belong, Just as You Are
Growing up as a queer, BIPOC, or neurodivergent teen can feel like navigating a world that wants you to be smaller than you are. You shouldn’t have to hide your identity, your interests, or your feelings to fit in. I offer a judgment-free zone where your world matters. Whether you’re into gaming, anime, art, or just trying to figure out who you are, we’ll use your language to explore your journey.
Safe Space to Be Seen: A place where your identity is celebrated, not questioned.
Gaming & Anime-Informed: We’ll use the stories and worlds you love to process real-life challenges.
Navigate Family Dynamics: Learn how to communicate your needs to your parents and community.
Find Your Voice: Build the tools to express yourself authentically without fear.
Meet Stephanie Hardison, LCSW
Your Partner in Healing and Empowerment
Your Partner in Healing for Adults and Families. I’m a Fat Liberation Therapist and Brainspotting Practitioner, offering virtual therapy that is queer-affirming, trauma-informed, and deeply culturally competent.
I work with three distinct groups, all connected by a desire to heal:
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Adults (Parents & Non-Parents): BIPOC, first-generation, and queer individuals navigating generational trauma, body shame, and the pressure to "make it." You are welcome here regardless of your family status.
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Parents & Caregivers: Individuals seeking to break the cycle of trauma and learn how to better support their children.
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Teens & Young Adults: Queer, BIPOC, and neurodivergent youth looking for a space to process their identity, anxiety, and the unique challenges of growing up in a family with its own history.
Through a unique blend of talk therapy and Brainspotting, I provide tools to process the past and release emotional blocks. My approach is deeply flexible and culturally responsive; I am happy to weave in references to gaming, anime, or other media that hold meaning for you, honoring the stories and worlds that shape your identity.
Whether we are working on your individual healing, helping you support your teen, or working directly with your teen, the goal remains the same: to bring healing to the parts of your life and body that have been left behind, so you can reclaim the wisdom and joy that have always belonged to you.
You check all the boxes: you have it together, the first to "make it," and the one everyone depends on.
But privately?
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You can't rest without feeling guilty.
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You're exhausted by how much energy it takes to hate your own body, and you worry your teen (or future children) are doing the same.
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You don't know where your family's story ends and your own begins.
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You've accomplished everything you were supposed to—so why do you still feel empty?
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You feel helpless watching your teen struggle with the same cycles you are trying to break.
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You worry your teen is repeating your mistakes, or that you are the cause of their pain.
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You want to support them but don't know how to talk about the hard stuff.
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You feel like you can't rest without guilt.
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You are exhausted by hating your body or hiding your true identity.
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You don't know where your parents' expectations end and your own desires begin.
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You've achieved what you were "supposed to"—so why do you still feel empty?
For the Adult
(Parent or Non-Parent):
For the Parent of a Teen:
For the Teen (or Young Adult):
My Specializations
I find that several of my specialties intersect. We are not limited to staying in one area; this is a place for you to explore.
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Fat Joy & Body Liberation (For All Ages)
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Latinx & Queer Experience (For Parents, Teens, and Adults)
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Parent-Teen Dynamics & Generational Trauma
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Gaming & Anime-Informed
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Anxiety, Fear, & Avoidance
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Overcoming Rest Guilt
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1st & 2nd Generation Mental Health
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Body Image & Self Esteem
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Depression, Negative Self Talk, Trauma, & Stress
Affirming Care
I challenge the systems that tell you who you should be. My practice is a space where BIPOC, Queer, Fat, and Neurodivergent folks can breathe, heal, and thrive without the pressure to conform.
LGBTQIA+
Community
Fat Folx
Disabled & Neurodivergent Folx
Parents of Queer & BIPOC Teens
First-Generation Families
Gamers & Anime Fans
Services
Individual Therapy
50 mins
Format: Virtual
Availability: Monday-Thursday
Fee: $200
Extended Individual Therapy
75-90 mins
Format: Virtual
Availability: Monday-Thursday
Fee: $300
Intensive Therapy Session -
4 hrs total (starting)
Format: Virtual
3-Part Package:
1. Prep Session (30 mins)
2. Deep Processing Intensive
(3 hrs, with break)
3. Integration Session (30 mins)
Availability: Reach out to inquire
Fee: Starts at $1,200
Group Therapy
Format: Virtual
Please follow link below for current group opportunities. Please reach out to schedule a screening call or be notified of future groups if none are linked.