STEPHANIE R. GRAHAM, PHD
Psychotherapy for Individuals and Couples
My name is Stephanie Graham and I am a licensed psychologist in Wisconsin. For the past 15 years, I have provided psychotherapy to both individuals and couples, from shorter term work to working with individuals for several years.
On this website, you will find information about my background, training, and what it might be like to work with me. Knowing a little bit about me and about my practice will help you to decide whether we might work well together. I believe (and research consistently shows) that the best predictor of successful therapy is the quality of the working relationship between the therapist and the client. Like any other relationship, much of that bond is based on “chemistry”—a hard-to-pin-down quality that has to do with personality and style and whether we tend to see the world in similar ways. For this reason, I encourage potential clients to shop around a bit before selecting a therapist. One therapist is not exchangeable for another. Not only do we use different therapeutic approaches, but we also differ as people, and that affects whether there is a synergy and an understanding that will help the therapy along.
If you'd like to make an appointment with me, then the first step is to fill out the contact form below or leave me a message at (608) 301-5430. I will then contact you to schedule a free, short phone consultation. We can talk about what you are looking for, I will respond to any of your questions, and then we can decide about scheduling a face-to-face appointment.
MAY 2020 Update:
Offering telehealth sessions as well as face-to-face sessions
GET TO KNOW ME
I graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.A. in Psychology, and I then completed a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. I then went on to complete a doctorate in Counseling Psychology at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. I have 15 years of experience as a psychotherapist with individuals and couples and have worked in a number of settings including college/university counseling centers, community mental health clinics, and in private practice. I also have experience as a supervisor of graduate trainees and have taught varied courses including multicultural counseling, career counseling, supervision, clinical practicum, and crisis and trauma counseling. My own research and scholarly interests focus on LGBTQ issues, clinical supervision, supporting underrepresented college students, and current issues in training mental health clinicians. I am an active and proud member of Madison’s LGBTQ community.
SERVICES I OFFER
INDIVIDUAL AND COUPLES THERAPY
I do individual and couples work with adolescents and adults. I am a generalist, so I work with clients who have many different types of issues. Some of the issues that I work with most include:
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depression
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problems within relationships (romantic, family, work-related, etc.)
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anxiety
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sexual and gender exploration and/or concerns
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trans issues (including letters of support)
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survivors of childhood abuse or more recent assault(s)
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grief
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parenting
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academic challenges facing college students including graduate students
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adjustment to major life changes
If you’re wondering whether I have experience or expertise in working with a particular concern, please ask me.
In addition to working part-time in private practice, I am also a Clinical Professor at UW-Madison in the Department of Counseling Psychology. I find that my work at UW-Madison is exciting, energizing, and keeps me on my toes and up-to-date on best practices in the field of professional psychology.
"People don't come to therapy for exclamation; they come for experience."
Frieda Fromm Reichmann
WHAT I AM LIKE AS A THERAPIST
I do not believe that one approach to psychotherapy works for everyone. Instead, I believe (and research supports) that different people facing various challenges are helped by different approaches. At times, and depending on a number of factors, I might draw from any of the following schools of psychotherapy: Psychodynamic, Interpersonal, Cognitive-Behavioral, and Feminist. For me, this flexibility allows me to meet the needs of my clients more effectively.
I am a very straightforward therapist—I’ll always tell you why I’m asking about something or suggesting you try something. I believe in “demystifying” therapy, meaning I believe the more you understand about why we’re doing something, the more likely it is that it will be helpful to you. I also believe in helping you gain new insights and skills that you can later use on your own, without the help of a therapist. One thing I’m not is passive: I’m not going to just sit there and say “uh-huh” and “how do you feel about that?” I will certainly listen, and I will ask you how you feel (among many other things), but I think there’s a lot more to good therapy than just listening. When I have an idea I think might help, I’ll share it with you.
I try to be “real” when talking with clients. I’m quite open about my own life, and when I think an example of my own struggle or insight might be helpful, I’ll share that—not because I think my answers are necessarily yours, but because I believe that psychotherapy is a real encounter between two real people (not a distant, formal expert “treating” a “patient”). I also bring my sense of humor into the sessions. I hope my bringing humor into the session may invite you to make a similar choice, or at least provide a momentary respite from the seriousness of the concerns we’re dealing with.
INSURANCE AND PAYMENT INFORMATION
I can bill as an out-of-network provider for most insurance plans. I also take out of pocket payments. I try to be as accommodating as possible when it comes to providing my services. Contact me and I’ll do my best to accommodate to your situation.
CONTACT ME
Please fill out the information below including a phone number that I can call. If you prefer to call me, please leave a detailed message at (608) 301-5430. I will do my best to respond within 24 hours to all messages.
702 N Blackhawk Ave, Suite 209, Madison, WI 53705, USA