Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Marks.
Hi Stephanie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
My name is Stephanie Marks, I am a mental health therapist from Kansas City, Missouri currently practicing in a group private practice based in Katy, TX. My passion for therapy is rooted in my own childhood and adolescent trauma. During my junior year in high school, I began my own work with a therapist to help me cope with my parents ongoing, contentious divorce. This experience helped me realize I wanted to major in psychology and after high school, I enrolled at The University of Missouri. This decision was further solidified after starting intensive work with a university therapist. I initiated therapy due to the fallout from an unhealthy living situation with a roommate who was using hard drugs and ending a damaging romantic relationship. I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder which manifested in an extreme fear of food poisoning. At its worst, I was unable to attend class, socialize with friends, go grocery shopping, eat in restaurants, and was extremely restricted in the foods I ate. Weekly intensive therapy helped me heal childhood trauma, learn coping skills for my anxiety, and reclaim my life. My experience in therapy made me realize this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Knowing that I am able to help people in the same way my therapist helped me gives my life meaning and purpose.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I would say my road to becoming a therapist had a few challenges. After graduating college, I fell in love with Houston and enrolled in a counseling master’s program at The University of Houston. Moving to Houston by myself to complete my master’s degree was incredibly challenging. I went to school full time and I worked as a preschool teacher for The Head Start Program full time. Managing the demands of a graduate program on top of a full time job while trying to establish yourself socially in a new city was difficult. Self care and managing my anxiety disorder during this time was crucial for me to be able to function in all areas of my life. Financing a master’s degree and living expenses was challenging as I tried to create financial stability for the first time as a young adult.
Student Loans held me back from being able to establish the financial foundation I needed to feel secure in a new city. Finding and maintaining healthy romantic relationships during this time was also a challenge as I continued to learn boundary setting and self advocacy. After graduation, I continued to work full time as a teacher as a built my caseload working in private practice as a therapist. This resulted in me working 80-90 hour weeks until my caseload was stable enough for me to step away from teaching and focus on therapy full time.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I currently work as a therapist at Stone Creek Psychotherapy & Wellness Center in Katy, TX. Stone Creek is a group private practice where we work collaboratively to support the behavioral health needs of the Katy and Greater Houston area. Stone Creek offers therapy for children, adolescents, individual, family, couples, and group therapy. Stone Creek also offers AD/HD treatment, psychoeducational testing, and Neurotherapy.
I work most frequently with adolescents, young adults, couples, and families. I specialize in treating anxiety disorders, depression, self-esteem and identity work, giftedness, AD/HD, PTSD and trauma. I also facilitate high school girls’ groups and a young women’s college group. I am known for taking a client centered, relaxed and approachable direction with my clients.. I address the complex behavioral health needs of my clients with a multisystemic treatment approach. I work collaboratively with other academic and healthcare professionals to offer the most comprehensive care possible. I find my experience and transparency managing my own anxiety disorder allows me to understand the vulnerability many clients feel entering therapy for the first time. Being in private practice has allowed me the incredible privilege of having a front-row seat to my client’s biggest successes and I frequently get to watch clients graduate from high school, get their first jobs, attend college, get married, travel, and have children. My proudest moments as a therapist are when I watch my clients show incredible courage and resilience as they face their biggest fears, unearth generational trauma, take healthy risks, and find peace.
What makes you happy?
So many things bring me happiness and joy. To be a good therapist, you have to constantly be mindful of practicing self care. It is important to identify things that bring you joy in everyday life to offset the pain and suffering you hold for your clients. Working remotely during the Covid-19 Pandemic has been challenging, but has also offered me the opportunity to cultivate a healthier work/life balance. Some of the daily things that bring me joy are my dachshund Myles, my copious amount of houseplants, my outdoor garden where I grow peppers and herbs, my aquarium shrimp, spending time with my partner Ryan, paddle boarding, playing Animal Crossing with my sister (you are never too old to play video games), yoga, and being outdoors. One of my favorite things to do after a stressful day at work is to pick a new recipe and cook dinner. Enjoying new foods with the people I love not only brings me joy, but provides built-in opportunities for me to continue treating my anxiety around food so I can be the best version of me, for myself and for my clients.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected] | [email protected]
- Website: stonecreektherapy.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StoneCreekPsychotherapy
Image Credits
Ryan Morgado
