Stephanie Wright (She/her)

As a holistic therapist, I tend to embody an empathic teacher, healer, and guide. I am trained as a Clinical Psychologist and certified as a Reiki Master. I’ve always gravitated toward understanding how things work, including myself and others. I’ve observed a natural ability in myself to be able to comprehend and articulate the intricacies of thought and emotion that many experience, making my choice to pursue this career path an easy one. I’m also one who is continuously journeying through healing, which I believe is a lifelong commitment. It simply takes different forms with each stage of progress. I’ve worked in many settings including community-based counseling, college counseling, and private practice. My experience includes clinical training and supervision, sport and performance psychology, mindfulness, and self-healing energy practices. 

Questions? swright@forrealtherapy.com

INTERVIEW BIO WITH Stephanie Wright

What do you think society doesn’t prepare us for in terms of emotional regulation and insight?

In my opinion and experience, our community is not adequately prepared or educated in identifying the complexity and range of our emotional experiences. We are often taught that we must rely on or "control" external sources to help us regulate, rather than being taught how to call upon internal resources to guide us. Due to various factors, many of us struggle to access and reassess our own process when it comes to understanding and regulating our thoughts, emotions, and actions. However, just like any other skill we learn in life, our mental and emotional processes can be improved in ways that help us become more adaptive in our functioning.

What is the most hopeful conspiracy theory?

There is some institution of power that actually wants everyone to evolve to a place of living more healthy and fulfilled lives without an ulterior motive. The only motive is to help people access the love that they are and their ability to heal themselves through that love.

What do you think is missing from psychotherapy?

An intentional break from direct therapy is missing from traditional interventions. I think it's important for clients to develop a sense of self-efficacy when it comes to managing the challenges of life. Through assessment, support, skill-building, and facilitating a grounded relationship, I believe we can perceive therapy as just one method of accessing healing among many.

Coordinating breaks from therapy can offer a client a chance to practice and participate in using other resources to heal. Furthermore, it gives therapists the opportunity to see areas of struggle or strain. As the relationship becomes more collaborative, a client can expand their awareness of their needs and have a basic understanding of how to approach them in the moment.

In the end, I truly believe that my job as a therapist is to work towards no longer being needed.

How do you see, view, feel about the intersection of cultural factors such as race, gender, and class getting psychotherapeutic treatment?

Cultural identity factors are constantly in play as we navigate the systems in our lives, including psychotherapy. Anything that has a history or origin carries traces of it in its existence. Historically, psychotherapy has not always been healing to people with certain identities, and in many ways, it has been harmful. It is crucial to hold space for this truth, and therapists must acknowledge this dynamic within themselves and their intersectionality. As a therapist, I approach this work with a social-cultural-relational lens and do not carry the belief that I am a "blank slate" within the therapeutic space. I am a dynamic human being, and I get to apply my humanity to my work. I deeply understand that my own challenges do not exist in a vacuum of isolation apart from my culture and community, just like everyone else. I wholeheartedly believe that bringing this understanding into the therapeutic space can be incredibly healing for many.

What is the significance of hurt, pain and suffering in our lives?

I believe hurt, pain, and suffering provide us with valuable information about how we experience our lives. Like any other emotional experience, we have been taught to fear, resist, and suppress them. However, our feelings exist naturally on a spectrum and respond directly to the way our environment interacts with our complex beliefs and other things that are hard-wired in our mind and body. As a highly sensitive and empathic Black woman, I have moved through a lot of hurt, pain, and suffering. Every day, I am learning how to be with them in a curious and compassionate way, without judgment. Once hurt, pain, and suffering are effectively used as information, they can transform into something new, sometimes bearable, or even pleasant. Although Buddhists or Taoists may have a better way of explaining the healing nature of suffering, I know from experience that there is something powerful and transformative in our ability to bring presence to our pain.

What is your universal piece of advice?

To develop or prioritize a practice of self-love and self-compassion. It is important to have those things as companions when you are doing therapy because a lot of hard stuff that people avoid and sweep under the rug (such as shame) may surface. These practices will also help in everyday life with developing a better relationship with self and others. It’s a way of allowing more light in.