Stephanie Sammarco, LPC, LPMHC

Stephanie Sammarco is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with 15 years of clinical experience in New Jersey. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, grief, parenting challenges, and the effects of trauma and abuse. Stephanie aims to make reaching out to a new therapist easier and less overwhelming from the first contact.

Her approach centers on building a trusting relationship first. She prioritizes a caring, nonjudgmental atmosphere where clients feel heard. Sessions focus on understanding what matters most to each person and setting practical goals together.

Stephanie uses a mix of methods to fit the situation. She draws on client-centered work to follow the client’s lead, cognitive behavioral ideas to change unhelpful thinking and behavior, and mindfulness strategies to increase present-moment coping. Motivational interviewing and psychodynamic perspectives are added when they match a client’s needs.

Her background includes work with people affected by chronic pain, caregiver stress, blended family issues, and first responder concerns. She also supports those navigating identity questions, codependency, communication problems, and life transitions. The emphasis is on hands-on strategies that can be used between sessions.

Stephanie describes collaboration as central. She helps clients set clear steps and checks progress along the way. To begin, a short matching questionnaire is used and scheduling follows each clinician’s availability.

How Stephanie’s approaches translate to online therapy

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and following the client’s priorities. Sessions emphasize empathy, reflecting what matters to the person, and working at a comfortable pace. It helps with relationship issues, identity concerns, and the emotional weight of health or life changes.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, targets thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going. It uses simple exercises and homework to test new ways of thinking, which is helpful for anxiety, depression, and coping with chronic illness or pain.

Mindfulness therapy teaches skills to notice thoughts and feelings without getting swept up by them. Short practices and attention exercises can reduce reactivity and improve daily functioning during stressful periods.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals and preferences, and will adjust strategies as progress is tracked.

If you are considering online options, confirm the specific session formats available before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time so sessions fit around caregiving or medical appointments. Licensed professionals tailor session pacing and tools to work well in the chosen format.