

I believe that humans should ideally be unfolding and growing throughout their lifetime. This means embracing change, especially when life gets difficult and we feel stuck, dissatisfied, or overwhelmed. Change is a journey with ups and downs. Personally, I believe we all struggle with challenges at different times in our life and it's the courageous who seek help.
When I began seeing a therapist, I realized just how much I needed an outlet to process hardships in my life and to feel genuinely heard, and this is exactly what I want to provide to clients who come to see me. As I have advanced in my own self-discovery and identity exploration, I have become interested in helping others in the LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent (specifically autism and ADHD), and disability communities on their own journeys. I believe that having lived experience related to my specialties is a fundamental component to the care I can provide.
I’m Dr. Stephanie Smigiel, PhD, LPC, the founder of Smigiel Counseling, and I’ve worked in the behavioral health field since 2013 supporting children, adolescents, adults, and families. My practice is grounded in a neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approach, shaped by both professional training and lived experience. I specialize in working with neurodivergent individuals and trauma across the lifespan, from early childhood through adulthood, and tailor treatment to each client’s unique needs, goals, and strengths.
help patients find hope in adversity. I explore a patient's need for external validation and identify old, negative motivators used to inspire achievement-based goals. I teach self-care and self-regulating practices while modeling healthy attunement. Together, we explore conflict-avoidant behaviors and healthy dependency. Being a highly sensitive person is not a weakness but an empathic strength. I explore the guilt, shame, and fear that cause "analysis paralysis." I analyze unhealthy habits and teach clients to build trust and reconnect with a traumatic body that no longer trusts. You are the expert and I am your guide.
I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in New Jersey, with six years of experience in the mental health field. I view therapy as a space where your voice is valued, respected, and truly heard.


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