Stephanie Peterson, LCSW

Stephanie Peterson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and LCSW Qualified Supervisor, with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Social Work from Florida State University.  Stephanie is trained in both EMDR and Gottman therapy, and she is a co-facilitator of Bayou Wellness's weekend marriage intensives.

Stephanie began her career in 1994 as a therapist working in a residential substance abuse treatment program, and her passion for recovery work has only grown over the last 25 years.  Understanding that substance use disorders and mental illness affect both the whole person and the family unit, often for generations, Stephanie works with the entire family to stop toxic patterns and build a healthy future. Stephanie is also passionate about helping teenagers navigate the murky waters of adolescence, which often include peer issues, divorce, grief, behavior problems, and drug use.  Other issues she treats include stress, depression, anxiety, young adult issues, relationship issues, parenting issues, life transitions, divorce recovery, and codependency.  Stephanie prefers using EMDR to treat both past and present trauma, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and PTSD.  Stephanie's social work experience has taken place in a variety of settings, including outpatient, residential, day treatment, and hospital settings, as well as school-based services.  She has extensive experience in program development and clinical supervision.  She spent years teaching as an adjunct professor at UWF.  As an LCSW Qualified Supervisor, Stephanie only supervises as the post-graduate level, and requires her registered interns to be employed at Bayou Wellness.  She prefers that interns have at least one year of experience working in the mental health field.

"In this life we are guaranteed struggles and hardships, but I believe in the power of resilience, second chances, and growth.  We don’t have to be afraid of the hard things, but instead, lean into them.  That’s where the good stuff grows.  Romans 5:3-5 says it best:  'We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.'" - Stephanie