Stephanie Butler, LMHC-S, NCC, MCAP, BCC
Trauma Therapist | Clarity Counseling & Wellness, LLC
Shalimar & Fort Walton Beach, Florida
You know there's more to life than just getting through it.
I’m Stephanie Butler, a licensed mental health counselor, Board Certified Coach, and Reiki Level II practitioner with 20 years of clinical experience. My professional background brings together advanced trauma treatment, evidence-based psychotherapy, and complementary approaches to emotional well-being. I’ve dedicated my career to understanding not only how psychological distress develops, but also how our experiences, relationships, beliefs, and mind-body connections influence the way we heal.
I bring that depth of knowledge into both my therapy and coaching work. In therapy, that means thoughtful, effective treatment that recognizes the complexity of who you are, rather than focusing solely on a diagnosis or set of symptoms. In coaching, it means helping highly sensitive and neurodivergent women understand how they work and build their lives around what matters to them.
Some of this I know from the inside. I’m highly sensitive and neurodivergent myself, and for much of my life I was told I was too much. That experience shapes the patience, curiosity, and respect I bring to every person I work with.
It doesn’t have to be “like this” forever.
One of the most important things I've learned throughout my clinical career is that understanding why you're struggling and actually experiencing relief are two very different things.
That's why I don't believe therapy should consist of simply revisiting the same problems week after week. I use specialized treatment approaches, informed by advanced clinical training, to identify and address what's contributing to your symptoms rather than focusing only on managing them.
My intention is to help you make meaningful progress as efficiently and effectively as your individual needs allow. Therapy should be a purposeful investment in your well-being, with the ultimate goal of helping you feel better and move forward without needing ongoing weekly sessions.
The same belief shapes my coaching. Understanding yourself is where it starts, and coaching is where you put that understanding into practice, with clear goals, real follow-through, and support while new ways of living take hold.
You deserve more than just feeling better.
You deserve to reconnect with yourself and reclaim your life.
My style
Therapy with me is…
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I believe effective therapy should lead to noticeable improvements in how you feel and function, not just a better understanding of why you're struggling.
My advanced training in EMDR and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) allows me to use focused, evidence-based approaches that help people process distressing experiences and reduce the emotional impact those experiences continue to have on their lives.
I want you to experience progress you can recognize outside the therapy room, whether that's feeling less anxious, responding differently to situations that once overwhelmed you, or finding yourself able to enjoy life again.
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I believe therapy should be a two-way street. I'm actively engaged in our work together, asking thoughtful questions, sharing observations, and gently challenging you when it can help you grow.
But just as importantly, I see you as a whole person, not a diagnosis, a set of symptoms, or a problem to solve. I respect your experiences, perspectives, values, and the life you bring into the room. Clients often tell me they feel genuinely seen and understood, like they're talking with someone who truly gets it and treats them as a person first.
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I respect the whole person you are, including your experiences, values, beliefs, relationships, and the choices you've made along the way. I understand that people are complex, and I don't believe a diagnosis, a difficult chapter, or a particular struggle defines who someone is.
I approach our work without judgment or assumptions. You can expect honesty, compassion, professionalism, and respect for your autonomy, even when we're exploring difficult or deeply personal experiences.
And yes, there's room for humor. I believe laughter, warmth, and genuine human connection belong in therapy, too. We can do meaningful, sometimes difficult work without every moment feeling heavy. My goal is for you to feel comfortable being fully yourself, knowing you'll be taken seriously without everything having to be so serious.
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My clinical expertise allows me to recognize connections that aren't always immediately obvious. Anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship patterns, and emotional distress rarely exist in isolation. I consider how your personal history, attachment experiences, physical well-being, spiritual beliefs, and life circumstances may be influencing what you're experiencing today.
I bring together years of clinical knowledge, specialized training, and professional judgment to understand the complexities of your situation and determine where treatment can make the greatest difference. I also recognize that spirituality, personal meaning, and connection to something greater than ourselves can be important parts of healing for some people. Whether spirituality is central to your life or not part of it at all, your beliefs and values are respected.
Rather than approaching every concern as a separate problem, I look at how the pieces fit together.
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I'm honest, straightforward, and compassionate in my approach. I'll tell you what I think, ask the difficult questions when they're needed, and gently challenge patterns that may be keeping you stuck. I believe you deserve a therapist who is willing to have meaningful conversations, not simply tell you what you want to hear.
I'm also not interested in keeping you in therapy longer than necessary. My goal is to help you experience relief, build confidence in your ability to navigate life's challenges, and eventually move forward without needing me every week.
I can help you create a life that feels like yours.
Throughout my 20 years as a therapist, I’ve worked with people navigating complex emotional experiences, trauma, relationship difficulties, and challenges that don’t always fit neatly into a diagnosis. I’ve learned that understanding why someone struggles is only part of the picture. What matters is knowing how to help them experience meaningful change.
That understanding has shaped my professional journey, leading me to pursue advanced training in EMDR and Accelerated Resolution Therapy® (ART), while expanding my knowledge of women’s mental health, sensitivity and neurodivergence, relationships, and the connections between emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Becoming a Board Certified Coach and Reiki Level II practitioner reflects my commitment to exploring different perspectives on growth and healing.
What I bring to our work is experience, specialized knowledge, and the clinical judgment to recognize the complexities of your situation and develop an approach that fits your needs. My goal is to help you experience meaningful relief and get back to living your life, rather than spending years in therapy.
This work is grounded in advanced clinical training and evidence-based practices.
Education
The Florida State University
Master of Science in Counseling and Human Systems
Specialization: Mental Health Counseling
Specialist Degree: EducationThe University of Alabama at Birmingham
Bachelor of Science, Psychology
Credentials & Training
Licensed Mental Health Counselor & Qualified Supervisor (LMHC-S)
Board Certified Coach (BCC)
National Board-Certified Counselor (NCC)
Master’s Level Certified Addiction Professional (MCAP)
Master ART® Practitioner (Accelerated Resolution Therapy)
Certified Reiki II Practitioner
Specialized Training in Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)
EMDR-Trained Therapist
Frequently Asked Questions
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Clients often tell me they feel genuinely seen, heard, and understood, but what stands out is that they also feel confident I know what to do with what they bring into the room.
They describe my approach as honest, direct, and real. I don't just listen; I help them make sense of their experiences, recognize connections, and work toward resolving what has been keeping them stuck. There's room for humor, genuine conversation, and being yourself without feeling judged.
Some clients have shared that they were able to process difficult experiences without repeatedly reliving them, develop the tools to navigate challenges independently, and move forward in ways they hadn't experienced before. One of the most meaningful things I hear is that clients feel they're finally getting back to living their lives, rather than simply managing their struggles.
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Talking about your experiences can be valuable, but it's not the only way to work through them. I use specialized approaches, including EMDR and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), that help the brain process distressing experiences rather than relying on conversation and insight alone.
What makes my approach different is how I bring these methods together with my broader clinical knowledge. I consider the connections between your emotional health, relationships, physical well-being, and personal history to determine what may be most helpful for you.
Our sessions are active and purposeful, with treatment tailored to your needs and progress regularly evaluated. The goal is to help you experience changes that carry into your everyday life, not simply leave each appointment with more to think about.
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Not necessarily. I believe therapy should be a focused investment in your well-being, not an indefinite commitment to weekly appointments.
In my clinical experience, clients who attend sessions more consistently, particularly weekly, often build momentum and experience meaningful progress sooner. Many of my clients begin noticing significant relief within approximately three months, and some are ready to conclude therapy around that time. Others benefit from a longer course of treatment.
Most of my clients schedule every other week, while some attend monthly. Weekly sessions may be recommended when we're working toward more focused progress. Meeting more frequently can mean making that investment over a shorter period rather than spreading appointments across many months, although the total number of sessions varies from person to person.
We'll decide together what makes sense for your needs, goals, and circumstances. My intention is to help you get the most out of our work and move forward with greater confidence and independence.
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Absolutely not. You deserve to feel safe, respected, and in control of what you choose to share in therapy.
One of the reasons I love Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is that you don't have to tell me every detail of a painful experience for us to work on it. I've had clients express genuine relief when they realize they won't have to rehash painful stories they've already told countless times.
But there's always room to talk, too. Sometimes you need to share your story, ask questions, or simply have someone listen and understand. Other times, you're ready to work through an experience without putting it all into words. We can do both.
My approach allows us to work in ways that respect your comfort, readiness, and individual needs, without sacrificing the focus of treatment.
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I specialize in individual therapy for adults, particularly those navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, perfectionism, emotional overwhelm, and major life transitions.
Many of the people I work with are insightful and self-aware. They may understand why they're struggling but haven't found a way to experience lasting relief. Others simply know that something needs to change and are ready for support.
My practice focuses exclusively on individual adult therapy. I do not provide couples counseling, marriage counseling, family therapy, or therapy for children and adolescents. However, we can absolutely address relationship concerns, attachment patterns, and family dynamics within your individual therapy.
You don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out. We'll explore whether my approach and areas of expertise are a good fit for your needs.
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Feeling understood, comfortable, and confident in your therapist matters. That's why I offer a free consultation, giving us an opportunity to talk about what you're looking for, answer your questions, and determine whether my approach is a good fit for your needs.
There's no pressure or obligation. It's simply a chance to connect and decide whether working together feels like the right next step.