Meet Dr. Stephanie Byrd
Hi! I’m Dr. Stephanie Byrd, a licensed clinical psychologist with nearly 30 years of experience in the field. As a practice owner, consultant, trainer, and mentor, I’m sought out by peers for my expertise in guiding clinicians through the challenges of complex clinical work and private practice development and leadership. Over the course of my career, I’ve served across a variety of systems within the field; federal, state and county systems, community mental health, and private practice. I bring that breadth of knowledge into every consultation. My work is fueled by vision and heart: to support therapists in their growth, sustain them in the hard work of healing, and help them step into their most authentic, confident, and effective selves.
What I Offer
Consultation and training that blends mentorship, accountability, and depth—not checkboxes.
At the heart of my work is one belief: growth happens in safe, intentional, and reflective spaces. Whether you are a clinician, coach, athletic department, executive, or organizational leader, I provide consultation, mentorship, and training that strengthen both professional capacity and human resilience. My approach blends accountability, authenticity, and depth—helping people not just perform better, but live and lead in ways that are sustainable and aligned with their values.
Helping therapists move “beyond the book” and into their most authentic clinical selves.
Expertise
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I help therapists move beyond the book and rigid protocols and into their authentic clinical selves. With an integrative, depth-oriented approach, I focus on reflection, countertransference awareness, and relational process—so you can show up with more clarity, confidence, and presence in the room.
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Through individual and group consultation, I create spaces where therapists can explore complex client dynamics, process burnout, and strengthen their clinical identity. This isn’t checkbox consultation—it’s a collaborative journey that blends mentorship, accountability, and depth. My work goes beyond technique, helping therapists reconnect with their authenticity, grow their confidence, and build sustainable practices that honor both their professional growth and their humanity.
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This isn’t one-size-fits-all leadership training—it’s a reflective and practical process that blends authenticity, accountability, and vision, helping leaders align their culture with their values while building trust, confidence, and long-term sustainability.
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For coaches, athletic departments, athletes, and teams - I provide trainings, workshops, and consultation that center on resilience, mental health literacy, and values-driven leadership. My work supports leaders in creating emotionally safe environments where individuals and teams can thrive—on the field, in the boardroom, or across an organization.
Why I do this work
“Because therapists need a village to sustain the hard and meaningful work we do.”
After nearly 30 years in the field, I’ve seen how broken systems strip therapists of reflection and sustainability—leaving good clinicians burned out and questioning their purpose. I know that struggle firsthand. That’s why we created bareWell Consultation: a consultation space rooted in authenticity, presence, depth, community, and sustainability. Here, therapists find a village—a place to reconnect with their purpose, reclaim their voice, and thrive in the work, not just survive it.
Through my leadership at bareWell, my group therapy practice, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside clinicians as they grow, heal, and reclaim their clinical confidence. Extending this work beyond my own practice opens the door to something even greater: a community of therapists supporting therapists. This is how the impact widens—our collective reflection, wisdom, and courage reaching farther than any one practice or individual.
At the heart of this work is my deepest belief: we cannot do this alone. We need spaces of belonging and accountability, where we are seen not just as clinicians but as whole people carrying the weight of profound work. Building this larger community is what sustains us. It is where we find the care, challenge, and connection that make it possible to keep showing up for others—without losing ourselves in the process.
Therapist Stages of Development Model™
An original model by Dr. Stephanie Byrd, designed to guide therapists in their evolution.
Alongside this vision, I developed the Therapist Stages of Development Model™—a framework that supports clinicians in understanding their own internal evolution. Adapted from Prochaska & DiClemente’s work on behavioral change, this model reframes development as an ongoing, nonlinear process of growth. It provides both a mirror and a map: reflecting where you are in your clinical journey, and guiding where you might go next.
By naming the stages therapists naturally move through, the model offers language, structure, and compassion for the realities of clinical growth. It helps clinicians locate themselves, normalize the struggles, and approach their professional identity with more intention and sustainability. My hope is that it empowers therapists to see their work—and themselves—with renewed clarity, authenticity, and depth.
Your growth as a therapist is as important as the healing you bring to others.
Start your journey of deeper understanding with the Therapist Stages of Development Self-Assessment™.
The Therapist Stages of Development Model™ and Therapist Stages of Development Self-Assessment™ were created by Dr. Stephanie Byrd. All rights reserved.
Why Work with Dr. Byrd?
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Licensure isn’t the finish line—it’s the start of a new stage of growth. With so many therapists now working remotely, isolation and overwhelm have fueled high rates of burnout. Just as importantly, we carry an ethical responsibility to maintain consultation for high-risk or complex cases. Ongoing consultation bridges the gap between supervision and independent practice—supporting both therapists and the integrity of the field.
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Consultation is a collaborative process focused on your growth as a clinician and leader. It is not formal supervision but rather a supportive space for clinical exploration, reflective practice, and professional development. Together, we focus on strengthening skills, clarifying your voice, and cultivating confidence.
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I work with licensed mental health professionals and group practice owners who are seeking support in their clinical growth, leadership development, or practice culture. Whether you are newly licensed, refining your therapeutic identity, or leading a practice, our work can be tailored to your stage of development.
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No—while I love helping therapists deepen their case conceptualization skills and integrate theory into practice, my work also extends into mentorship and leadership consultation. Many of the clinicians I work with are also exploring their roles as practice owners, leaders, and visionaries.
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Yes. Many of the clinicians I work with are not practice owners. Consultation supports therapists at every stage—helping you grow clinically, find your voice, and build confidence in your work.
If you’re curious about consultation, begin by completing the interest form—I’ll be in touch soon.
Testimonials
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The first impression you get when sitting across from Dr. Byrd is that she understands. She’s been there. She’s seen it. She gets it - and she cares. Right away, you recognize her authenticity as a clinician, supervisor, a person. Dr. Byrd has a unique ability to build trust with those she consults, grounded in her lived experience, values, and expertise. From that foundation, she skillfully guides others through the complex and overlapping dynamics between client, clinician, and context. Her perspective not only invites deeper exploration but also opens the door to meaningful insight and, ultimately, liberation from the challenges that confront you.
Dr. Jason Cencirulo, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Owner of WithTherapySD
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In working with Dr. Byrd through consultation, I've been able to tap back into the reason I chose to pursue a career in talk therapy- to deepen human connection. She's allowed me to feel more confident in my approach, my skill set and I believe most importantly, being a safe base for my clients. Her motto of "Be a human being first" has allowed me to be more authentic and I've been able to gain a deeper understanding of my blindspots, where they're coming from and how they might show up with different clients.
Claudia Floros, LPCC, Clinical Director, bareWell
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What stands out to me about consulting with Dr. Byrd is her presence; grounded, and deeply attuned. She brings not only clinical expertise but also an emotional intelligence that makes it safe to reflect honestly and connect to your own therapeutic self. What makes Dr.Byrd's consultation approach unique is the way she weaves relational depth, systems awareness, and clinical nuance into every conversation. This isn’t a checkbox consultation; it’s deep growth and development. She helps you hold complexity without overwhelm, offering guidance that feels both valuable and applicable.
Karen Kerschmann, LCSW, Kerschmann and Associates, Diplomate, Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies Board Member, San Diego CBT Consortium