Stephanie Bigham

Stephanie Bigham brings 20 years of clinical experience to her work as a therapist in North Carolina. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in North Carolina, and her professional background spans a range of settings that give her a broad and practical perspective on mental health care.

Raised in Florida, Stephanie attended the University of Florida - Go Gators! - where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with minors in Psychology and Education. She continued her training with a Master of Social Work from Florida International University and is also a Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator.

Her career path has included roles in a mental health clinic serving people with developmental delays, work in a hospital setting including the NICU, time in a respite program, private practice, and experience in the classroom. She has been a full-time stay-at-home mom and has worked as a substitute teacher for grades K-5 - experiences that contribute to a view of clinical work that extends beyond traditional mental health roles.

Stephanie uses a mindfulness and acceptance-based cognitive behavioral therapy approach to help people become more self-aware and resilient. She guides clients to notice thoughts, feelings, and attitudes in a direct but nonjudgmental way. By tracking and challenging dysfunctional thinking, clients can often find relief from stress, anxiety, depression, or interpersonal conflict through greater acceptance of what cannot be controlled.

Her work emphasizes active participation and collaboration, and she frequently provides homework to support exploration between sessions. She also incorporates psycho-education so that information and practical strategies help clients develop stronger coping skills for stressful life situations.

Stephanie’s areas of expertise include stress and anxiety, parenting issues, family conflict, relationship and divorce concerns, motivation and self-confidence, coping with life changes, depression, and grief and loss. She also supports individuals facing career difficulties or seeking professional coaching. Additional specialties include work with LGBT clients, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, sleep disorders, anger management, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and self-esteem concerns.

She often reminds people that if Plan A does not work, there are more letters in the alphabet - a way of encouraging persistence in seeking help and finding the right collaborative fit. Quoting Vince Lombardi, she keeps the focus on resilience: “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up!” Stephanie looks forward to partnering with clients on a shared path of introspection, growth, and change.