Ready to transform anxiety into purpose and overwhelm into clarity?
Meet Stephanie Thrower, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
she/her/hers
Building on Your Journey: Your Next Steps Forward
You've already done significant work - reflecting on your needs, trying to find balance, and taking steps to care for yourself and your family. You've developed insights and strategies along the way. Yet sometimes, despite all our best efforts and self-awareness, we need additional support to move forward.
You're navigating one of life's most complex balancing acts - excelling in your career while being present for your family. Despite your resourcefulness and determination, the constant juggling may still leave you exhausted and questioning your choices. You sense there's a way to find more harmony between work and family life, building on the foundation you've already created.
My Approach to Therapy
Therapy with me is a warm, practical, and transformative space where we address both immediate challenges and deeper patterns. I bring my authentic self to our sessions, offering direct guidance while maintaining a supportive, non-judgmental environment.
I have had the privilege of many years of diverse training, starting with my Masters in Sports Psychology in 2009. I use the wide array of work and educational experiences to creatively approach the challenges you face. Ultimately, what I have learned over the last 10+ years of providing therapy is that the client is the expert of their own experience (even when life feels really hard and they really don’t feel that way).
It is really important to me to honoring that expertise and working alongside my clients to help them gain confidence in listening to and following their intuition.
What Makes Our Work Together Different
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Evidence-Informed
Using proven techniques tailored to perinatal needs
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Strengths-Focused
Building on your innate resilience
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Practical Tools
Developing real-world coping strategies
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Compassionate Space
Where all feelings are valid
Why I'm Uniquely Equipped to Support You
My path to becoming a therapist has been enriched by diverse life experiences that shape how I work with clients today. From coaching gymnastics to conducting research and teaching (plus many roles in between), each experience has taught me valuable lessons about human potential, growth, and the delicate balance of supporting others while empowering them to find their own path.
These varied experiences have helped me develop a unique approach to therapy - one that combines professional expertise with real-world understanding. Clients often tell me I'm "different from other therapists," and I believe it's because I bring both clinical knowledge and lived experience to our work together.
While our sessions are always focused on your goals and needs, I believe in creating a genuine, collaborative space where authentic connection can grow. Our professional relationship is fundamental to the work we'll do together, and I actively encourage your questions, feedback, and even disagreement. Your voice and perspective are essential in shaping our work together.
I bring my whole self to our sessions, moving beyond traditional clinical boundaries while maintaining professional integrity. This means sharing relevant insights from my own journey when helpful, and bringing authenticity to our conversations about balancing career ambitions with family life. My approach is grounded in the belief that the most effective therapy happens in an environment of genuine connection and mutual respect.
My Professional Background
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Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Boston College (2018)
Licensed Psychologist (Massachusetts #11096)
M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Boston College (2013)
M.A. in Applied Sport Psychology from John F. Kennedy University (2009)
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300-Hour Yoga Teacher, Back Bay Yoga 2014
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Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care, Postpartum Support International 2019
Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy, Postpartum Support International 2019
ACT in Practice (23hr), 2022
Exploring Values in ACT (13hr), 2024
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American Psychological Association (APA)
How My Training Guides Our Work
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers a powerful framework for supporting clients develop psychological flexibility and mindful awareness of their experiences without judgment. Unlike traditional approaches that focus on eliminating difficult thoughts or feelings, ACT empowers clients to embrace the profound changes of life while staying connected to their values and taking meaningful action, even in the presence of challenging emotions. Through its core components of mindfulness, acceptance, values-based living, and behavioral activation, ACT provides practical tools to address symptoms of depression and anxiety while building resilience and self-compassion.
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The majority of my training in my doctoral program in community mental health and at a Veteran’s hospital was focused on trauma recovery. Thus, I’m always working from a compassionate lens that acknowledges the impact trauma can hold in people’s lives and relationships.
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I highlight and reinforce strengths and resiliency of the clients I work with. Sport psychology offered me a strong foundation to learn how to focus on and celebrate strengths, always holding hope, and promoting a growth mindset (even when it’s really hard).
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I was deeply devoted to learning about social justice in mental health and psychology and pursued education at Boston College where I learned about racial identity, advocacy and being an agent of change. My approach to mental health acknowledges that "wellness is deeply impacted by systemic inequities, including racism, economic disparities, and barriers to healthcare access - recognizing that mental health support must consider the intersectional experiences of each client's identity, culture, and social context. I actively work to create an inclusive therapeutic space (while recognizing my privilege & power) that validates the impact of oppression on mental health while advocating for clients to receive equitable support in healthcare, workplace, and family systems, understanding that individual healing is interconnected with community wellbeing and social change. Through this lens, I support clients in developing resilience and self-advocacy skills while honoring their cultural strengths, challenging internalized stigma around mental health and motherhood, and connecting them with community resources that align with their values and needs.
We Might Be a Good Fit If You're:
Ready to explore both career and family dynamics
Looking for practical strategies, not just insights
Willing to challenge old patterns and try new approaches
Seeking integration between professional growth and family life
My Personal Side
Like many of my clients, motherhood transformed my professional journey in unexpected ways. With a trajectory set firmly toward academia and research, becoming a parent sparked a profound career pivot. This firsthand experience of navigating a major career transition while embracing parenthood deeply informs my work today. Building my therapy practice has been an entrepreneurial journey that's taught me invaluable lessons about flexibility, resilience, and the courage to reimagine success on your own terms.
When I'm not supporting clients through their own transformations, you'll find me adventuring outdoors with my three energetic children and two dogs, trying to learn how to garden or crochet, or I’m listening to podcasts breaking down the latest tea on any show on Bravo.
