Stacy Jo Poffenbarger, LMHC

Stacy Jo Poffenbarger is a Florida licensed mental health counselor with 17 years of experience. She helps people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, low motivation, and low self-esteem. She also supports those coping with loss, grief, and the challenges that follow major life changes.

She works with people affected by addiction and offers support for loved ones of those struggling with substance use. Caregivers facing compassion fatigue and people managing chronic illness or disability may find focused help for daily strain and self-care. Stacy adapts conversations and plans to each person's needs rather than using one fixed approach.

Her daily practice combines several evidence-informed methods. Stacy uses cognitive behavioral techniques to spot unhelpful thinking and build practical coping skills. She integrates mindfulness tools to reduce stress and improve focus. For trauma-related concerns she may use EMDR to address intense memories alongside other strategies.

Sessions also draw on dialectical behavior approaches to teach emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. Motivational interviewing helps when someone feels stuck or uncertain about change. Stacy stays current with new theories and treatment ideas to make sessions useful and relevant.

She emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and compassion in every conversation. Stacy aims to create clear, doable steps clients can try between sessions. The first appointment typically focuses on understanding goals and making a plan that fits the person’s life and priorities.

How these approaches fit into online therapy

Stacy commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and EMDR alongside mindfulness tools. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people identify unhelpful thoughts and try small behavior changes to feel better day to day. EMDR is used to address distressing memories and their emotional impact, often as part of a broader trauma plan. Mindfulness exercises teach attention and stress reduction skills that can be practiced between sessions.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, symptoms, and preferences, then try methods that seem most likely to help. Adjustments are made along the way based on what is working and what feels manageable for the client.

Confirm which session formats are available before booking, because the biography does not list specific options. Online work can make scheduling easier and help therapy fit into busy days. It can also allow shorter check-ins when time is tight, or let someone avoid travel and use techniques from home. Licensed professionals tailor session length and tools so the work fits into real life without promising a specific outcome.