Stephanie L. Denton, LMFT #122562
Expressive Arts Therapist
415-579-2022
“You are the sky. Everything else – it's just the weather.” ― Pema Chödrön
Therapy with Stephanie
Life is full of experiences—some beautiful and affirming, others painful and complex. Navigating the emotions that arise from these experiences while balancing everyday life can feel overwhelming. You may feel stuck, disconnected, or unsure of how past experiences have shaped you. These feelings can affect relationships, self-expression, and your overall sense of well-being.
I offer a warm, affirming, and creative space where all parts of you are welcome. Together, we can explore your inner world through conversation, art, and imagination, helping you reconnect with yourself in meaningful ways. Whether you’re facing anxiety, trauma, identity exploration, or life transitions, I honor the wisdom you bring to the process.
As a therapist working with LGBTQ+ children and adults, I integrate a Person-Centered and Psychodynamic approach with Expressive Arts Therapy, somatic practices, and mindfulness. My work is trauma-informed, attachment-focused, and rooted in the belief that creativity can be a powerful tool for healing. Here, your voice, identity, and story are seen and valued.
Services Offered
Individual Counseling
Whether you come to therapy with specific goals or simply need a space to process life’s experiences, I am here to meet you where you are. I offer a safe, affirming space to explore your inner world, deepen self-understanding, and develop tools for navigating life’s complexities with greater ease and self-compassion.
Together, we can work on:
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Life Transitions – Navigating major changes such as moving, starting or ending relationships, identity exploration, or shifting roles in family and community.
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Career Challenges & Workplace Stress – Managing high-stress work environments, workplace challenges related to gender, race, or sexual orientation, developing coping strategies, and creating a better work/life balance.
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LGBTQIA+ Identity & Relationships – Exploring identity, family and relational challenges, coming out, and building affirming connections.
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Healing from Trauma – Working through childhood trauma, recent traumatic experiences, and the impact of sexual, emotional, or relational trauma in a way that helps your nervous system find greater regulation and safety.
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Grief & Loss – Processing and honoring losses, whether related to relationships, identity, or major life changes.
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Creativity & Self-Discovery – Moving through creative blocks, reconnecting with self-expression, and deepening your sense of meaning in the world.
My approach is relational, trauma-informed, and rooted in an understanding of how past and present relationships shape our emotional patterns. I integrate talk therapy, expressive arts, mindfulness, and somatic awareness to help you reconnect with your body’s wisdom and restore a sense of balance. I also incorporate an understanding of the different parts of yourself—how they may be protecting you, holding past wounds, or longing for connection—so that we can work toward greater self-compassion, healing, and wholeness.
Youth Therapy
Play is one of the most natural and powerful ways for children and young adults to process their experiences and express emotions as they grow. In my work, I offer a safe, accepting space where kids and teens can explore their feelings through non-directive play therapy, creative expression, and gentle guidance.
Using art, storytelling, movement, and imaginative play, I help children make sense of their emotions, build confidence, and develop coping skills in a way that feels natural to them. I also incorporate practical tools from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to support emotional regulation and problem-solving, while keeping a strong focus on relationships and early experiences to help children feel safe, seen, and understood.
I work with queer families, children exploring their gender identity, kids experiencing family transitions such as divorce or separation, those coping with grief, and children struggling with anxiety or big emotions. My goal is to create a space where they can process their inner world at their own pace, build resilience, and feel deeply supported.
Consulting
I offer Expressive Art Therapy consultations to Non-Profit agency's working with developmentally disabled adults and adults in transitional housing with co-occurring disorders.
About Me
I have always been drawn to understanding the ways culture, identity, and lived experiences shape our inner worlds. I hold a Bachelor's degree in International Studies, with a focus on Latin America and Women in the Middle East. Before becoming a therapist, I worked in transitional housing, providing crisis intervention for unhoused adults experiencing co-occurring disorders. During this time, I trained in Harm Reduction, a compassionate and practical approach to working with substance use and trauma.
I earned my Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Expressive Arts Therapy, and for the past 8 years, I have been building my private practice in San Francisco.
My passion lies in working with LGBTQIA+ children, teens, and adults, supporting them in navigating identity exploration, family and relational challenges, and the impact of societal pressures. I understand that queer and trans individuals often face unique struggles within their relationships, families, and communities, and I strive to provide a space where all aspects of your identity are affirmed and honored.
My approach is creative, trauma-informed, and rooted in deep respect for each person’s lived experience. Whether through exploring past and present relationships, or understanding the different parts of yourself and how they show up in your life, I work collaboratively to help you access your inner wisdom, heal from past wounds, and move toward greater self-compassion and connection.
Contact Me
Reaching out can be hard. It is important to me that you feel I would be a good match for you and that you have an opportunity to ask me any questions you have for me about the therapy I provide. I offer a free 20 minute phone consultation so that we can explore your goals, ask questions and discover whether working together would be a match. I enjoy helping my clients develop the tools they need to cope with life’s challenges. Feel free to reach out and we can schedule a consultation.
415-579-2022