About Your Therapist
Stephanie Isbell, MA, LCPC
I was born and raised in Missoula and have spent most of my life here. I
met my husband of 40 years in physics class, which may explain some
things! We have three delightful adult children and one delightful son-in-
law, and two beloved dogs.
My family enjoys music, disc golf, raising our own food, and punning.
Certifications
My certifications give me the tools to help families overcome their challenges and thrive!
Here are the organizations I have been trained by and my certification level.
The Townsend Institute, Concordia University Irvine
Master’s degree in Counseling.
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Montana License #50324
International Council on Development and Learning >
Advanced Certificate in DIR/Floortime
Full certification in Family Systems Trauma Therapy
Full certification in Relational Life Therapy, a family systems and couples therapy
Family Therapy is for Anyone
Even if you are not in a family, you are carrying one with you!
The family you grew up in has had a profound impact on who you are, what you can do, what is difficult, and how you cope with life challenges… but it doesn’t have to limit you. The key is becoming aware of these influences and learning how to work with them. Appreciating where you came from sets you free to go where you choose.
How I can help:
Individual Counseling
Teenagers and their parents live in very different worlds in their minds and emotions. Teens are experiencing doubts and challenges that their parents did not have to wrestle with. Parents have wisdom and experience to share but sometimes they are at a loss how to do that.
Elements of DIR, Family Systems Trauma Therapy, and Relational Life Therapy can help you change how you listen and how you communicate with your family members. Learn how to respect each other’s learning process, emotions, and ideas, honoring differences and loving well.
Family Therapy
Parents and children, adult siblings, multigenerational groups; etc.!
A family ideally provides necessary resources and learning for all members. For those who do not have parents with the capacities to protect their children and help them develop, family may be (or have been) full of painful difficulties. You may be one of those parents, or one of those children, or adults in a family who want to get past all of it.
In particular, if your family is struggling to help a neurodiverse child or teen, there is a lot of uncharted territory. DIR/Floortime is a developmental and relational treatment where the child is viewed as a whole person who has needs in the areas of sensory (taking the world in), motor (movement, planning), brain function, and relationships.
I work in partnership with my colleague Doug Cochran-Roberts of Safe Haven Counseling and Consulting, as well as Occupational and Speech-Language Therapists and other specialists, to provide families with the best overall care. If you want to get your family on a better trajectory, this is your team.
Couples
Relational Life Therapy (RLT) dives straight into what is causing problems in your coupleship or marriage. You will discover surprising things about how you navigated in your family as a child, how those patterns are still steering your relationship, and how to take back the wheel!
This is deeply emotional work, yes. Unlike other couples therapies, however, RLT includes practical skills training you can use in all your relationships
Incorporating Spirituality
Want to make spirituality an integral part of counseling?
Many religious people come to therapy with misgivings about “psychology” and whether it will clash with their beliefs. Counseling professionals believe that spirituality is an important part of emotional and psychological health.
I am keenly curious about the spirituality clients have built into their lives and how it can support their therapy goals. I am professionally trained to work with atheist, Christian, or Jewish clients—but I honor the spiritual understandings, strivings and questionings of all. You are in charge!
Simple Practice client portal
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you counsel children?
I do not believe that children can be helped much if their caregivers are not in counseling with them. I can only spend an hour or two with a client each week; parents are with their children for many hours a day.
Let me help you puzzle through your child’s challenges and teach you the skills you need!
How do I find your building?
Community Hospital campus has three office buildings. Physician Center #2 is right across from the golf course on Fort Missoula Road.
The easiest way to get there is to turn off Reserve onto Fort Missoula Road right next to Goodwill, go three blocks, turn into the Community parking lot, and turn right. PC#2 is in front of you!
How do you help people with neurodiversities (autism, ADHD, etc)?
People struggle with neurodiversities for three, intertwined reasons: unique brain wiring, trauma, and development. People with unique wiring typically have histories with relational trauma and weak development in some areas of function. Understanding the wiring helps us tailor the developmental intervention.
Since the brain adapts no matter your age, your development can be started up again and the “gaps” filled in. In addition, because the developmental treatment is delivered via safe, loving relationships that are important to the client, trauma can be treated at the same time.
Rates
Add-on for family appointments | $ 75 per 30 min | over 89 min | 7 |
Family psychotherapy with client present | $ 150 | 50 min | 6 |
Family psychotherapy w/out patient present | $ 150 | 50 min | 5 |
Psychotherapy for crisis | $ 200 | 60 min | 4 |
Individual Psychotherapy | $ 120 | 30 min | 3 |
+ Add-on for interactive complexity | $ 50 | 2 | |
Individual Psychotherapy | $ 150 | 60 min | 1 |
Contact Information
**PLEASE NOTE: I CURRENTLY HAVE A WAIT LIST!**
Address
Big Sky Family Therapy
2831 Fort Missoula Road, Bldg 2, Ste 300
Missoula, MT 50804
