Stacey O’Connell
MA, LCPC, PMH-C (SHE/HER)
Stacey is well-versed in working with a variety of clientele including women experiencing Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders, couples with relationship struggles, and those healing from losing a loved one.
About Stacey
Prior to joining Thrive Postpartum, Couples and Family Therapy, Stacey served as clinician in a transitional living program for women and children who are survivors of domestic abuse. Stacey chose to be a therapist due to her passion for treating those struggling with grief and loss. Stacey was also a long-time clinician at community mental health agency serving clients who suffered from many types of mood disorders, anxiety, women’s issues, trauma, attachment wounds, social anxiety, and family conflict. Additionally, Stacey has experience with anger and stress management.
Using Cognitive and Dialect Behavioral Therapy techniques, Stacey works to help her clients:
Develop coping skills
Transform maladaptive behaviors
Create new, healthy and strong thought patterns
Certifications:
Certified Perinatal Mental Health Specialist: Stacey is Certified in the assessment and treatment of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs).
Certified Bereavement Care Provider - The Compassionate Bereavement Care Certification® is an intensive four day training program through The MISS Foundation. The Miss Foundation is an international nonprofit group which aids parents whose children died. Stacey has also completed the Miss Foundation's advanced grief training, facilitated by Dr. Joann Cacciatore, who is among the top two percent of researchers worldwide in the area of Traumatic Grief.
As a bereavement specialist Stacey focuses on strengthening her ability to attend to each of her clients at a deeper level. She wishes to witness their grief in a way that allows her to be most in-tune with the way her clients needs to process their grief. Stacey believes in the importance of offering a flexible approach to grief support by being competent with a variety of approaches, tools and environments. Stacey hopes to teach her clients to trust themselves in expressing their grief and their needs so that ultimately they learn to integrate their grief and be present in their daily lives.
Related, Stacey also has experience in working with grief and loss specific to miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss and has completed The Perinatal Loss - A Framework for Healing certificate course.
Gottman Level 3 Trained - Stacey is trained in Gottman Method couples therapy. She enjoys relationship assessment, couples treatment planning, and using Gottman specific interventions to get couples back on track.
Stacey has completed the following advanced Gottman Trainings:
COUPLES AND ADDICTION RECOVERY
TREATING AFFAIRS AND TRAUMA - Helping Couples Heal and Rebuild Trust
Memberships
Stacey is a member of Postpartum Support International and The Pregnancy and Infant Loss Death Alliance.
Education
Stacey graduated with a BA from Bradley University, and her MA in Community Counseling from Roosevelt University.
Blog Posts
Five Beautiful Things That Can Happen When We Turn Towards Our Grief
Nurturing November: Insights From a Compassionate Bereavement Therapist