Dr. Stephen Gunsallus
LPC
South Carolina
Motivational, person-centered counseling for adults
Continue with StephenAt a glance
- Credentials
- LPC
- License
- LPC, South Carolina / 5290
- NPI
- 1205046588
- Experience
- 20 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- South Carolina
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
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- LGBT related concerns
- Trauma and grief
- ADHD support
About Stephen
Dr. Stephen Gunsallus uses a direct, person-centered style to help people who are struggling with loss, trauma, identity concerns, and attention challenges. He is an LPC practicing in South Carolina with twenty years of professional experience. He aims to meet people where they are and treats everyone with respect and compassion.
He earned a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Pastoral Community Counseling in 2017, a Master of Sacred Theology (STM) in 1999, and a Master of Arts in Counseling (MA) in 2003. He also completed seven units of Clinical Pastoral Education, including four done as a residency, and received a community organization award from Adapt Advocacy Association in 2011. These experiences inform his blend of clinical and pastoral perspectives.
In sessions he adapts the conversation and plan to each person's needs. He draws on motivational interviewing to help clarify goals and build motivation. He also uses client-centered approaches and evidence-based strategies like cognitive behavioral work and skills from dialectical behavior therapy when they fit the situation.
People come to him for LGBT and identity-related concerns, help after trauma or abuse, grief and end-of-life issues, HIV/AIDS related matters, mood struggles, and post-traumatic stress. He also supports people who are coping with concentration, memory, or focus challenges often associated with ADHD.
He emphasizes practical steps and steady progress rather than quick fixes. If you decide to reach out, expect a respectful, nonjudgmental conversation that focuses on what you want to change and how to get there.
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How therapeutic approaches map to online sessions
Motivational Interviewing is a conversational method that helps people find their own reasons to change. Online sessions using this approach focus on clear goals, exploring ambivalence, and small steps toward those goals. Client-Centered Therapy centers the person's experience and priorities, with the therapist providing listening, empathy, and reflection to help people make sense of their concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and learning practical skills to change them.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has helped in the past, and then recommend which methods to try first. That makes therapy a collaborative process rather than a one-size-fits-all plan.
The original profile did not list which online or in-person formats are offered, so confirm the available session options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight, and remove travel time. It can also let someone choose an appointment that works around work, caregiving, or other commitments while still working with a licensed professional. -
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
ForgivenessGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSHospice and end-of-life counselingMood disordersPost-traumatic stressTherapeutic approaches
Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyExperience
20+ years
Listed in
South Carolina
Languages
English
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Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does this therapist address?
Dr. Gunsallus works with people facing LGBT-related issues, trauma and abuse, grief and loss, ADHD-related concentration and focus problems, and related areas such as guilt and forgiveness, HIV/AIDS, hospice and end-of-life counseling, mood disorders, and post-traumatic stress.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
He uses a person-centered approach and draws on motivational interviewing to help people set goals and find motivation. He also integrates practical strategies from cognitive behavioral work and dialectical behavior therapy as needed.
What background and experience does he have?
He has twenty years of professional experience and combines clinical and pastoral perspectives in his work. His education includes an Ed.D., an STM, an MA in Counseling, and Clinical Pastoral Education units.
What credentials and location information are available?
He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in South Carolina. The LPC credential is listed as provided in his profile.
Does he offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are offered?
The original profile did not specify session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking to know whether video, phone, or in-person sessions are available.
How does cost work for sessions with this therapist?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time, which determines payment terms.
How do I begin if I want to work with him?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
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Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers