We were lucky to catch up with Stephanie Steele recently and have shared our conversation below.

Stephanie , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

I think what was so unique about my parents was how consistently supportive they were. They always encouraged me to do the right thing, work hard, complete my education, and build a life for myself, but it was never forced on me in a way that made me want to rebel against it. They gave me guidance while also allowing me the space to figure out my own path, and that had a huge impact on me.

After a couple of years of college, I took some time off because I really needed to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Instead of pressuring me or making me feel like I was failing, my parents supported that decision. Looking back, that break was exactly what I needed because it helped me gain clarity and direction. When I returned to school, I was fully motivated and determined to finish what I started.

One thing that always stuck with me was something my dad told all of us growing up: “Graduate college before you get married.” That became a personal goal of mine. So when I started dating my now husband, and things became serious, I remember constantly thinking about that, and it motivated me to get back into school and finish my bachelor’s degree quickly. I graduated in December 2015, and my husband and I got married in June 2016.

The biggest thing my parents did right was support me while still encouraging me to strive for more. They allowed me to grow into my own person while always believing in me, and that confidence and support shaped both my personal life and my career. Even to this day, they continue to support me in everything I do, and it means more to me than they probably realize.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I entered the clinical mental health field because I truly understand how deeply mental health affects every aspect of a person’s life. I witnessed firsthand how mental health struggles and addiction can impact not only individuals but entire families and support systems. Those experiences gave me a strong sense of empathy and ultimately inspired me to pursue a career where I could help others navigate those challenges in a healthy and supportive way. Mental health has also been a part of my family legacy. My grandfather was a licensed mental health professional, and my uncle also works in the mental health field, so in many ways, this profession runs in my blood. That is something I am incredibly proud of.

Today, I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Colorado, and over time, I realized there was an area within mental health that connected with me on an even deeper level: sports and performance psychology. As both a therapist and someone pursuing a doctorate in sport and performance psychology, my mission has become bridging the gap between clinical mental health and performance.

I think there has traditionally been this idea in high-performance environments, especially athletics, that people should simply “push through,” compartmentalize, and keep performing no matter what is happening internally. While compartmentalization can sometimes help temporarily, it is not meant to be a long-term solution. Eventually, what is happening in our everyday lives catches up with us mentally, emotionally, and physically, and that directly affects performance.

Whether someone is a professional athlete, a student-athlete, or simply a person trying to navigate the pressures of everyday life, mental health matters. When people begin experiencing performance slumps, burnout, anxiety, loss of confidence, or emotional exhaustion without understanding why, it often creates even more distress and self-doubt. A huge part of my work is helping individuals identify what is happening beneath the surface, process it in a healthy way, and rebuild from it rather than simply masking it.

Through my private practice, I work with individuals, athletes, and families while integrating both clinical mental health and performance psychology principles. What sets me apart is that I do not just focus on performance outcomes. I focus on the person as a whole. I believe peak performance comes from understanding and caring for the human behind the performance.

One of the things I am most proud of is helping normalize the conversation around mental health in sports and high-pressure environments. I want people to know that struggling does not make them weak, and asking for support does not take away from their ability to succeed. In fact, understanding yourself, processing emotions, and prioritizing mental wellness are often the foundations of long-term success and sustainable performance.

At the core of my work and my brand is the belief that mental health and performance are deeply connected. When we take care of the mind, we create space for people to thrive not only in their performance, but in their lives overall.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I think one of the greatest tests of my resilience came during the final weeks of completing my master’s program. Within the span of just a few weeks, I completed and presented my capstone project, officially obtained my professional license on April 12th, lost my mother-in-law to cancer on April 13th, welcomed our second daughter on April 19th, and then walked in my graduation ceremony on April 29th. It was one of the most bittersweet and emotionally overwhelming seasons of my life.

At the same time, I was navigating postpartum emotions and the baby blues, which completely caught me off guard because I did not experience that after my first daughter. Balancing grief, new motherhood, exhaustion, and major life transitions all at once was incredibly difficult. There were moments where everything felt emotionally heavy, and honestly, I did not know how I was going to keep pushing through.

What also makes that season of my life especially meaningful to me is that throughout my entire graduate program, I experienced two full-term pregnancies, two miscarriages, and the births of both of my daughters, all without stepping away from school. Looking back now, I realize just how much resilience, perseverance, and determination that truly required.

One of the biggest things that carried me through that season was my faith. There were many moments where I felt emotionally exhausted, overwhelmed, and uncertain, but my faith reminded me that even in grief, uncertainty, and exhaustion, there was still purpose in what I was walking through. It helped me continue moving forward, even when I did not feel strong.

Despite everything happening at once, I was still proud of myself for continuing forward and allowing myself to celebrate the accomplishments I had worked so hard for. Just two months after graduation, I opened my private practice. I remember feeling nervous and questioning whether I was making the right decision, but almost immediately, I began receiving self-pay clients, and that gave me reassurance that this path was exactly where I was supposed to be. From there, everything truly began to grow.

That chapter of my life taught me that resilience is not about pretending things are easy or acting like you are unaffected by pain. It is about continuing to move forward through grief, uncertainty, exhaustion, and fear while still allowing yourself grace. It taught me the importance of faith, support systems, perseverance, and trusting that even the hardest seasons can shape you into who you are meant to become.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

Absolutely, I would choose this profession over and over again. From the moment I took my very first psychology class in community college, something just clicked for me. I was completely fascinated by human behavior, emotions, and the way our experiences shape us. After that first class, I took every psychology course I possibly could because I genuinely loved learning about it.

When I first started working with clients during my practicum and internship experiences, I definitely struggled with imposter syndrome. I constantly questioned myself and wondered if I was capable enough to truly help people or if I was going to say the wrong thing or somehow fail someone. I think many therapists experience that fear in the beginning because you care so deeply about doing right by your clients.

Over time, though, experience helped build confidence. Every client, every session, and every challenge taught me something new. One thing I have learned about myself is that while I will never claim to know everything, I do feel very confident in my ability to connect with people and get to the core of what is really going on beneath the surface. That ability has always come very naturally to me, and I think a large part of that comes from both my personality and the fact that mental health work truly feels ingrained in who I am.

This profession is incredibly meaningful and rewarding to me because every person and every story is different. Even on the difficult days, through emotionally heavy sessions or challenging cases, I still feel grateful that I get to do this work. Helping people better understand themselves, heal, grow, and improve their quality of life is something I never take for granted.

I also think one of the most fulfilling parts of this journey has been seeing the impact my work has had on clients over the years. Hearing clients express that they feel seen, understood, supported, or that their lives have improved in some way because of the work we have done together is incredibly meaningful to me. It reassures me that I am exactly where I am supposed to be.

Mental health work also feels especially personal to me because it is deeply rooted in my family. My grandfather worked in the mental health field during his career, and my uncle continues to work in the field today. In many ways, I feel like this profession is part of my roots, and I am incredibly proud to be following in their footsteps while also creating my own path within the field.

At the end of the day, I truly love what I do, and I hope to continue doing this work for as long as I can.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.solutiontherapybystephaniesteele.com/
• Instagram: ssteele_solutiontherapy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-steele-ma-lpc-890388233