Andrew Stege

I became a counselor because I know what it’s like to need support and not have it. I wanted to be a steady space for people when life gets confusing or extremely difficult. I’m drawn to ACT because it matches how I see people: you don’t have to get rid of painful thoughts and feelings to build a life that matters to you. Helping someone stop fighting themselves and start moving toward what they care about is what keeps me in this work.

I work best with adults dealing with anxiety, depression, or the effects of difficult life experiences. Many have tried therapy before and are tired of just managing symptoms. They’re often stuck in overthinking, avoidance, or putting off what matters, and they want their choices to come from their values instead of fear. I’m a good fit for people who want a practical, collaborative approach with skills they can use between sessions.

Having painful thoughts and feelings doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. You don’t have to get rid of them before you can start living the way you want. Progress usually comes in small, imperfect steps, and a setback doesn’t erase the work you’ve already done.

In our first session, we’ll talk about what brought you in, what you’ve already tried, and what you want your life to look like. I’ll ask questions to understand your story, and you can share as much or as little as you’re comfortable with. We’ll leave with a rough plan for what to work on. In the early weeks, expect a collaborative pace, a few practical skills to try between sessions, and room to tell me what is and isn’t working.

I value honesty, patience, and treating people as the experts on their own lives. I believe most people are doing the best they can with what they’ve got, and that change comes from taking small steps toward what matters to you, not from being hard on yourself. I want people to have the steady support I believe everyone deserves when life gets confusing or difficult.

I start with what you want from therapy and what matters most to you, then choose tools that fit your life instead of following a script. Depending on what you need, that might mean ACT skills for stepping back from difficult thoughts, CBT tools for unhelpful thinking patterns, or DBT-informed skills for managing intense emotions. We check in often about what’s helping, and I adjust the pace and approach based on your feedback.