Dr. Stephanie Kutnar, PsyD, PCIT-C
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
“No perfect people allowed.” Let those words sink in for a moment.
I’ll never forget when I first heard that phrase in the context of my training; I was a young leader, in a variety of competitive environments, unsure what to make of the fact that I had faced significant hardships early in life, and by nature was quite wary of the consequences of failure. It was especially impactful to be introduced to this idea by a mentor I had looked up to for many years; it was this mentor, surprisingly vulnerable despite their success, who cautioned me against the illusion of perfection. No perfect people allowed… as the concept began to sink in, it is amazing the freedom that followed. Anxiety eased, fear of failure diminished, and I became more comfortable with my vulnerabilities and limitations. I also felt like I could relate to people more easily as I shared myself more openly and showed interest in others’ life stories. And importantly, I felt I could confidently pursue a calling to help others even as I navigated my own humanness.
Interestingly, turns out this philosophy I learned early on alignsclosely with what eventually became my primary theoretical orientation of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT teaches us that pain in life is ubiquitous — not necessarily okay — just common. And unfortunately, greater suffering can come when we try to avoid or overly control painful emotions and experiences. Thus, the goal becomes, in part, to harness the healing gifts of mindfulness and acceptance to move through our painful past and present more effectively as we commit to living in ways that are consistent with our values. In other words, a more fulfilling life is in reach no matter what we have faced.
Ultimately, my pursuit of formal training in both leadership and clinical psychology have been to refine a platform and foundation by which I can skillfully partner with individuals and family systems who may be unsure how to identify and name hurts/harmful patterns, get traction with healing and makingmeaning from hurts, and then change and move forward. With a bit of bravery, willingness, effort, and openness on your part, and then genuine care, empathy, and clinical techniques on my end, I believe we can work together to accomplish a lot in your treatment; I would be honored if you took the step the see if I’m a good fit for your therapy needs.
A bit more about me: I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, and pursuing creative interests like writing, recording music, and photography. My favorite titles in life are those of “wife” and “mother.” I also thoroughly enjoy providing mentorship to emerging adults, students, and young professionals.
Individuals (8+) & Couples
Professional Education
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (APA Accredited)
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology
Bachelor of Science Human Services
Certifications and Trainings
Advanced Training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Advanced Training in the Integration of Faith and Spirituality in Treatment
Advanced Training in the Use of Outcome Measures in Psychotherapy
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Trauma-Informed Care
Certified Parent-Child Interaction Therapist (PCIT)
Envision:You — LGBTQ+ Culturally Relevant Behavioral Health Care
(866) 644-6131 ext 715
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
“No perfect people allowed.” Let those words sink in for a moment.
I’ll never forget when I first heard that phrase in the context of my training; I was a young leader, in a variety of competitive environments, unsure what to make of the fact that I had faced significant hardships early in life, and by nature was quite wary of the consequences of failure. It was especially impactful to be introduced to this idea by a mentor I had looked up to for many years; it was this mentor, surprisingly vulnerable despite their success, who cautioned me against the illusion of perfection. No perfect people allowed… as the concept began to sink in, it is amazing the freedom that followed. Anxiety eased, fear of failure diminished, and I became more comfortable with my vulnerabilities and limitations. I also felt like I could relate to people more easily as I shared myself more openly and showed interest in others’ life stories. And importantly, I felt I could confidently pursue a calling to help others even as I navigated my own humanness.
Interestingly, turns out this philosophy I learned early on alignsclosely with what eventually became my primary theoretical orientation of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT teaches us that pain in life is ubiquitous — not necessarily okay — just common. And unfortunately, greater suffering can come when we try to avoid or overly control painful emotions and experiences. Thus, the goal becomes, in part, to harness the healing gifts of mindfulness and acceptance to move through our painful past and present more effectively as we commit to living in ways that are consistent with our values. In other words, a more fulfilling life is in reach no matter what we have faced.
Ultimately, my pursuit of formal training in both leadership and clinical psychology have been to refine a platform and foundation by which I can skillfully partner with individuals and family systems who may be unsure how to identify and name hurts/harmful patterns, get traction with healing and makingmeaning from hurts, and then change and move forward. With a bit of bravery, willingness, effort, and openness on your part, and then genuine care, empathy, and clinical techniques on my end, I believe we can work together to accomplish a lot in your treatment; I would be honored if you took the step the see if I’m a good fit for your therapy needs.
A bit more about me: I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, and pursuing creative interests like writing, recording music, and photography. My favorite titles in life are those of “wife” and “mother.” I also thoroughly enjoy providing mentorship to emerging adults, students, and young professionals.
Individuals (8+) & Couples
Professional Education
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (APA Accredited)
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology
Bachelor of Science Human Services
Certifications and Trainings
Advanced Training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Advanced Training in the Integration of Faith and Spirituality in Treatment
Advanced Training in the Use of Outcome Measures in Psychotherapy
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Trauma-Informed Care
Certified Parent-Child Interaction Therapist (PCIT)
Envision:You — LGBTQ+ Culturally Relevant Behavioral Health Care
(866) 644-6131 ext 715
