About: Stephanie Cuevas, LICSW

My roots

  • Born in New York, but my heart and soul belong to Puerto Rico.

  • I completed high school there and consider myself a Hispanic/Latina woman who now calls the Pacific Northwest home.

  • I wear many hats, therapist by day…wife and mother… also by day since that’s its own full-time job.

Education

  • After school in sunny Puerto Rico, I signed up for snowy Syracuse, New York...

    • I completed my undergraduate and graduate degrees at Syracuse University

      • BA: Psychology

      • Masters in Social Work

  • The majority of my course work focused on adults and how to view them thought a biopsychosocial/ holistic lens while focusing on a strengths based perspective and motivational interviewing.

    • These skills were homed in my field placements/ internships:

      • serving as a case manager for individuals with severe mental health issues

      • and as a substance treatment service therapist at the Syracuse VA.  

Life after school….

  • After SU, I became a Chemical Dependency therapist for the Latino Program at a local hospital in Syracuse, NY.

    • All services were provided in Spanish in order to promote equity and inclusion.

  • My second job brought me back to the VA to work at the Veterans Crisis Line

    • Where I provide: crisis services to Veterans, active duty military members, and their loved ones.

  • Then (as one does in their 20’s) I moved across country…

  • I was employed by the Seattle VA in their homeless program.

    • Utilizing a Housing First and Harm Reduction model I was able to help Veterans secure and maintain housing

      • Additionally topics such as:

        • anxiety, PTSD/ MST, substance use issues, DV issues, and quality of life were addressed

  • My passion for mental health, special populations, and quality care motivated me to become a supervisor within the homeless program in hopes of teaching the next generation of social workers how to provide the best service to our countries Veterans.

The Approach:

  • My approach is probably best described as eclectic.

  • I believe in meeting people where they are at and being present focused.

  • Some of these techniques I routinely use are:

    • Person Centered Planning, Motivational Interviewing, Seeking Safety, Strengths Based model, Trauma Informed Care, Biopsychosocial model of care…

Values/ core beliefs:

  • I aim to provide all my clients with a safe space to explore their world and support their desire to change at their own pace.

  • Together we partner on exploring healthy boundaries and problem solving.

  • I view people as holistic humans with worth and not just as their diagnosis.

  • I believe in looking for solutions rather than assigning blame.

The licensures and certifications

  • LCSW- New York State

  • LICSW- Washington State

  • Washington State approved supervisor

  • Evergreen Certifications- ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider

Skills:

  • Providing therapy in Spanish

  • Providing therapy to clients who “code switch” (aka switch between Spanish and English)

  • Providing psychoeducation on various topic such as: Coping Skills, ADHD Skills, substance use recover, etc…