Dr. Stephen Gunsallus, LPC

Dr. Stephen Gunsallus offers a direct, respectful approach grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and human-centered care. He is an LPC licensed in South Carolina with 20 years of clinical experience. He aims to make first steps feel manageable and honest.

He helps people facing LGBTQ concerns, trauma and abuse, grief and loss, and struggles with concentration and focus often labeled ADHD. He also works with issues of guilt, shame, forgiveness, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress, and matters related to HIV and hospice or end-of-life counseling. Sessions focus on practical steps that can be used between meetings.

Stephen earned a Doctor of Education in Pastoral Community Counseling in 2017, a Master of Arts in Counseling in 2003, and a Master of Sacred Theology in 1999. He completed seven units of Clinical Pastoral Education, including a four-unit residency, and received a community organization award from Adapt Advocacy Association in 2011.

In sessions he listens first and then shapes a plan together with each person. Conversations are tailored to each person’s needs, with clear tools and exercises pulled from approaches like CBT and client-centered care. The work balances short-term goals and deeper reflection.

He recognizes that starting therapy takes courage and treats people with sensitivity and respect. Prospective clients can expect a steady, straightforward clinician who focuses on usable skills and thoughtful conversation.

Using CBT and Client-Centered Care Online

Dr. Stephen Gunsallus frequently uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. CBT gives clear strategies for managing mood, anxiety, grief, and focus problems by breaking concerns into smaller, workable steps. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and shaping the conversation around each person's experience; this helps people feel heard and steer the goals of treatment.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques are also available when emotion regulation or intense reactions get in the way of daily life. DBT skills teach practical ways to manage strong emotions, improve interpersonal effectiveness, and tolerate distress in the moment. Together these approaches give both tools and space for deeper reflection, and the therapist will collaborate with each person to choose what fits best based on needs and goals.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and skill practice, phone sessions can work when bandwidth is limited, live chat is useful for brief check-ins, and messaging is helpful for ongoing daily support or homework check-ins. These options let people fit therapy into work, caregiving, or other routines while working with a licensed professional.