Dr.
01About Stephen
Dr. Stephen Gunsallus uses a person-centered approach that keeps the client at the center of each session. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in South Carolina with 20 years of professional experience.
He focuses on practical steps to help people manage stress, grief, trauma, and attention concerns. He works with people facing LGBT-related issues and those coping with trauma and abuse. He also helps people dealing with grief and loss, and supports those who struggle with concentration, memory, and focus often labeled as ADHD.
Background and approach
Other areas he addresses include forgiveness, guilt and shame, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress, HIV/AIDS concerns, and hospice or end-of-life issues. 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, four of them as a residency, and received a community organization award from Adapt Advocacy Association in 2011. In sessions he structures conversations around each person's needs and goals. He uses practical tools from cognitive and behavioral approaches alongside emotion-focused and existential perspectives.
Dialectical skills are included when people need help with intense emotions or relationship patterns. He aims to offer respect, sensitivity, and compassion in every meeting. The first step is often a short questionnaire and an initial scheduling decision.
He encourages people to take that step when they feel ready.
02Credentials
- LPC (South Carolina)
- License 5290 · expires August 2027
- NPI
- 1205046588 · national provider identifier
Both are public records. A state board register will confirm a license and its standing, and the national registry will confirm an NPI. This directory copies what the counselor lists and checks neither.
03Focus areas and approaches
Everything Stephen lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- LGBT
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- ADHD
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Mood disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
Methods Stephen names
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Existential Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
These are the methods Stephen names on their own professional profile. Naming an approach is not evidence of training or certification in it, and this directory checks no training records. Ask directly if it matters to you.
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04Online support
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening closely and reflecting what matters to the person so they feel understood and respected; it helps people clarify goals and decide what changes to try. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and offers concrete strategies to change unhelpful patterns, which is useful for mood concerns, anxiety, and attention challenges. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) adds skills for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness, helping when reactions feel overwhelming.Choosing the right approach is a joint process. The therapist will review your goals, ask about your situation, and suggest methods that fit your needs and preferences. Decisions about techniques and pacing are made together and can be adjusted over time as progress and needs change.
Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make care more flexible. Video is useful for in-depth work and exercises, phone can be easier when bandwidth is limited, and messaging or live chat can suit quick check-ins or when people prefer shorter interactions. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or travel schedules while keeping the focus on practical steps and personal goals.
05Questions people ask
What concerns does this therapist address?
He helps people with LGBT-related concerns, trauma and abuse, grief and loss, and attention and focus issues often described as ADHD. He also works with mood disorders, post-traumatic stress, forgiveness, guilt and shame, HIV/AIDS, and hospice or end-of-life matters.
What is the therapist's approach in sessions?
He centers sessions on the person’s needs using client-centered methods. He also draws on cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavior, emotionally-focused, and existential ideas as appropriate.
How much professional experience does he have?
He has 20 years of professional work experience in counseling and related fields.
What credentials and location are listed?
He holds the LPC credential and practices in South Carolina.
Which languages are supported and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
In what formats are sessions offered?
Sessions are available as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How is cost handled for therapy sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin therapy?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
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