Purposeful Exploration

MIND. BODY. SPIRIT. 

Counseling

Coaching

Energy Work

About Me

Stephanie Tucker, MA, MBA, MAC, MLC

I help clients explore their needs and overcome barriers that limit their full potential. I help women and men explore their relationships with food, body image and societal expectations around health, diet and physical size.  I help people who struggle with addiction to find their way back to themselves.  I help the families who are impacted by those addictions find their way through an incredibly tough journey.  I help people manage stress and anxiety by teaching them coping skills and new ways to look at their situations.  I help my clients live their best lives by working toward balance in their mind, body, spirit connection.

My Expertise

Addiction

I have extensive knowledge in several treatment modalities that address addiction.  I see substance use as an ineffective coping strategy and work with my clients to find a more effective way to manage what they are going through.

I have a masters level education in addiction and many hours of specialized training and experience including running both men’s and women’s inpatient treatment facilities for high-risk individuals, supervising outpatient treatment programs and with numerous individuals privately.  I use this work experience and education to facilitate client centered work and recognize their choice in how to approach this issue. 

I have worked with individuals, couples and groups.  I have supported clients through desire to be completely abstinent from all mind-altering substances and I have worked with individuals who use some form of harm reduction; including Medication Assisted Treatment.

EMDR

What is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a form of therapy that helps people heal from trauma or other distressing life experiences. EMDR therapy has been extensively researched and is an evidence based treatment.

I am EMDR trained by the EMDR Institute and have a Certified EMDR Consultant available for consultation on EMDR protocol.

About EMDR Therapy

Our brains have a natural way to recover from traumatic memories and events. This process involves communication between the amygdala (the alarm signal for stressful events), the hippocampus (which assists with learning, including memories about safety and danger), and the prefrontal cortex (which analyzes and controls behavior and emotion). While many times traumatic experiences can be managed and resolved spontaneously, they may not be processed without help. Stress responses are part of our natural fight, flight, or freeze instincts. When distress from a disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts, and emotions may create feelings of overwhelm, of being back in that moment, or of being “frozen in time.” EMDR therapy helps the brain process these memories, and allows normal healing to resume.  The experience is still remembered, but the fight, flight, or freeze response from the original event is resolved.”

How is EMDR different from other therapies? 

EMDR therapy does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue, or homework between sessions. EMDR, rather than focusing on changing the emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from the distressing issue, allows the brain to resume its natural healing process. EMDR therapy is designed to resolve unprocessed traumatic memories in the brain. Part of the therapy includes alternating eye movements, sounds, or taps.

Who can benefit from EMDR therapy?

Therapists use EMDR with a wide range of challenges:

  • Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias
  • Chronic Illness and medical issues
  • Depression and bipolar disorders
  • Dissociative disorders
  • Eating disorders
  • Grief and loss
  • Pain
  • Performance anxiety
  • Personality disorders
  • PTSD and other trauma and stress related issues
  • Sexual assault
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Substance abuse and addiction
  • Violence and abuse

Experiencing EMDR Therapy

After the therapist and client agree that EMDR therapy is a good fit, and begin to work together, the client will be asked to focus on a specific event. Attention will be given to a negative image, belief, and body feeling related to this event, and then to a positive belief that would indicate the issue was resolved. While the client focuses on the upsetting event, the therapist will begin sets of side-to-side eye movements, sounds, or taps. The client will be guided to notice what comes to mind after each set. They may experience shifts in insight or changes in images, feelings, or beliefs regarding the event. The client has full control to stop the therapist at any point, if needed. The sets of eye movements, sounds, or taps are repeated until the event becomes less disturbing.

A typical EMDR therapy session lasts from 60-90 minutes. EMDR therapy may be used within a standard talking therapy, as an adjunctive therapy with a separate therapist, or as a treatment all by itself.

CBT

Aaron Beck is considered the father of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.  CBT is used with a wide range of issues and research supports its effectiveness in improving intended issues thus improving effectiveness in life.  CBT is often used to help treat depression, anxiety, addiction, and disordered eating, among other things.

The core principles of CBT are 1) our thinking causes all or some part of the issue that we want to change, 2) problem areas are caused, all or in part, by learned behaviors and 3) if you learned something, you can un learn it or change how you think about it which can help resolve the problem.  And, you can change how you think about something today without necessarily unearthing how we learned it in the first place, which can be very appealing.

DBT

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy was created by Marsha Linehan.  It combines CBT and mindfulness practice and works off of the premise that the core of any disorder to address is emotion dysregulation. 

The goal is to balance opposing wants.  You can have two wants that are in opposition to each other and it is important to acknowledge these polarities and work on skills to manage dysregulation that is created.  DBT says that problems occur when you get stuck in one of the polarities and are not in balance.  An example might be wanting to walk outside for exercise and not wanting to walk outside for exercise because it is too hot outside or wanting to change something in a relationship and being fearful of the unknown if you bring it up.

DBT asserts that an individual has an emotional vulnerability AND the inability to manage emotions appropriately.  It is about problem solving, skills training, learning and applying new skills and changing your thinking.

There are four components of DBT: mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance and emotion regulation.  Mindfulness or staying in the present moment is the foundation for each of the modules. DBT works off of the primary belief that the person seeking services has the desire to change and grow.

Brain Health

Psychology is one of the few specialties that does not generally look at the organ it is treating – your brain!  Ironically, I believe it is the most important and how can we not look at it to help treat underlying issues.

I have training in brain health.  And, I can connect you with the Amen clinic where you can get specific information about your brain and a comprehensive treatment plan created by a team of experts to help you address your brain health and needs.  You will receive a discount on their services if I refer you to their clinic. And,  in conjunction with their team, I can help implement your specific and specialized treatment plan.

We should be looking at our brains.  I feel very passionately that it should be common practice in psychology and hope to see a future where this is routine care. 

I can educate you in general terms about brain health and implement a specific plan for your brain if you choose that path. 

Reiki

What it is? Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a type of energy therapy that was founded in Japan by Dr. Mikao Usui in 1914. The practice aims to decrease stress and increase relaxation by transferring energy from the practitioner to the client through the practitioner’s palms (it’s also known as hands-on healing).

How does it work? Physical or emotional pain can cause energy blockages in the body. Reiki helps to remove these blockages so that energy can flow more smoothly throughout your system (similar to the thinking behind acupuncture). The idea is that by improving your energy flow, you’ll feel more relaxed, experience less pain and boost your well-being. 

So, what happens during a reiki session? Think massage, minus the rubbing. Clothing is worn during all reiki sessions, and you usually lie on a table and can cover with a blanket or light sheet, if you choose. Soothing music or a guided meditation is played. Reiki is done by the practitioner lightly placing their hands on specific areas of the body, or holding their hands a few inches above the body. Sessions are scheduled for 50 minutes.

Anything else? Reiki is not a cure for a disease or illness. But many people report that it helps them feel less stressed and calmer. Most people feel very relaxed after a session, with some saying they felt warmth or waves of energy.

I am a second degree Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki trained practitioner.

Intuitive Eating / Body Image

intuitive eating is a form of tuning into your mind and body around food developed by Evelyn Tribole.  Key elements of this model are 1) eat for physical rather than emotional reasons, 2) rely on internal hunger and satiety cues and 3) give yourself unconditional permission to eat.

It is a positive model free of food rules and diets.  It promotes self-respect, asserts that hunger should drive eating and fullness should drive decision to stop eating. It asks you to tune into your body before eating, during eating and after eating.

It is based in mindfulness, rejects diet mentality and encourages you to engage in physical activity for the sake of enjoyment vs punishment or atonement. It is an evidence-based treatment modality.  And allow you to stop the war with your body and food. 

Integration Work

is guidance specific to psilocybin and/or ayahuasca plant medicines.  Turning to alternative healing methods is becoming more common and many who choose this path need to process their experiences.  Generally, there is not a trained counselor available at these retreats to help process what comes in during the retreat or how to manage it when it does. 

I offer before and after guidance to assist individuals who explore these nontraditional plant-based healing methods. We will work to find the meaning of the experience for you and work to integrate your experience into daily living.

Hope

I believe hope is a powerful antidote and without hope many people want to give up, stop trying, changing, and growing. I do heart centered work and I believe hope is absolutely heart work.

I can help identify hope; forward thinking, future language, ideas, events etc and if you are struggling to believe in you; to hold hope in your current circumstances I can hold that space for you until you again identify it in yourself.

You are here.  You are breathing.  You are seeking guidance and support. And that is incredibly hopeful!

Mission, Vision & Values

MISSION: My mission is to instill hope and inspire change.

VISION: My vision is to be part of creating a world where people are celebrated for seeking help to live their best, and most effective lives.

VALUES: These words represent the values I aspire to uphold every day at Purposeful Exploration: choice, change, curiosity, authenticity, vulnerability, empathy, honesty, reliability, hope, kindness, showing up in a heartcentered way and possibility.

I believe change is possible. We have to be purposeful and intentional to choose change and make it last. It’s not unusual to need help along the way and I promise change is possible for you! You are capable and worthy. You are your most important asset. So make this decision – choose you!

I am uniquely qualified to walk you through a journey of change. I have a counseling education and experience. I have coaching education and experience and I have energy healing training and experience. I also have many specialized trainings that may help with exactly what you need. I believe that to live our best lives, we need to address our Mind. Body. Spirit. connection and with my training, we can look at all of these areas. We will work to determine what will work best for your circumstances; counseling, coaching or energy healing. You can choose one of these modalities, or all based on your circumstance. Any work you do in any area will help raise your vibe from an energetic standpoint. So, say yes to you and let’s raise your vibe!

Testimonials

L.R.

I don’t really know how I could ever pay Stephanie back for what she has done in my life. I don’t think I’ll ever really be able to. My parents and loved ones feel the same way. My name is Luke R. I am a graduate student at Portland State University working on my Ph.D in Sociology. I’ve made it my goal in life to help others suffering from addiction and mental health problems, just like Stephanie has made it her goal to change our lives for the better by shaping and improving our relationships with ourselves. I am a success story, a testament to the fact that through connection of your mind, body, and spirit, you can achieve a sense of self-efficacy and happiness. Give Stephanie a chance, let her change your life for the better.”

W.G.

You are so incredible, so gifted, so insightful.  Thank you for caring.  You have truly impacted my life.

A.L.

You have a way of making me believe in myself I never thought was possible.  Words can not express how much I appreciate you.

T.T.

hank you for everything along my journey, helping me to get where I am right now.  I am happier than I’ve ever been.  Keep helping others. You don’t know how much of a difference you make.

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