Hidden Gems: Meet Stephanie Bartlett of Stephanie Bartlett, LPC, LMFT, Inc.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Bartlett.

Stephanie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
After having a few different careers, I decided I wanted to pursue a career in helping people through therapy. I worked at a psychiatric hospital during the day and went to Grad School at night. During my clinicals, I worked at a community mental health clinic. After graduating in December 2010 and earning my LPC & LMFT licenses, I worked at a non-profit helping at-risk youth secure housing, education, etc. I then realized that I wanted to help others more directly rather than through case management. I decided to start my own private practice. In order to make ends meet, I moved into my parents’ basement. My supervisor at the time offered me a small room to see clients in his office building. He gave me one speaking opportunity at a school, and I began leaning on my business skills as well as my passion for making a difference in order to build my practice. I remember charging $35/session and seeing clients on weekends and evenings, sometimes until 10pm. I believe I got a tax refund that year due to making so little money.

I had always felt drawn to Colorado. In fact, I almost attended DU but declined due to fear. I thought it was too far from home, too cold, etc. Shortly after I turned 35 in 2013, I decided it was time. I didn’t know anyone in Denver, but I took a leap of faith and trusted my calling. I moved myself, my two dogs, my horse & my practice to Denver. I kept my licenses active in TX as well, so I saw existing TX clients via Telehealth while establishing myself in Denver. I toured hospitals, residential treatment centers & mental health facilities. I reached out to colleagues and took them to coffee. I connected. Then I followed up with a handwritten note-a personal touch I still do today. I was determined to focus on helping people and knew the money would follow if I kept that focus. And it did. Referrals started coming in. Clients were healing and sending more clients. I was making ends meet and then beginning to thrive.

When I was pregnant with my oldest daughter, now age 6, I decided to expand my practice. I knew I wouldn’t be able to continue seeing 30+ clients/week while tending to an infant, so I hired a clinician who had interned for me in grad school. I filled her caseload within a month. Then I hired a second clinician, who also filled up quickly. I continued to grow.

I now have two precious daughters, Sadie & Scarlett, ages 6 & 4, respectively, both through the miracle of IVF, a therapy toy poodle named “Zoe,” a loving partner, Jeremy, a wonderful stepson (age 16), Caleb, and a thriving, abundant practice made up of a team of myself and five other clinicians. I love the life I live. Most of all, I love that each and every day, I am given the gift of making a difference in people’s lives. My work has significance and meaning-not only through direct connection with my own clients but also through consultation & training for my team. I love helping my team also thrive & find meaning. I have a story of my own healing journey. Not many know it in detail, but I draw upon my own story as well as my expertise to connect with, help raise awareness & educate others on how they, too, can make a difference. Speaking has recently been one of the areas of my career I am most passionate about. I want to leave a lasting positive impact on those around me.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road at all! I had to move into my parents’ basement in order to make ends meet so I could start my own private practice. I started out charging $35/session and working nights and weekends in addition to the week. I took every opportunity I could to connect with and learn from respected colleagues around me; I had ups and downs. I faced many fears and then learned to embrace them. I learned to be flexible and to get comfortable with change, something that had not come easily to me. I learned to trust-myself, my intuition, and the life I felt called to lead as a therapist.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Our team is made up of myself and five other clinicians. Our number one passion is helping others. Often, we as individuals in our society appear to have everything together on the outside. However, internally, we are falling apart. Our team meets clients where they are and helps them find authentic inner healing & peace. Our mission is to help as many people as possible find their inner light and true, authentic selves. For when we reconnect with our true self, possibilities are endless.

We offer services 8am-8pm Mon.-Sat. Our office is located in Castle Pines, and we also offer HIPAA-compliant Telehealth. We are licensed in CO, TX, CA, OH, HI, MA, WA, OR & IL. We partner with Path4EMS to help first responders and their loved ones, offer discounted services to those referred by Journey Church, and accept Medicaid through CO Access.

Our biggest specialty is helping those with eating disorders. However, we also specialize in helping couples & families, those struggling with fertility challenges, postpartum, trauma, OCD, anxiety & depression. We help clients age 7 & up.

Where we stand apart is our intentional focus on personalization. We prioritize connection with our clients. We write handwritten welcome and graduation notes; we give graduation certificates upon completion of therapy; we celebrate clients’ birthdays; we consistently strive to ensure that we are providing the highest exemplary care while always keeping our relationship with our clients first and foremost. We are also passionate about raising awareness & providing education, so we often engage in public speaking opportunities within our community.

How do you define success?
Success is finding meaning and purpose and living a values-driven life. Success is knowing I have made a difference & a positive impact. Success is abundance.

Pricing:

• We partner with Path4EMS for first responders & their families.
• We accept Medicaid through CO Access.
• We offer a sliding scale for those in need.
• Our initial evaluation is $225.
• Sessions thereafter range from $135-$185, dependent upon which clinician you see.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stephaniebartlett.com
• Linkedin: LinkedIn-Stephanie Bartlett-Goldstein, LPC, LMFT, TF-EAP