Profile / United States
Dr. Stephen Gunsallus, LPC
South Carolina
LPC - LGBTQ concerns and trauma
See online therapy options- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Trauma and grief work
About Stephen
Dr. Stephen Gunsallus is an LPC licensed in South Carolina with 20 years of professional experience. He helps people with LGBTQ concerns, trauma and abuse, grief and loss, and struggles with concentration and focus related to ADHD.
He holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Pastoral Community Counseling, a Master of Arts in Counseling, and a Master of Sacred Theology. He also completed seven units of Clinical Pastoral Education, including four done as a residency. These academic and clinical experiences shape his practical approach in sessions.
In therapy he uses conversational, goal-focused work. He listens to what a person wants to change, then suggests straightforward skills and exercises to try. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is part of his toolkit for noticing unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors.
He also works from client-centered principles, which focus on the person's concerns and perspectives. That makes sessions about real problems such as handling grief, processing trauma, or managing attention and memory challenges.
Over the years he has worked with issues around HIV and AIDS, forgiveness, guilt and shame, hospice and end-of-life counseling, mood disorders, and post-traumatic stress. He adapts the pace and methods to the situation, and he encourages people to take small, concrete steps between meetings.
To begin, a person follows the site's sign-up flow, completes a short questionnaire, and schedules a first session. The therapist uses that first meeting to agree goals and a practical plan for ongoing sessions.
How his approaches translate to online work
Dr. Gunsallus draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy in online sessions. CBT focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and trying practical behavior changes to see what helps. Client-centered work emphasizes the person's perspective and uses discussion to clarify goals and priorities.He may also use elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy when emotion regulation and coping skills are needed. DBT techniques teach step-by-step skills for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. In early sessions he and the client review immediate concerns, personal goals, and what techniques feel most useful. They decide together which methods to emphasize and how to structure follow-ups for practice and feedback.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also lets people practice skills where they live and then discuss what did or did not work in the next session.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
South Carolina
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he address?
He works with LGBTQ issues, trauma and abuse, grief and loss, and attention concerns such as ADHD. Additional areas include mood disorders, post-traumatic stress, HIV/AIDS, forgiveness, guilt and hospice-related counseling.
How does he use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
He employs CBT techniques to identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. CBT is used alongside other approaches to help people try specific skills between sessions.
What is his professional background?
He has 20 years of professional experience and completed an Ed.D. in Pastoral Community Counseling, an MA in Counseling, an STM, and Clinical Pastoral Education units including a residency.
Where is he licensed and practicing?
He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in South Carolina and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Can I work with him from another country?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session to begin.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.