Stephanie Baez, LMSW (she/her/hers)
Therapist
Bilingual (English–Spanish)

College can be a time of growth, independence, and new opportunities, but it can also bring stress, identity questions, and the pressure of navigating multiple expectations at once. My goal in therapy is to create a supportive space where you can talk openly about what you're experiencing, feel understood, and build tools that help you move through this stage of life with greater confidence and clarity.

Through Amira the Healing Space, I provide counseling services to SUNY Oneonta students who may be navigating academic stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, identity development, or major life transitions. Therapy can offer a place to slow down, reflect, and develop strategies that support both emotional well-being and personal growth.

Students often seek support with:

• Anxiety
• Depression and emotional overwhelm
• Academic stress and burnout
• Identity development and cultural identity
• Relationship and family dynamics
• Trauma and past experiences
• Life transitions and personal growth

I was born in Washington Heights, New York City, and raised in the Dominican Republic. Growing up between two cultures deeply shaped my understanding of identity, community, and resilience. These experiences allow me to support clients who may be navigating acculturation, family expectations, or the complexities of balancing multiple cultural identities.

I am fully fluent in Spanish and English, and I offer therapy in both languages for students who feel most comfortable expressing themselves in Spanish.

I earned my Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from Wagner College, where I developed a strong interest in understanding the social structures that impact human rights and opportunity. I later earned my Master of Social Work from Hunter College, where I focused on bridging macro-level social justice with clinical mental health practice.

My clinical experience includes supporting survivors of domestic violence, working in a high school outpatient clinic serving newcomer populations navigating complex trauma, and providing counseling in New York City college mental health settings. Through these experiences, I have developed a strong commitment to supporting students and young adults as they navigate academic pressure, identity exploration, and significant life transitions.

My clinical approach is holistic, collaborative, and trauma-informed. I integrate several therapeutic approaches, including:

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills
• Psychodynamic therapy
• Somatic and relational approaches

These approaches help clients build insight, regulate emotional and physical responses to stress, strengthen resilience, and develop a deeper sense of self-trust.

Clients often describe me as warm, grounded, and gently challenging. In our work together, I aim to create an affirming and culturally responsive environment where you can explore your experiences safely while also developing strategies that support meaningful change.

Outside of therapy, I believe strongly in the healing power of movement. Activities such as running, yoga, pilates, and walking in nature help me stay grounded and connected, and I often encourage clients to explore movement as a way to support nervous system regulation and emotional well-being.

If you are navigating stress, identity questions, relationship challenges, or emotional overwhelm during your college years — in English or Spanish — therapy can offer a space for reflection, healing, and growth.

Schedule with me here:
AmiraTheHealingSpace.as.me