Stephen Schottgen Jr

Stephen Schottgen Jr greets people with a calm, straightforward approach. He encourages anyone feeling overwhelmed by anger, anxiety, or grief to take a first step. He frames therapy as a practical place to talk and to build small, useful changes.

Stephen is a licensed independent clinical social worker, LICSW, and a licensed clinical social worker, LCSW. He has 13 years of professional experience and practices in Alabama. He focuses on everyday problems such as stress, sleeping troubles, low self-esteem, depression, and addictions. Anger and relationship concerns are also part of his work.

Stephen keeps conversations respectful and compassionate. He adapts each session to a person's needs and goals. This can mean working on coping skills, planning concrete behavior changes, or talking through grief and loss.

He aims to make therapy feel useful from the start. Sessions emphasize clear steps and follow-up so progress can be noticed between meetings. He also helps people weigh career stress, life transitions, and issues like ADHD or compassion fatigue.

People who are dealing with shame, guilt, or past trauma may find a steady, practical listener here. Stephen also offers help around addiction, fertility-related stress, immigration challenges, and concerns common to first responders. He invites clients to begin with a short matching questionnaire to find out if they are a good fit.

How therapeutic methods translate to online work

Stephen commonly uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical skills and clear goals. One approach emphasizes building coping skills to manage strong emotions like anger or panic; this involves learning breathing, grounding, and step-by-step behavior changes to reduce reactivity. Another approach centers on processing grief and loss through guided conversation and pacing, helping people make sense of difficult experiences and find ways to move forward.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences and then adjust methods as progress is observed. That way the plan fits the person rather than forcing a single style.

If you prefer online sessions, confirm the current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It also makes it simpler to continue care through life transitions while working with a licensed professional who helps you apply therapeutic skills in everyday situations.