Meet Stephanie Alvarez LCSW, Your Therapist
ResilientU Therapy was founded with the goal of teaching people we are resilient no matter what comes our way.
This does not mean we don’t get fazed by what happens. We are human and experience a range of emotions. We cannot escape stress. However, we don’t have to get consumed and stuck in negative emotions. We can learn better ways to cope and bounce back.
Doing this job for about a decade has taught me a lot about myself and working with other people.
I decided it was time to start ResilientU Therapy as a gift to myself, a symbolic and literal representation of how far I have come, to mirror the possibilities for people like me, and most importantly to make a difference.
My clients always ask me: How do you do this work?
I do my best to practice what I preach! If I am encouraging clients to set boundaries, seek out their support system, and practice coping skills then I am doing the same. Or struggling to do the same. I also experience a range of emotions and do my best to take care of myself so I can be there for my clients.
Outside of doing therapy, I love traveling, playing with my puppy, watching movies, eating good food, volunteer work, going on walks, running, and playing board games with my husband.
Growing up in a single parent household in Little Village, I quickly learned responsibility at a young age. As a first-generation student, I had to figure out for myself how to apply for scholarships and schools, fill out tax forms, and find funds for private school.
As an ambitious 13-year-old, I applied for a fiercely competitive scholarship and proudly went to boarding school for high school, an uncommon thing in my neighborhood. Boarding school made a profound impact on me and helped me come out of my shell as a shy kid. Attending a high school with predominantly Caucasian students and a much more rigorous curriculum came with challenges and benefits. I learned a great deal and made lasting friendships (3 friends came to my wedding!)
While I initially wanted to pursue med school and neurology, I became fascinated with psychology after taking a class my senior year of high school. In college, I learned theories and modalities, but it was the clinical class where I got my first experience doing a “mock” therapy session.
As I considered my career goals, I knew I would need to go to graduate school. Unfortunately, working two jobs while going to school full-time was not enough for me to apply to several schools. So, I applied to another competitive scholarship (Yes, you can see I am a nerd) and was fortunate enough to receive an award that would allow me to not only apply to grad schools but attend another campus to do summer research.
Getting into grad school was not the hard part. Yes, it took a lot of studying, discipline, and sacrifice but it’s staying in school for so long while navigating the social aspects, family dynamics, and everything else in between that makes it all so challenging. Burnout is all too real. Self-care was drilled into us by our professors as they know therapists take on a lot emotionally. Thankfully, I have learned how to balance it over time. It’s been a journey! I am so glad I did it though. It’s a very rewarding job.
My Brand Values as a Therapist
Freedom
To be unapologetically yourself, true to your values and integrity, to make your own independent choices
Freedom can mean multiple things because being free from the constraints of peer pressure and societal pressure is intertwined with letting go of our internal anxious spirals and ruminations. Learning how to challenge and redirect our thoughts can remove a huge burden we carry.
Stability
To safely have routine, structure, and discipline
Being aligned and consistent with our values through our actions reveals our integrity. This can be difficult at times but holding ourselves accountable is one way to do that. Having weekly therapy is one way to make sure we are giving ourselves that time and kindness to make progress.
Adventure
To stay curious and use humor, be open-minded
Life does not have to be so serious. We can find joy in mindful moments. We can use dark humor to see silver linings. With therapy and support, we can find renewed hope in our goals and future.
