Today we’d like to introduce you to Gillian Steffey.
Hi Gillian, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am so excited to share my journey with you! My name is Gillian Steffey, and I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, #158125, and I am supervised by Joseph Henson, LMFT #143459.
I was drawn to the mental health field because of both my curiosity about people and my own experiences. Like many people, I’ve navigated seasons of anxiety and self-doubt, and those experiences gave me a deeper appreciation for the importance of feeling seen, supported, and understood. It also sparked my interest in how our relationships and experiences shape who we become. That interest ultimately led me to pursue Marriage and Family Therapy, where I studied at the University of Southern California. In my graduate program, I found a passion for helping others heal, create healthier patterns, and build stronger connections.
Over the past few years, I have had the opportunity to work with youth and families. Through those experiences, I discovered that my clinical style is rooted in attachment-based and trauma-informed care. Currently, I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) at Sunset Coast Family Therapy, where I provide therapy for children, preteens, women, couples, and families. What I enjoy most is helping people feel understood, build emotional resilience, and create lasting change—not just by reducing symptoms, but by strengthening relationships and helping clients feel more connected to themselves and the people around them. I am excited to keep growing in this field and bringing a warm, collaborative, and evidence-based approach to every client I have the honor of working with.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like almost all journeys, it definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. One of the most challenging seasons for me was the transition into graduate school. I am the first person in my family to attend a graduate program, so on the one hand I felt incredibly grateful and proud, but on the other, I also felt lonely and uncertain about the journey I was about to embark on. I didn’t know what to expect, which both excited and terrified me. Like many therapists early in their careers, I found myself wondering whether I would be enough—whether I would have what it takes to support people through some of the most difficult seasons of their lives. I experienced imposter syndrome deeply and questioned whether I had chosen the right path.
What made the biggest difference was the support I received along the way. My family, friends, professors, and mentors believed in me during moments when it was difficult to believe in myself. Having people who encouraged me, challenged me, and reminded me of my strengths, gave me the confidence to keep moving forward. They helped me grow not only as a lifelong learner and therapist, but also as a person.
Looking back, those experiences shaped me both professionally and personally. I was able to recognize the strengths I bring into my work while also embracing the areas where I continue to grow. I came to realize that there isn’t one mold a therapist has to fit into. Our authenticity, lived experiences, and unique strengths are a part of what makes us effective clinicians. Those experiences also taught me the immeasurable value of having a strong support system. That’s something I carry into every therapeutic relationship. I’m passionate about creating a space where clients feel safe, seen, and supported, because I know firsthand how powerful it can be to have someone walk alongside you, help you recognize your strengths, offer a push when you need it, and remind you that growth is possible—even if you can’t see it for yourself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I currently work as an AMFT at Sunset Coast Family Therapy, where I have the privilege of working with children, preteens, women, couples, and families. At the heart of my work is an attachment-based and trauma-informed approach. I have always been drawn to the way our earliest relationships shape how we see ourselves, connect with others, and respond to the world around us. So much of the pain people experience isn’t because something is “wrong with them”—it’s because their brains and nervous systems learned ways to survive experiences that were overwhelming, distressing, or emotionally unsafe. I am passionate about helping my clients understand those patterns with compassion instead of shame, so they can begin responding to themselves and their relationships in new ways.
With children and their families, I enjoy using an attachment-based play therapy approach to help young ones express emotions they may not yet have the words for, while partnering closely with parents and caregivers to strengthen connection and understanding at home. With women, I use my attachment-based approach and training in EMDR, often working with relational trauma, attachment wounds, anxiety, depression, and self-worth. I also enjoy working with couples, identifying attachment patterns and working towards secure attachment in the relationship through processing relational wounds, re-building trust, and improving communication. Across all of my work, my goal is to help people heal by feeling more connected—to themselves, to the people they love, and to the life they want to build.
What I am most proud of is creating a space where clients feel genuinely safe, accepted, and understood. Whether it’s a little one with big feelings, an entire family system, a couple stuck in the same cycle, or a woman who feels like she’s carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders—I never take for granted the trust my clients place in me during the most vulnerable times of their lives. I believe healing happens through relationships, and I strive to be a steady, compassionate presence while also gently challenging clients toward growth.
What sets me apart is my deep belief that every person’s story is unique and deserves to be understood. I don’t just focus on symptoms—I also want to understand the experiences, relationships, and strengths that have shaped the person, couple, or family sitting in front of me. My hope is that clients leave therapy not only with practical tools, but with a deeper understanding of themselves, self-compassion, and confidence that healing and meaningful change is possible.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Yes! I truly believe that in this field, we are lifelong learners. There is always something new for me to learn—whether it’s deepening my understanding of attachment, trauma, or simply becoming a more thoughtful and effective clinician.
Some books that I love and have shaped my work are:
What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing From Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo
The Center Cannot Hold by Elyn R. Saks
Sensitive by Jenn Granneman & Andre Solo
Trauma and Recovery by Judith Herman
Butterfly Killer: How to Identify and Manage a Narcissist by Candise Wells Leininger
Getting Past Your Past by Francine Shapiro
Pricing:
- My standard fee for individuals, including EMDR, Play Therapy, as well as children’s individual, is $100.
- For couples I charge $150.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sunsetcoastfamilytherapy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gilliansteffeytherapy?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578468488246&mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-s-69aba11a8/
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/gillian-steffey-oceanside-ca/1689256?msockid=0964731a2b626711250865ee2af06624
