Anxiety and depression therapists and psychiatrists in Waterbury, CT

I am highly experienced counselor with 24 years of experience. My primary goal is to help clients regain mental wellness and stability through a comprehensive, personalized approach. While I maintains a robust general practice, my niche expertise lies in Integrated Nutrition for Mental Wellness, offering highly specialized modalities to a diverse clientele. The overarching mission is to help clients regain mental stability through a comprehensive, personalized approach.

As a licensed clinical social worker with a master’s degree from The National Catholic School of Social Services, I bring extensive experience from my work in university-based teaching hospitals and ambulatory care clinics. My practice focuses on supporting adults and their caregivers through challenges such as anxiety, depression, complex medical conditions (acute and chronic), medical trauma, loss, grief, and significant life transitions.

I have a specialization in guiding individuals and their caregivers through the cancer journey, encompassing every phase—from diagnosis and treatment to recovery, survivorship, and end-of-life care. I have also worked extensively with patients undergoing stem cell transplants, CAR-T and immunotherapy.

My training and experience also includes helping individuals manage disorders of the brain-gut interaction. Support, education and strategies address the connection between the mind and gastrointestinal health. Recognizing that everyday stressors can greatly affect your well-being, I adapt my clinical approach to suit a variety of life situations, always tailoring care to meet your unique needs.

I am a board-certified psychiatrist committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based, and person‐centered care to individuals experiencing a wide range of mental health challenges. My training includes a general psychiatry residency in New Jersey and an advanced Addiction Psychiatry/NIDA‐T32 Research Fellowship at Columbia University in New York City, where I received specialized experience in the treatment of substance use disorders, comorbidity, and academic research.

I believe that most people already have a deep understanding of themselves and what they need, it can just be difficult to access that understanding when we’re overwhelmed, stuck, or caught in patterns that no longer serve us.

As a systems therapist, I look beyond the individual to understand the relationships, experiences, and environments that shape how we think, feel, and respond. I’m particularly interested in helping people understand interpersonal conflict and the patterns that develop between us, whether with a partner, family member, friend, or colleague.

Life can be a lot. Between juggling work, friends and family life, anxiety and sadness can sneak up on you. Therapy isn’t about lying on a couch while someone silently nods, it’s about having a real convo with someone who gets it. Together, we’ll work together out how to quiet the noise, boost your mental health, and build habits that make life feel less like survival mode and more like you actually living it. Life throws curveballs — and when we don’t fully process them, they can sneakily pile up as stress, anxiety, or that heavy feeling you just can’t shake. That’s where therapy comes in.

My mission is simple: create a space where you can express yourself, shake off the weight you’ve been carrying, and explore who you’ve been, who you are, and who you want to become. A safe zone for real talk and growth. EMDR (a way of helping your brain re-file old memories so they don’t keep hitting the panic button), systems theory, person centered theory.

Therapy with me isn’t about lying on a couch in awkward silence. It’s modern, collaborative, sometimes even a little fun — because growth doesn’t always have to feel heavy. I’m open-minded yet structured and here to make the process feel less like a chore and more like a genuine reset.

For insurances I do not accept: Out of network provider: 4 questions to ask insurance representative: Does your plan include "out-of-network" coverage for mental health? What is your annual deductible for mental health benefits? What is your co-insurance? (What percentage does the plan cover?) Is there a limit on sessions?

There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.” — John Green I have worked in the field of social work for over ten years, driven by a passion that began while supporting adolescents in a clinical day school setting. That early experience solidified my commitment to furthering my education and pursuing a career in social work. Throughout my career, I have gained experience across a variety of settings, including schools, medical facilities, child welfare, outpatient care, and crisis services. This diverse background has allowed me to develop a flexible, client-centered approach tailored to individuals’ unique needs.

I understand how exhausting it can feel to be caught in the same patterns or unsure how to help someone you care about. I offer a calm, approachable, and nonjudgmental space where you can feel heard and supported. We will work together at a pace that feels right for you. Reach out when you are ready to begin.

Welcome to Stem Wellness! My name is Stella Stempel, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Psychologist. In over 10 years of private practice, I worked with individuals, couples, and families. My approach is consistent, incremental change coupled with healthy thoughts that leads to a more satisfying life. Changing the way we act affects the way we feel and the way we view ourselves. When working with me, you are guided towards intentional living and healthy thought processes.

Twenty-five years in this field — across inpatient units, outpatient programs, and private practice — means I've sat with people in virtually every kind of difficulty. That depth of experience shapes how I show up: grounded, unhurried, and genuinely confident that change is possible, even when it doesn't feel that way yet.

I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, ADD/ADHD, stress, and major life transitions. I bring both clinical rigor and real human warmth to the work — because neither alone is enough.

I trained at Hunter College School of Social Work and have built my practice around one belief: that insight without practical tools doesn't get people very far, and tools without insight don't stick. We'll work on both.

I am a licensed psychologist with over 25 years of experience providing therapy to children, adolescents, college students and parents. I completed my predoctoral training at The Children's Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School.

Specialties: anxiety disorders including OCD, panic, phobias, separation anxiety, social anxiety, mood disorders, and parenting anxiety.

Special expertise: transition from college to work world; confidence building in adolescents and young adults; handling emotions, relationships, change, stress in college students.