Meet Stephanie - Your Chronic Illness Therapist in Youngstown Ohio
Stephanie Moore, Phd., LPCC-S (Ohio)
Owner and Primary Therapist
Live Intentionally Counseling, LLC
I’m so glad you’re here.
If you’re living with chronic pain, invisible illness, or ongoing fatigue, you may be used to having to explain yourself. You may look fine on the outside while quietly struggling to keep up with work, relationships, family responsibilities, and the expectations you place on yourself.
I know that experience personally.
I’ve lived with chronic pain, invisible illness, and the cycle of pushing myself beyond my capacity, crashing, recovering, and trying to do it all over again. I know how easy it can be to lose touch with what your body is telling you when you’ve spent years trying to keep everything moving.
Chronic illness can affect so much more than your physical health. It can change the way you see yourself, challenge your sense of independence, strain relationships, and leave you grieving the energy, abilities, or version of yourself you once took for granted.
But your illness does not have to become your identity.
With more than 14 years of clinical experience supporting people through a wide range of mental health challenges, combined with my own lived experience navigating chronic illness while balancing a career, motherhood, and everyday life, I bring both professional expertise and personal understanding to our work together.
So when I tell you, “I understand,” I mean more than understanding the clinical terminology.
I understand what it’s like to build a life around an unpredictable body, to wrestle with your limits, and to wonder how to take care of yourself without putting everything else on hold.
Therapy with me is a place where you don't have to prove that you're struggling, minimize what you're experiencing, or pretend you have more capacity than you do.
You can come as you are. We’ll start there.
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You are a whole person, not a diagnosis.
Labels and diagnoses can provide clarity, validation, and access to support, but they are only one part of your story. I want to understand you: your experiences, strengths, challenges, values, relationships, and the context that shapes your life.I practice from a neurodiversity-affirming perspective.
I recognize that there is no single “right” way for a brain to work. I strive to create a space where autistic, ADHD, and otherwise neurodivergent clients can explore who they are without pressure to mask, perform, or fit themselves into a predetermined mold. I respect self-identification and the personal process of understanding your own neurodivergence, particularly as it intersects with chronic invisible illness and burnout.You are welcome here exactly as you are.
I am LGBTQIA+ affirming and committed to creating an inclusive, respectful space where you can feel safe being yourself. I believe therapy should be a place where you are understood rather than judged or asked to defend who you are.Your experiences matter.
My work is grounded in a trauma-informed approach, which means we consider how your past experiences, current circumstances, health, environment, and nervous system may influence the way you move through the world. Rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach, I draw from multiple evidence-based counseling approaches and tailor therapy to your goals, needs, and preferences.Most importantly, therapy should work for you.
Whether you are navigating chronic illness, burnout, anxiety, identity changes, grief, or simply trying to figure out how to live well in a body and life that have changed, we will work together to find approaches that feel realistic, sustainable, and genuinely supportive. -
My training combines clinical mental health counseling, counselor education, and extensive academic experience, giving me a broad perspective on both the emotional and practical challenges my clients face.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Counselor Education & Supervision
Walden University, 2021Master of Science in Education (MSEd), Clinical Mental Health & Addictions Counseling
Youngstown State University, 2012Master of Arts (MA), English
Youngstown State University, 2007Bachelor of Arts (BA)
The Ohio State University, 2004Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
State of Ohio, CSWMFT Board -
My clinical experience spans a wide range of settings, populations, and levels of care. This has given me a broad understanding of how mental health challenges can affect people at different stages of life and how therapy may need to adapt as circumstances change.
My experience includes:
Community Mental Health, supporting individuals navigating a range of mental health concerns and life challenges
Addictions & Substance Use Services, working with individuals and families impacted by substance use
Family & Foster Care Support, helping children, caregivers, and families navigate complex transitions and relationships
School-Based Mental Health Counseling, providing mental health support to students within educational settings
Employee Assistance & Wellness Counseling, supporting adults experiencing stress, life transitions, burnout, and workplace challenges
Multiple Levels of Care, including residential treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), and traditional outpatient therapy
This range of experience allows me to meet clients where they are, recognize when their needs may be changing, and provide thoughtful support without losing sight of the whole person. Today, I bring this breadth of experience to my work with adults navigating chronic illness, burnout, fatigue, and the emotional challenges that can come with living in a body that doesn't always cooperate with the life you want to live.
Change Can Be Hard.
Finding a Therapist Who Understands Doesn’t Have To Be.
You’ve already spent enough time explaining, pushing through, and trying to figure it all out on your own.
You don’t need another person telling you to simply try harder or take better care of yourself.
You deserve a therapist who understands that chronic illness changes the way you navigate your entire life, and who can help you find a way forward that works with your body, your capacity, and the life you actually live.
If you’re ready to feel understood, supported, and less alone, let’s talk.
I can’t wait to support you!