Stephen Groce, LMHC

Stephen Groce is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in Indiana with 10 years of experience in mental health and social services. He earned a BA in Psychology from Earlham College and an MS in Mental Health Counseling from Walden University. He brings a direct, down-to-earth style and a sense of humor to sessions. Stephen aims to help people identify what works for them and build practical strategies to reach their goals.

He has worked in residential treatment, acute psychiatric hospitals, and community-based wraparound care teams. Those roles gave him experience with urgent needs, long-term supports, and family systems in home settings. He also serves as a racial equity trainer and mental health advocate, which shapes how he approaches respect and cultural awareness in therapy.

Stephen blends approaches to suit the person in front of him. He uses client-centered work to follow each person’s priorities, cognitive behavioral ideas to address thoughts and behaviors, and motivational interviewing to build commitment to change. He says the plan depends on what the client needs and what will help them meet their goals.

He often helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting concerns, relationship problems, ADHD, and career or life-change issues. Additional focuses include adoption and foster care, attachment and blended family issues, caregiver stress, and communication or commitment problems.

Stephen describes himself as flexible, open-minded, honest, and grounded in his faith while respecting other perspectives. He works with people to create clear, realistic steps and to become the version of themselves they want to be.

How Stephen blends therapy approaches for online work

Stephen commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors; this approach is often used for anxiety, depression, and coping skills. He also draws on client-centered therapy to follow each person's priorities and create a respectful, listening-based space that helps people name what matters to them. Emotionally-focused ideas are used when relationship patterns and attachment needs are central, helping people look at emotions and how they affect interactions.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. He will talk with the person about their goals, what has or hasn't helped before, and their preferences. Together they decide which mix of methods to try and adjust the plan as progress is made.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect. Video calls let people use visual cues and longer session work. Phone sessions can be a simpler option when bandwidth or being on camera is difficult. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for brief check-ins, coaching-style support, or when someone prefers written communication. These options aim to make it easier to fit therapy into work, family, or other responsibilities while keeping the focus on practical steps and progress.