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Stephen Richardson, LCSW

Experienced mental health professional

Provides online counseling through BetterHelp

At a glance

Stephen is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.

FSA/HSA accepted
4.7 stars
Clients are very satisfied with Stephen. View 27 reviews
Great news, Stephen is accepting new clients!
He is normally fully-booked.
Offers Telehealth visits
Licensed in North Carolina and South Carolina

Recent reviews

Stephen is a great. He approaches with kindness and an open mind. I never felt like I was being judged. Whatever I had going on, he always had positive words of encouragement.

Reviewed August 2020

Stephen provides a safe place for me to be open and honest. I am always met with underrating, kindness and WISDOM! His counseling has changed my life.

Reviewed July 2020

More about Stephen

  • 10 years' experience
  • Male
  • LCSW, LISW-CP

Hello! My name is Stephen and I am a licensed clinical social worker with over ten years of experience providing compassionate, faith-based counseling to individuals in both North and South Carolina. My passion is helping people heal and grow closer to Christ by addressing their mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. I believe that true healing involves nurturing the mind, body, and spirit, and I am dedicated to guiding my clients through their personal journeys of recovery and spiritual growth.

I hold degrees in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Winthrop University, and I am committed to creating a safe, supportive space where clients can explore their faith and find strength in their spiritual walk. Whether you're facing life's challenges, seeking emotional healing, or looking to deepen your relationship with Christ, I am here to support and walk alongside you every step of the way.

My goal is to help you experience healing not just on a surface level, but in a way that transforms your entire being—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—so that you can live a more fulfilled and Christ-centered life.

Specialties

Stress Anxiety Relationship issues Family conflicts Bipolar disorder Depression Addictions LGBT Issues Trauma and abuse Grief Intimacy-related issues Eating disorders Sleeping disorders Parenting issues Anger management Self-esteem Career difficulties Coping with life changes Coaching Compassion fatigue ADHD Abandonment Adoption and foster care Antisocial personality Attachment issues Autism and Asperger Syndrome Avoidant personality BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture Blended family issues Body image Caregiver issues and stress Co-morbidity Codependency Commitment issues Communication problems Control issues Coping with natural or human-caused disaster Dependent personality Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) Divorce and separation Domestic violence Drug and alcohol addiction Eating and food-related issues Emptiness Family of origin issues Family problems Fatherhood issues Forgiveness Gender dysphoria Guilt and shame Hoarding Impulsivity Infidelity Intellectual disability Isolation / loneliness Jealousy Life purpose Men's issues Midlife crisis Veteran and Armed Forces Issues Money and financial issues Mood disorders Multicultural concerns Narcissism Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacks Paranoia Personality disorders Phobias Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships Post-traumatic stress Prejudice and discrimination Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling) Self-harm Self-love Sex addiction Sexual assault and abuse Sexual dysfunction Sexuality Smoking / vaping cessation Social anxiety and phobia Somatization Traumatic brain injury Trichotillomania Workplace issues Young adult issues

Insurance Accepted

  • Cigna

Treatment Approaches

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Client-Centered Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
  • Mindfulness Therapy
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Solution-Focused Therapy

Licenses

Stephen Richardson's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1174062046.

  • LCSW · North Carolina · C012054 · Renews February 2028
  • LISW-CP · South Carolina · 13202 · Renews December 2026

About online counseling

Affordable.
Pay a low flat fee.
Convenient.
Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
Available now.
There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.

Online counseling, sometimes called teletherapy, refers to talk therapy delivered remotely through digital platforms, such as video calls, phone calls, or chat. It can be a great option for people who face barriers to traditional face-to-face therapy, such as those living in remote areas, individuals with mobility issues, or people with busy schedules that make it difficult to attend in-person sessions.

Teletherapy also offers greater convenience and flexibility, allowing clients to access care from the comfort of their homes. Research shows that the treatment outcomes with online counseling are often just as effective as with traditional therapy, providing a viable alternative for individuals seeking mental health support.

Reviews for Stephen Richardson

All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.

Overall rating:

4.7

27 reviews

5
4
3
2
1

Clients mention: Great Recommend Helped Listens Grateful Helpful Attentive Easy Encouraging Healing

Stephen is a great. He approaches with kindness and an open mind. I never felt like I was being judged. Whatever I had going on, he always had positive words of encouragement.

Reviewed August 2020

Stephen provides a safe place for me to be open and honest. I am always met with underrating, kindness and WISDOM! His counseling has changed my life.

Reviewed July 2020

Stephen is awesome. He is always upbeat and encouraging but at the same time honest and truthful, which is not always easy. Stephen was very open and accepting to anything I had to say and I always felt safe opening up to him about any issue. He is not judgemental and he was willing to help me work through things in my own way, at my own pace while always reminding me of essential truths that we had covered along the way. Life can be full of pressure and judgement, but we all need someone who will hear us out when we speak the raw truth, as awkward and ugly as it may be. I'm very thankful that Stephen did that for me, and I would recommend him to anyone as I believe he would do the same for them!

Reviewed July 2020

He was great and super helpful! I only switched out because I was able to get connected with a school counselor. Definitely recommend. Super professional.

Reviewed June 2020

Great and very compassionate and caring counselor.

Reviewed June 2020

Stephen has been great through very difficult times for me. I have had so much progress with my mental help because of him. Forever grateful!

Reviewed June 2020

Many months in with Stephen and each session has always been a step forward. I always feel better after every session. I truly appreciate and value his expertise and feedback. The good and bad. Highly recommend him.

Reviewed May 2020

Stephen is knowledgeable, compassionate, and is a great listener. I trust him and his expertise. I would highly recommend Stephen.

Reviewed May 2020

Stephen has helped me recognize and deal with issues that used to be completely debilitating. I've learned to manage my symptoms better and I'm able to be more positive. I really appreciate how Stephen has helped me.

Reviewed April 2020

Simply amazing! I feel comfortable, and Stephen doesn’t just hear; he listens.

Reviewed March 2020

Stephen is awesome! He is super knowledgable in his field but is also very friendly and easy to open up to without any fear of judgement.

Reviewed March 2020

Keep up the good work, Stephen!

Reviewed February 2020

Stephen is patient, supportive and always willing to listen. He makes a great support system especially for those who are new to therapy. He checks in with you, even outside of appointment times, this gave me the assurance that he is there for you and that he cares. Thank you Stephen.

Reviewed February 2020

Stephen is always encouraging and listens to all my crazy stories with no judgement. He helps me think of the things I wouldn’t think of alone and being able to text him during the week really helps! I don’t have to try and remember everything going on for a once a week appt. I can just type it to him and we can talk right then via text or cover it in our next session, but it takes the pressure off me to have to remember so much information! Stephen really is an awesome therapist!

Reviewed January 2020

Stephen has been a significant part of the healing I've experienced in such a brief time. I will forever be grateful to him for the help that he has provided me. He always responded in a timely fashion, even quicker than I thought an online Counseling Service would provide. I have already, and will continue to recommend this service to my friends and other loved ones.

Reviewed December 2019

Stephen is absolutely the best ! He is very attentive and listens carefully to everything I’ve to say and together we find ways of healing and making experiences better. I’m very happy with my counselor and I’d strongly recommend him.

Reviewed December 2019

Stephan is very nice and supportive. He really listens and asks the right questions to help me. He responds to all my messages and even checks up on me. I really feel looked after with him.

Reviewed December 2019

Stephen is considerate and he is very mindful of my situation and relationships he is always professional and kind.

Reviewed December 2019

Stephen understands how to work on the issues I face. He is always available, supporting and helpful and helps immensely to stay focused on getting better.

Reviewed November 2019

Stephen is always there for me and I would recommend over and over again.

Reviewed November 2019

Stephen has helped me through one of the worst times of my life. Sometimes I get distant and don’t check in, but he knows what he is doing and continues to press for communication because he knows I need it. I look forward to continuing my counseling.

Reviewed November 2019

Very helpful and kind!

Reviewed November 2019

Stephen was so, so great. He asked me before every session, "How's it going?" and it just felt so genuine. It was a real bright spot in my week just getting to talk with him for 30 minutes.

Reviewed November 2019

Stephen has been very accessible and has helped me from the beginning. It is nice to have a neutral voice in my journey. So far he has helped tremendously.

Reviewed September 2019

Stephen took the time to understand my situation and provide an attentive listening ear. Stephen was able to refocus my inner thinking which helped me start to focus on myself after dealing with an ending relationship.

Reviewed September 2019

Stephen is a great listener and supporter. I'd definitely recommend him!

Reviewed August 2019

I've started to understand myself more because of him. I am so grateful for Stephen.

Reviewed August 2019

How was your experience with Stephen?

Frequently asked questions

Does Stephen Richardson offer telehealth visits?

Yes. Stephen Richardson works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.

What language(s) does Stephen Richardson speak?

Stephen Richardson speaks English.

How many years of experience does Stephen Richardson have?

Stephen Richardson has 10 years of experience.

Where is Stephen Richardson licensed to practice?

Stephen Richardson is licensed to practice in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Does Stephen Richardson accept FSA/HSA?

Yes, Stephen Richardson accepts FSA/HSA meaning you can pay for sessions with your pre-tax healthcare dollars. Every year hundreds of thousands of people use their FSA/HSA to pay for therapy.

Does Stephen Richardson accept insurance?

Yes, Stephen Richardson accepts Cigna.

Does Stephen Richardson accept clients outside of the United States?

Yes, Stephen Richardson accepts clients outside of the United States.

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."

What treatment approaches does Stephen Richardson offer?

Stephen Richardson offers clients Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy.

How can I communicate with Stephen Richardson?

Stephen Richardson can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.

How do I get started with Stephen Richardson?

Just tap the BOOK NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation.

Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.

And recovery is possible.

Messaging
Live Chat
Phone
Video

When you tap BOOK NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation.

FSA/HSA eligible