Meet Our Team - Stephanie Hart
Stephanie Hart, PsyD
Position at the Hallowell Todaro ADHD Center:
Therapist
How long have you been working at Hallowell Todaro ADHD?
Since October 1, 2021
Where did you grow up?
I lived in West Seattle for several years and then moved to Bothell where I attended junior high and high school. I lived in Bellingham while going to undergrad and in both Chicago and Denver while doing my graduate training. I am a West Coast girl at heart though and am back in Seattle!
What are your favorite books / TV shows / movies?
Books: Fiction: Anything crime/mystery. Nonfiction: Anything that encourages exploration of personal spirituality, particularly through Eastern Philosophies.
TV Shows: Currently, I am watching Dexter and Succession. Always love a good crime or forensics documentary. Cooking shows, in particular, Top Chef.
Movies: Bridesmaids (because it is hilarious), Shawshank Redemption (because of the power of human resiliency demonstrated).
What’s your favorite sport and/or sports team?
Playing a variety of sports has always been an interest of mine and I have a competitive spirit! I have to admit however that as I’ve gotten older, more watching and less playing is more likely. :)
Complete the following sentences:
When I’m not at work, you can find me...
walking my dog, reading, cooking, painting, spending time with loved ones.
When I want to de-stress, I...
do something creative, eat something yummy, DIY spa treatments and meditate.
My favorite time of year is...
I can’t choose only one! There are things that I love about every season and I enjoy the process of change. Currently, I am enjoying the cooler weather, the beautiful trees with their changing leaves, cozy sweaters, and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.
My favorite thing to cook is...
pasta! I also like to experiment with new recipes I haven’t tried before.
The best gift I ever received was…
Oh, this is a hard one to answer. I think the best gifts I have received have been those that indicate the person really knows me. I once came across a vintage wall hanging that I loved while shopping with my significant other. When my birthday arrived a couple of months later he gave me that same wall hanging as a gift!
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d go to...
I have many places that I would like to visit. So far, I have traveled to Belize, Mexico, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. I would like to travel to Greece, Italy, Costa Rica or New Zealand next.
What led you to pursue a career helping others?
I have always had a passion for this. It is something I knew I wanted to do in some way from the time I was in high school. I enjoy witnessing individuals experience a sense of hope after being in a place of having little or none at all. Observing an individual who no longer feels alone in what they are experiencing is probably one of the most rewarding things about doing this work.
What education, skills, and expertise do you bring to your role?
I have my Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology. I have worked with people of all ages in a number of clinical settings, but have always been drawn to working with children, teens and families. When I began my graduate training I started working with teens primarily. I often found myself wondering where these teens would be had they received help at a much earlier age. I then started working with elementary school-aged children and then preschoolers and toddlers. By the time I was doing my post-doctoral fellowship I was doing dyadic, attachment-based work with mothers and their young children and babies. I also worked with pregnant moms, particularly with mothers with trauma histories and disrupted attachment histories of their own.
Who/what inspires you?
I am inspired by little things all of the time. Seeing one human helping another, for example. Really simple stuff that highlights the lovely aspects of the human spirit.
What’s your personal philosophy/approach toward the work you do?
To respect and understand what has contributed to what someone is experiencing when they access help and support. To provide a safe, nonjudgmental space for people to feel heard and understood.
What is one small thing people can do to improve their lives and increase their happiness?
Always have activities in your life (personally and professionally) that you have some passion for and truly enjoy. Try new things and learn. This last one will sound a little bit corny, but engaging in random acts of kindness. It is amazing how doing something small for another person can contribute to your own sense of meaning in life. Having a sense of meaning and purpose in life, whatever that looks like for someone, is a wonderful thing.
We provide a range of support for people with ADHD.