M.ed., LMHC, LPC
Stephanie Hughes
I am a licensed mental health professional with more than 20 years of experience working with children, parents, and families, with particular expertise in complex family systems, high-conflict separation and divorce, and child custody matters.
I bring a thoughtful, steady, and practical approach to my work. Families navigating separation, custody disputes, strained parent-child relationships, or other significant transitions are often managing many layers of stress at once. My goal is to help families better understand the dynamics affecting them while identifying clear, workable paths forward.
My work draws on a combination of clinical, child welfare, and forensic experience, giving me a broad perspective on the needs of children and parents—particularly when relationships have become complicated by conflict, trauma, disrupted attachment, or involvement with the legal system.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
I earned my Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology and Human Services, with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy, from the University of Oregon. Early in my career, I provided Family Reconciliation Services and Family Preservation Services before spending 11 years with the Division of Children and Family Services, where I worked as both a social worker and supervisor in Child Welfare, Adoptions, and Home Studies.
In 2012, I began providing forensic psychological services, expanding my work to include bilateral custody evaluations, Parenting Coordination, parent-child observations, and Reunification Therapy. I have also received specialized training from Joan Kelly, Ph.D., an internationally recognized psychologist and one of the founders of the field of Parenting Coordination.
These experiences continue to shape how I approach complex family matters—with attention to child development, family systems, relational dynamics, and the practical realities families face when clinical and legal concerns intersect.
Areas of Practice
Providing specialized clinical support for families navigating transitions, conflict, and complex family dynamics.
Family Transitions & Divorce
Supporting parents and children through separation, divorce, and family restructuring, with attention to children's developmental and relational needs.
Complex Co-Parenting
Parenting Coordination and parent consultation for families navigating high conflict, communication challenges, and difficult post-separation dynamics.
Parent-Child Relationships & Repair
Reunification Therapy and other clinical interventions designed to understand and address strained, disrupted, or disconnected parent-child relationships.
Custody and Parenting Assessment
Bilateral custody evaluations, parent-child observations, and parenting assessments informed by clinical experience, child development, and family systems.
Areas of Expertise
Child Custody & Parenting Assessment
High-Conflict Separation & Divorce
Parent-Child Relationship Disruption
Child Welfare & Family Systems
Abuse & Trauma
Adoption & Foster Care
Professional Affiliations: Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC)
Connect with Stephanie
If you have questions about my services or would like to explore whether working together may be a good fit, I invite you to get in touch.