About Stephany J. Item; MHC-LP

---

Stephany J. Item is an international therapist and educator with a permit to practice clinically and take insurance in NY state. She was born in Switerland, and raised in Rome, in a multicultural and multilingual home with an inclusive and culturally competent family culture. Stephany has lived in multiple countries around the world and has always led her work and life through play, movement, and deep connection to herself, others, and the natural world around her.

Stephany holds a Bachelor's of Arts in Developmental Psychology through San Diego State University and a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Walden University. Stephany is certified in "Trauma-informed Yoga and Mindfulness for Youth and Adolescents" through Childlight Yoga, "Youth and Adolescent Yoga" through Kidding Around Yoga, "200hr Hatha/Raja Yoga" through Ahimsa Yoga Studio, and a certified Teaching Artist through the Wolftrap institute of early learning. 

Stephany has extensive experience creating therapeutic spaces throughout the world for all ages. She founded and ran "Growing Roots Youth Movement and Mindfulness" for over a decade, creating classes, trainings, and workshops for children, adolescents, parents, and educators across various contexts. Stephany has trained groups of Educators and Therapists in Europe on how to implement expressive modalities of play, mindfulness, and social and emotional development into the classroom and clinical space. She continues to support Families through her clinical work in NY State while offering in person Movement and Mindfulness classes for all ages in Ithaca, NY.