University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO

Ph.D. in School Psychology expected 2026

University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

Bachelor’s in Psychology 2020

Stevie Spinelli, M.A.

stevie.spinelli@birchpsychology.com | 303.834.1026 ext. 29

*departing practice summer of 2024

Stevie is currently enrolled in a doctoral-level school psychology program at the University of Northern Colorado. She has worked with a diverse range of clients in various capacities. For instance, she has utilized applied behavior analysis to assist children with autism, employed parent-child interaction therapy for children with selective mutism, engaged in child abuse intervention for youth victims, conducted psychotherapy and psychological assessments for children, adolescents, and families, and has been involved as a school psychology practicum student where she collaborated with students, families, staff, and systems associated with the institution. Her primary focus lies in delivering individual therapy to adolescents, and she adopts a Person-Centered Therapy (PCT) approach to help them navigate challenges and provide additional support. While she is in graduate school, Stevie's primary objective is to gain a wealth of experience by working with diverse clients across different settings. Looking ahead to her post-graduation plans, Stevie intends to work within urban high schools with a long-term goal of establishing a private practice aimed at supporting former juvenile offenders in successfully reintegrating into the education system. Currently, Stevie provides psychotherapy and psychological assessment to children and adolescents, catering to both individuals and families.

Stevie's clinical approach is firmly grounded in the belief that individuals possess an innate drive for personal growth and self-realization. She strives to create a therapeutic environment characterized by empathy, authenticity, and non-judgment to encourage clients to engage in sincere introspection. Central to her philosophy is the idea that individuals hold unique insights into their own lives and can modify their behavior and attitudes through a non-directive approach. Her methodology aims to enhance clients' overall well-being by bolstering their self-esteem, fostering confidence in their choices, and equipping them with improved coping mechanisms to handle the outcomes of their decisions.

Stevie transferred into UNC's school psychology PhD program at the beginning of last year after completing one year of the university's school psychology EdS program. She will be earning her MA in school psychology this October (2023) and PhD (2026) from the University of Northern Colorado's College of Education and Behavioral Sciences (EBS). Stevie has worked in various clinical settings, including non-profit organizations, university clinics, schools, and private practice. She can be reached at stevie.spinelli@birchpsychology.com and at 303.834.1026 ext. 29

Apr 26, 2024

Resiliency is a Superpower

When certain, potentially traumatizing events occur between the ages of 0-17, the effect they can have on that individual's life is massive; these events are often referred to as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). A prevalence of ACEs in someone’s childhood can lead to a number of different issues later in life, including physical health issues such as heart disease and diabetes; mental health issues such as being at a higher risk of suicide, depression and bipolar disorder, and other issues such as pregnancy complications, difficulty forming healthy relationships, and struggling to create a stable work history as an adult.

Apr 19, 2024

Being the Family Member of Someone With a Chronic Illness

Though I’ve gotten a lot better at it, I still sometimes have to catch myself when I find that I am judging someone at first glance. As a psychology major in college, part of why I love psychology so much is because I feel like in no other field do you really get the opportunity to look at other people and deep dive into what makes them unique. People, in my experience, often have a lot more going on in their lives than is outwardly apparent.

Apr 12, 2024

Transitioning into Spring

A number of weeks ago we covered seasonal affective disorder (SAD), often called seasonal depression. Often, when people think of seasonal depression, they think of winter, with its lack of hours of daylight and the cold keeping us inside. You might imagine that, regardless of whether or not someone has SAD, that spring is a time for growing as a person and “spring cleaning” your mind. Both of these can be true, however, it’s important to recognize the pressure that putting those expectations on yourself and others can lead to.

Apr 5, 2024

Who is the Person Sitting Next to You?

There is something inherently unique to each and every one of us: our identity. Or, is it our identities? The idea of intersectionality is one that has started to pick up more eyes and ears as time goes on, and is one that is such an inherently cool concept. Think about it: we all have different aspects of ourselves that we share with others, perhaps it is your gender or your age or your race. We all have multiple different identities as well, like being a 40-year-old woman, or a non-binary individual whose religious identity is important to them. Put these two facts together along with our own experiences, and we are our own unique and inimitable selves.

Mar 15, 2024

Why Can’t I Get This Done?: ADHD and Self-Esteem

It often feels like, to me, that most people have heard of and have a general understanding of ADHD, but that they don’t necessarily know what ADHD is or what it is like to have. William Dodson, MD, a psychiatrist and author posits that children who have ADHD will, by the age of 12, “receive 20,000 more negative messages from parents, teachers, and other adults than their friends and siblings who do not have ADHD.” Being one of the most common mental disorders that affects children, one would think that we would have an easier and more effective time treating individuals with ADHD. This, however, as noted by William Dodson, is often far from the truth.