Stacey Sugar, MD, LCPC, LPCC - Therapist in California

About Stacey

Stacey Sugar uses an attachment-based and client-centered approach to help people understand themselves and change patterns that feel stuck. She brings 14 years of clinical work and practical tools into sessions. Stacey explains things plainly and helps clients notice how past relationships shape current feelings and choices.

She blends cognitive behavioral techniques with exploration of relationship patterns to address stress, anxiety, depression, and struggles with intimacy. That combination helps people notice unhelpful thoughts, test new behaviors, and practice kinder ways of relating to themselves.

Background and approach

Sessions often include concrete steps to try between meetings. Stacey also uses elements of existential therapy to help people clarify what matters to them. That work focuses on values, responsibility, and finding meaning during big life changes.

Hypnotherapy is available as an adjunct when clients and therapist agree it could help with habit change or deeper emotional work. Her focus areas include relationship and family concerns, addiction, trauma and abuse, grief, anger, and self-esteem issues. Additional topics she addresses are abandonment, attachment concerns, body image, codependency, communication problems, and coping with separation and divorce.

Stacey holds an MD along with licenses as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor - LCPC (MD LCPC LC4288) and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in California - LPCC (CA LPCC 10045). She practices in California and conducts sessions in English. To begin, a short questionnaire helps match clients and schedule the first appointment.

How Stacey's Approaches Work Online

Stacey often combines attachment-based work with cognitive behavioral techniques to guide online sessions. Attachment-based therapy looks at how early relationship patterns shape current reactions and helps people try new ways of relating. Cognitive behavioral therapy breaks down thoughts and behaviors into clear steps to reduce anxiety and improve day-to-day coping.

She may also draw on client-centered methods, which focus on understanding each person's experience without judgment. That approach creates a space where clients can explore values and choices. Deciding which approach to emphasize is a collaborative process - the therapist will help figure out what fits best based on the client's needs, goals, and preferences.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make scheduling more flexible and let people continue work between appointments. Many find online sessions easier to fit into busy lives while maintaining consistent progress with the same licensed professional.

Attachment-Based Therapy

Looks at how early bonds shaped what you expect from closeness, and how that plays out now with a partner, a parent, or your own children.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Stacey address?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family issues, intimacy concerns, coping with life changes, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, anger, self-esteem, career worries, and LGBT-related topics. Additional focuses include abandonment, attachment issues, body image, codependency, communication problems, and divorce or separation.

What is Stacey's therapeutic style like?

Her style blends attachment-based and client-centered approaches with cognitive behavioral techniques and existential reflection. Sessions are practical and collaborative, mixing insight about relationship patterns with concrete skills to try between meetings.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has 14 years of clinical experience working with a range of emotional and relational concerns. That background informs both short-term coping strategies and deeper exploratory work.

What credentials and location are on record?

She holds an MD and is licensed as an LCPC with number MD LCPC LC4288 and as a California LPCC with number CA LPCC 10045. She practices in California.

Which languages are supported and are international clients accepted?

Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.

In what formats are sessions offered?

Sessions are available as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different scheduling needs and communication preferences.

How does payment and cost work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I get started with therapy?

Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Family conflicts

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 14 years
Licensed: Maryland, California
Languages: English

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