Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Desiree’ Stephens.
Hi Dr. Desiree’, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Absolutely. My path to private practice was shaped by both personal experience and professional growth. I had been working in the counseling field for some time when my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer. That season of life was incredibly difficult, but it gave me a renewed sense of purpose and clarity about the kind of impact I wanted to have. During that time, I felt called to create something more intentional and deeply personal. That’s how The Desired Journey was born—a name I created with my dad and Poppi to represent the vision of walking alongside clients as they pursue healing, growth, and peace.
At The Desired Journey, we support individuals, couples, and families as they navigate a wide range of mental health concerns and significant life transitions. In addition to clinical work, I serve as a counselor educator and supervisor, dedicated to mentoring and developing compassionate, skilled counselors entering the mental health profession.
This work is both personal and professional for me. Every step of my journey has been about connection, healing, and helping others find their way through life’s most difficult transitions with support and care.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but it’s been a meaningful one. One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced was navigating my dad’s illness and passing as an only child. There were times I felt deeply alone in the process—grieving, caregiving, and trying to manage all the details—but I also came to recognize how supported I truly was. My partner, extended family, and close friends showed up in powerful ways, reminding me that even in moments of loneliness, I wasn’t carrying it all by myself.
Walking alongside my mom in her grief deepened our bond, and being there for each other became a source of strength. I’m also a wife and a mom to three little ones, and balancing motherhood with running a private practice and teaching has brought its own set of challenges. Some days feel like I’m being pulled in every direction—trying to be emotionally present for my kids, steady for my clients, nurturing to my students, and intentional in my relationship. That tension is very real. But it’s also what makes me human, and helps me connect more deeply with the women, parents, and caregivers I work with.
There have been moments of exhaustion, doubt, and overwhelm—but through it all, I’ve stayed grounded in my purpose. These experiences have shaped me into a more empathetic counselor, educator, and leader. And they remind me every day why this work is so important.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At The Desired Journey, we specialize in walking with individuals and families through some of life’s most emotionally complex transitions. Whether it’s navigating the pain of a complex divorce, working through relationship and intimacy concerns, or supporting cancer warriors and their caregivers, our approach is rooted in compassion, clarity, and real, lasting healing.
My clinical work is deeply personal. As a mom of three, an only child who journeyed through a parent’s terminal illness, and a woman balancing caregiving and career, I don’t just talk about transitions—I’ve lived them. This lived experience informs every aspect of how I show up in the room: with empathy, presence, and purpose.
Alongside my direct work with clients, I have a deep passion for supervision and counselor education. As a counselor educator and licensed professional counselor supervisor, I love helping emerging clinicians grow in confidence, competence, and cultural awareness. Supporting the next generation of mental health professionals is one of the most meaningful aspects of my career—the ripple effect goes far beyond any one session or classroom.
What truly sets The Desired Journey apart is our team. Barbra and Sarah, our trusted associates, bring their own unique strengths and specialties to our practice, offering clients diverse perspectives and high-quality care. And then there’s Ella, our gentle and intuitive therapy dog, who provides comfort and connection in a way that words sometimes can’t.
Together, we’ve created a space that feels safe, affirming, and real. Whether you’re in the middle of heartbreak or professional uncertainty, our goal is the same: to walk beside you with warmth, integrity, and hope. That’s the heart of The Desired Journey.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Absolutely—I’m a big believer in staying grounded and continuously learning, and there are several resources that have really supported me both professionally and personally. I love listening to Kate Walker’s podcasts—they’ve been incredibly helpful for navigating the business side of private practice, especially when it comes to managing systems, boundaries, and growth as a counselor and supervisor.
Clinically, I lean on resources that deepen my understanding of trauma and development. Books like The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk and Attached by Amir Levine have been foundational in how I conceptualize clients and relationships. I also often recommend The 5 Love Languages to individuals I work with—it’s simple but so powerful in helping people reconnect and communicate with intention.
As someone who integrates play and sandtray therapy into my work, I also stay close to books and trainings in those areas. They allow me to approach healing in a nonverbal, expressive way, which can be especially transformative for clients navigating trauma, grief, or identity transitions.
These tools—along with daily mindfulness practices, therapy, friends, family and staying connected to a professional support network—help me stay centered and show up fully for my clients, my supervisees, and my family.
Pricing:
- Intake/Parent Consults $100-$250
- Adult/Teen/Child Counseling $80-$200
- We accept insurance: Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Sana Benefits, and Scott & White.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thedesiredjourney.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedesiredjourney/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Desired-Journey/61555311320323/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-desired-journey/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-desired-journey-mckinney
Image Credits
Kourtney Minsky Photography
