About

Core Matters Counseling is an insight-oriented, trauma-informed therapy practice for thoughtful adults.

NICE TO MEET YOU!

Stephanie J. Gren, MA, LCMHCA

I’m Stephanie Gren, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate and the founder of Core Matters Counseling. I work best with intelligent, reflective adults who want to go beyond surface-level coping and better understand the patterns shaping their lives. Many of my clients are high-functioning on the outside while carrying complex internal worlds shaped by trauma, relational experiences, spiritual environments, or significant life transitions.

My approach is insight-oriented, relational, and trauma-informed. I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and integrate this work thoughtfully for clients who are appropriate for outpatient trauma processing and interested in deeper integration rather than crisis-driven care.

Clients often describe me as warm, attentive, and deeply present. I consider it an honor to be entrusted with someone’s story, and my favorite part of this work is walking alongside clients as they reconnect with clarity, agency, and what matters most at their core.

I offer in-person therapy in Huntersville, NC and telehealth services across North Carolina.

Stephanie Gren, LCMHCA

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate

Supervised by [Supervisor Name], LCMHC

Why I Do This

I do this work because I’m deeply curious about people and the stories that shape who we become. When someone feels truly seen and understood, it creates space for insight, growth, and real change. Being invited into that process is something I hold with a great deal of respect and gratitude.

Story

You may be able to relate to parts of this.

I didn’t grow up in a home, or a church, that had much language for things like emotional awareness, healthy boundaries, or mental health. In my family, emotions were often either pushed aside or became overwhelming when they surfaced. Over time, I learned to walk carefully, avoid conflict, and set aside my own needs in order to keep the peace. Boundaries weren’t something I understood, and many relationships felt confusing and difficult to navigate.

Over the years, as I began reconnecting with my own core self, things slowly started to change. I learned how to recognize and name emotions, understand patterns in relationships, identify what truly mattered to me, and build a sense of steadiness from the inside out. As I practiced these skills, my life began to feel more grounded, clear, and aligned.

Many of the tools and insights I now share with clients are the same ones that helped me reconnect with myself and build a healthier way of living and relating. It’s a privilege to sit with people in their stories and support them as they discover greater clarity, resilience, and a deeper sense of home within themselves.