Coachella Valley, California · Palm Springs Region
SteffanS. Piper
B.A., M.A. · MFT & PCC Intern · PsyD Student
California Southern University
A clinical space shaped by depth, curiosity,
and genuine partnership in the therapeutic process.
Services Offered
- Individual Therapy & Counseling
- Couples & Relationship Therapy
- Family Systems Therapy
- Group Therapy & Support Groups
- Psychological Assessment & Intake
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Veteran & Military Mental Health
- Telehealth & In-Person Sessions
About Steffan
A Practice Built on Lived Experience & Clinical Depth
I am a Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) and Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) Intern who completed my Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Palo Alto University, with dual emphasis in MFT and PCC, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2026. I am pursuing my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) at California Southern University.
My clinical work is informed by an unusually broad arc of life experience: service as a U.S. Marine, a decade as a published author with Amazon Lake Union Publishing, years of editorial consultation, and a commitment to community and youth development. These experiences shape a therapeutic presence that is grounded, perceptive, and genuinely human.
I currently hold clinical internship placements at California Behavioral Health Treatment Center and All Desert Wellness in Palm Desert (outpatient individual therapy). My research has been recognized with the 2025 Innovart Research Grant Award at Palo Alto University.
"I am drawn to the complexity of human experience — the stories people carry, the patterns that persist, and the extraordinary capacity for change when someone feels truly seen."
Clinical Services
What I Offer
Individual Therapy
One-on-one sessions tailored to your unique experiences. Mood disorders, anxiety, adjustment, identity — a private space to explore, process, and grow.
Couples Therapy
Rebuilding connection, improving communication, and navigating relational ruptures with clarity and care. I work with all couple types and relationship structures.
Family Therapy
Systemic approaches to family dynamics, communication breakdowns, and intergenerational patterns — with attention to the whole family as a unit of care.
Group Therapy
Facilitated therapeutic groups offering shared insight, community, and the unique healing that emerges from being witnessed alongside others.
Assessment & Intake
Comprehensive biopsychosocial intake evaluations, clinical screenings, and ongoing assessments to support accurate understanding and effective treatment planning.
Veteran Mental Health
Specialized sensitivity to the experiences of veterans and military families. As a Gulf War veteran, I bring lived understanding alongside clinical training.
Telehealth
Secure, HIPAA-compliant video therapy for clients throughout California. Full clinical quality without geographic limitation — flexible scheduling available.
Trauma-Informed Care
All clinical work is grounded in trauma-informed principles — including Psychological First Aid training (NCTSN, 2025) and acute inpatient crisis experience.
Psychoeducation
Drawing on a background in writing, public speaking, and education, I offer psychoeducation for clients, families, and community groups on mental health topics.
Therapeutic Approach
How I Work
My approach integrates evidence-based frameworks, always tailored to the individual, couple, or family before me — never a formula applied uniformly.
Narrative Therapy
Helping clients examine, reauthor, and reclaim the stories they tell about themselves — separating the person from the problem to create space for new meaning.
Attachment-Informed
Exploring how early relational patterns shape current experience, connection, and the therapeutic relationship itself.
CBT & DBT
Practical cognitive and behavioral tools to identify unhelpful patterns and build psychological flexibility and resilience.
Systems Theory
Situating individuals within their relational and cultural contexts — examining the forces that shape and sustain patterns of experience.
Trauma-Informed
A foundational lens that prioritizes safety, trust, and choice — recognizing the pervasive impact of trauma on mind, body, and relationship.
Person-Centered
Unconditional positive regard, genuine empathy, and the belief that the client is the expert on their own life and experience.
Contact
Begin the Conversation
Reaching out is the first step. I offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation to explore whether we may be a good fit for working together.
818.974.0805
steffanpiper@gmail.com
Palm Springs Region · Coachella Valley, California
California Behavioral Health Treatment Center · Banyan Treatment Center, Palm Springs · All Desert Wellness, Palm Desert
In-Person & Telehealth · Monday–Friday
Please note: All clinical services are provided under California BBS licensed supervision in accordance with BBS requirements for AMFT and APCC Interns.
Steffan S. Piper, AMFT #XXXXX / APCC #XXXXX, is practicing under All Desert Mental Health in Palm Desert, California, under the supervision of Dr. Jamie D. Kirkpatrick, JD, PsyD, LMFT #40537.
Background & Experience
A Life of Service, Scholarship & Story
MFT & PCC Intern — California Behavioral Health Treatment Center, Palm Springs Region, CA
Providing supervised clinical support in a behavioral health treatment setting, including intake, assessment, diagnostic screening, treatment planning, group facilitation, clinical documentation, and relapse prevention.
MFT & PCC Intern — Banyan Treatment Center, Palm Springs, CA
Providing supervised clinical support including intake, assessment, diagnostic screening, treatment planning, group facilitation, clinical documentation, and relapse prevention within a structured treatment environment.
MFT & PCC Intern — All Desert Wellness, Palm Desert, CA
Individual outpatient counseling. Mood disorders, anxiety, adjustment issues. CBT, narrative therapy, case conceptualization, and weekly supervision.
MFT & PCC Intern — Telecare PHF, Indio, CA
Provided supervised clinical support in an acute psychiatric health facility serving clients on 5150 holds, 5250 holds, LPS conservatorships, and other involuntary levels of care, with a focus on crisis stabilization, risk assessment, safety planning, treatment coordination, group facilitation, discharge planning, and clinical documentation.
Doctorate in Psychology (PsyD) — California Southern University (CSU)
PsyD in Clinical Psychology, Clinical Specialization.
M.A. Clinical Counseling — Palo Alto University · Summa Cum Laude
Clinical Mental Health Counseling · Dual emphasis in MFT and PCC. 2025 Innovart Research Grant recipient.
B.A. Psychology — Cal State San Bernardino · Magna Cum Laude
Clinical concentration with emphasis in human behavior, psychopathology, and research methods.
A.A. Psychology — College of the Desert, Palm Desert, CA · Magna Cum Laude
Psychology with clinical concentration, English, and Music — with additional focus in clinical psychology and early childhood and adolescent development.
Bestselling Author — Amazon Lake Union & Samuel Farber Publishing
Four novels: Greyhound (2009) and Fugue State (2012) with Amazon Lake Union; Sleep Like a Baby (2016) and Waiting for Andre (2016) with Samuel Farber Publishing.
Editorial & Screenwriting Consultant — Obsidian Editing, Burbank
Developmental editing, manuscript analysis, ghostwriting, and pitch development for authors and screenwriters across California.
Pharmacy Technician / Patient Advocate — VA West Los Angeles & UCLA Medical Center
Medication management, patient advocacy, and direct care for veterans at two major Los Angeles institutions.
United States Marine Corps — Gulf War Veteran
MOS 8151/0311 · Presidential Guard · 8th & I Marine Barracks, Washington D.C. Honorably Discharged.
Scholarship & Creative Work
Research & Publications
Clinical Research
Published Books
Professional Memberships
Affiliations & Honors
American Counseling Association
Member #6717761
American Psychological Association
Member #C2404877076
CA Association of MFTs
Member #10063133
Chi Sigma Iota
Counseling Honor Society · Lifetime
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Lifetime Member
Disabled American Veterans
Lifetime Member
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Lifetime Member
Boy Scouts of America
Scout Leader · Wood Badge Graduate