Jocylynn Stephenson

About Jocylynn Stephenson (she/her/hers)

Jocylynn is a perceptive and incisive staff therapist whose specialties include depression and anxiety, stress management, self-esteem and identity concerns, and family and couple conflict resolution. Jocylynn is also certified in Prepare/Enrich counseling for dating, engaged, and married couples who want to strengthen their relationships and grow together, and in discernment counseling for couples looking for clarity as they face possible separation.

A former Navy dependent, Jocylynn is intimately familiar with the unique strengths and challenges of military families. Prior to becoming a licensed MFT, she worked in Military Family Programs, first with the U.S. Army Reserves, then with U.S. Army Installation Management Command, and finally with the Military Spouse Employment Partnership. Her commitment to helping military families—and all families—led her to her current field.

Jocylynn completed her master’s degree in couple and family therapy at the University of Maryland, College Park in 2015, where her thesis focused on issues of self-esteem in transracially-adopted adolescents. Jocylynn earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and cognitive science from University of Virginia.

Jocylynn is licensed to practice as a marriage and family therapist in Maryland and the District of Columbia.

In Jocylynn’s Words

“Our lives are made up of many different people and events. Think of your best friend, your favorite teacher, or your boss. Think of your birthday, a loved one’s funeral, or your favorite holiday. Each holds a meaning that shapes how you interact with the world every day. But time, life, and unexpected circumstances can challenge those meanings and lead you to doubt them, resulting in both internal and external conflicts. When conflicts arise, we are forced to adapt our meanings or risk stagnating in old patterns of behavior.

As your therapist, I am committed to helping you explore your personal meanings and how they affect your everyday life. I’ll help you build skills to resolve conflicts by delving into the sources of your meanings and the challenges to them. I will never judge you or the legitimacy of your meanings, but gently guide you as you explore and adapt them to best fit your own life.

Like my colleagues here at Emily Cook Therapy, I believe that the foundation of any good therapeutic relationship is mutual trust and respect. Countless studies (and personal experiences) have shown that a positive relationship in the therapy room is the top predictor of positive results from counseling. In our therapy sessions, I’ll earn your trust by combining practiced empathy, compassionate questioning, and an optimistic outlook. I want you to come to session knowing that no problem is too small or too great for us to tackle together. This is my belief for my own life, and the belief I hold for all of the people I help in therapy.”

Emily’s Endorsement

“Jocylynn strives to help her clients feel appreciated and understood. She believes that each individual, couple, and family deserves respect and empathy—and that belief comes through strongly in her work with clients here at Emily Cook Therapy. She balances gentleness with motivation, curiosity, and expertise. Jocylynn’s warmth and supportive nature help her clients grow love and acceptance for themselves and build problem-solving skills that help them tackle their specific difficulties and challenges, in both relationships and in life. I hope you reach out to Jocylynn today and experience for yourself her unique blend of calm encouragement and passionate listening.”

Education

• MS, Couple and Family Therapy, University of Maryland, College Park
• BA, Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Virginia

Ready to get started with couple counseling or family therapy in Bethesda, MD? Give Jocylynn Stephenson a call, she’s looking forward to hearing from you.

Jocylynn Stephenson, MS, LCMFT is an independent contractor of Emily Cook Therapy, LLC and not an employee.