Meet Stephanie Buckley, AMFT

I’m Stephanie Buckley, an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist (AMFT #147538), Parenting Strategist, and Family Systems Coach based in Hermosa Beach, California. I specialize in ADHD therapy, OCD treatment, anxiety counseling, depression support, and couples therapy for individuals and families throughout the South Bay and across California via tele-health.

As the founder of The Path to Peace Therapy, I extend support beyond the therapy room through The Path to Peace Therapy Podcast (over 95 episodes on Apple Podcasts and Spotify) and more than 85 published blogs on parenting, family systems, and mental health. These resources provide practical tools and strategies that families can use every day.

I’m also a mom to a now-thriving 23-year-old neurodivergent son, and I’ve been married for over three decades. My combination of clinical training and lived wisdom allows me to meet clients with both heart and strategy, bringing compassion, clarity, and practical tools into every session.

                           My Approach

Family Systems Therapy

Every family operates like a living system, where each person’s role, behavior, and emotional response influences the whole. When one part of the system struggles whether it’s a child with ADHD, a partner with anxiety, or conflict between parents the entire family feels it. That’s why I begin with Family Systems Therapy as the foundation of my work.

Why It Matters:

Context is Everything. The way you were raised shapes how you communicate, manage emotions, and set boundaries today. For example, if you grew up in a home where conflict was avoided, you may now struggle to address issues directly with your partner or children.

Patterns Repeat. Without awareness, unhealthy family patterns are passed down through generations. Cycles of over-functioning, perfectionism, or silence around emotions often resurface in marriages and parenting styles.

Change Creates Ripple Effects. When one person learns to regulate emotions, communicate differently, or set boundaries, the entire family system shifts. This prevents the same struggles from repeating in future generations.

How I Use This in Therapy:

Helping parents recognize they’re unintentionally repeating the same rigid discipline style they grew up with and guiding them to replace it with structure plus warmth.

Working with couples who feel “stuck” in the same arguments by mapping how family-of-origin dynamics shape their current conflict patterns.

Supporting teens by showing parents how the roles of “scapegoat” or “peacemaker” are affecting sibling dynamics and then restructuring family communication to give each child a healthier role.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT helps clients identify unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with healthier, more adaptive ways of thinking. By reshaping thoughts, clients experience more balanced emotions and effective behaviors.

Examples in Therapy:

With a teen who says, “I always fail,” we challenge that thought, find evidence of successes, and replace it with “Sometimes I struggle, but I can learn to improve.”

With adults managing anxiety, we connect catastrophic thoughts to physical symptoms, then implement grounding tools to break the cycle.

With couples, we identify negative thought patterns (“They don’t care about me”) and reframe them into healthier interpretations, reducing blame and defensiveness.

Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT)

SFT shifts focus from problems to solutions. By identifying what’s already working and building on it, clients gain momentum and confidence quickly.

Examples in Therapy:

With families managing ADHD, we look at the one morning that went smoothly what was different? Then we replicate that routine for consistency.

With clients battling OCD, we focus on situations where they resisted compulsions successfully, then expand those successes.

With couples, I highlight moments of connection like laughter or support and help them create rituals to make those moments more frequent.

Exposure Therapy

Avoidance might feel safe in the short term, but it reinforces fear and limits growth. Exposure therapy provides structured, gradual ways to face discomfort, retrain the brain, and build confidence.

Examples in Therapy:

With OCD, I guide clients through exposure to intrusive thoughts while resisting rituals, helping them reduce OCD’s control.

With anxiety or panic, we slowly face avoided situations like driving or social events paired with regulation tools to reduce fear.

With ADHD, I help clients confront avoided tasks (like paying bills or finishing laundry) by breaking them into manageable steps.

With couples, I support partners in facing hard conversations together instead of avoiding them, strengthening trust and emotional intimacy on their shared path to peace.

What Sets Me Apart

I bring more than clinical knowledge,I bring lived wisdom, clarity, and heart. As a therapist, a parent, and a partner, I understand both the exhaustion and the growth that come with navigating family and relationship challenges.Clients often tell me that working with me feels different because:I don’t just listen, I implement tools and strategies with you in real time.

Sessions are warm, supportive, and practical.

You leave with scripts, systems, and strategies you can use right away.I support the whole system: kids, teens, parents, and couples not just one individual.

Therapy with me isn’t just about gaining insight it’s about creating transformation. Together, we’ll strengthen resilience, improve communication, and create family and relationship systems that foster peace at home and confidence in the world.

Investment in Your Path to Peace

Therapy is an investment in your growth, your family, and your relationships. I keep my pricing straightforward so you know exactly what to expect.

Individual Therapy: $150 per 50-minute session

Couples Therapy: $175 per 50-minute session

Family Therapy: $300 per 60-minute session

Insurance: I do not bill insurance directly, but I can provide a superbill that you may submit to your provider for possible out-of-network reimbursement.

Sliding Scale: A limited number of reduced-rate spots may be available based on financial need. Please ask during your consultation if one is open.

Payment Methods: Credit card, HSA/FSA, and other major forms of payment accepted.

I look forward to working with you and helping you or your family find calm, clarity, and connection. Whether you’re seeking ADHD therapy, OCD treatment, anxiety counseling, couples therapy, or family systems support, I’m here to guide you on your path to peace.

Free Consultation: I offer a complimentary 15-minute Zoom consultation so you can ask questions, learn more about my approach, and see if we’re a good fit before scheduling your first session.

Contact Me

Stephanie Buckley, AMFT #147538
Solution-Focused Therapist specializing in ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder

Office Location:
The Path to Peace Therapy
Ocean Plaza
2615 Pacific Coast Hwy, Suite 200
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
Plenty of parking

Phone: 310-991-8768
Email: stephanieb@thepathtopeacetherapy.com
Website: ThePathToPeaceTherapy.com
Instagram: @ThePathToPeaceTherapy

Peace is possible. You don’t have to do this alone. I’m here to walk with you and your family every step of the way. I look forward to working with you and helping you or your family find calm, clarity, and connection. Whether you’re seeking ADHD therapy, OCD treatment, anxiety counseling, couples therapy, or family systems support, I’m here to guide you on your path to peace.

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”  Nelson Mandela“
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