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Clinical Practice · Coachella Valley
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steffanpiper@gmail.com · 818.974.0805

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.

Begin the Conversation

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
Steffan S. Piper

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.

Phone

818.974.0805

Email

steffanpiper@gmail.com

Location

Palm Springs Region · Coachella Valley, California

Clinical Placements

California Behavioral Health Treatment Center · Banyan Treatment Center, Palm Springs · All Desert Wellness, Palm Desert

Availability

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

2026 – Present

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.

2026 – Present

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.

2025 – Present

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.

2025 – 2026

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.

2024 – 2026

Master of Arts — Palo Alto University · Graduated Summa Cum Laude

Clinical Mental Health Counseling · Dual emphasis in MFT and PCC. 2025 Innovart Research Grant recipient. PsyD Student, California Southern University (CSU).

2022 – 2023

B.A. Psychology — Cal State San Bernardino, Magna Cum Laude

Clinical concentration with emphasis in human behavior, psychopathology, and research methods.

2018 – 2022

Associate Degrees — 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.

2009 – 2017

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.

2001 – 2015

Editorial & Screenwriting Consultant — Obsidian Editing, Burbank

Developmental editing, manuscript analysis, ghostwriting, and pitch development for authors and screenwriters across California.

1996 – 2001

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.

1989 – 1991

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

2025 Innovart Research Grant Recipient

Clinical Research

2025 — "The Hidden Trauma: Undiagnosed Autism and Child Abuse Before ASD Awareness." Innovart Research Grant Award Winner, Palo Alto University.
2024 — "The Impact of Divorce on Teenage Daughters: The Psychological, Emotional, and Social Consequences." Palo Alto University.
2023 — "Difficulties in Diagnosing ARFID: Understanding Clinician Biases and Limitations." CSUSB Clinical Psychology.
Essays on mental health, male vulnerability, cultural identity, and media representation — published on Medium, 2019–2026.

Published Books

Greyhound (2009) · Amazon Lake Union Publishing
Fugue State (2012) · Amazon Lake Union Publishing
Sleep Like a Baby (2016) · Samuel Farber Publishing
Waiting for Andre (2016) · Samuel Farber Publishing
All titles available via Amazon. Research papers available upon request.

Professional Memberships

Affiliations & Honors

ACA

American Counseling Association
Member #6717761

APA

American Psychological Association
Member #C2404877076

CAMFT

CA Association of MFTs
Member #10063133

CSI

Chi Sigma Iota
Counseling Honor Society · Lifetime

NAMI

National Alliance on Mental Illness
Lifetime Member

DAV

Disabled American Veterans
Lifetime Member

VFW

Veterans of Foreign Wars
Lifetime Member

BSA

Boy Scouts of America
Scout Leader · Wood Badge Graduate

Good morning, Steffan
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Step 1 — Configure

Links are unique and private — invisible on your public website. Results route back to your dashboard automatically.

Step 2 — Send

Assessment Link
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Opens your default email app pre-filled and ready to send. Or copy the link above and paste it into any message.

Results Inbox
Review completed assessments and release reports to clients
Sent Links
All assessment links and their current status

Assessment Links

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Assessment completions and system alerts

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Data & Backup
Export your practice data to Google Drive · Import to restore on any device

Google Sheets Connection

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Once you have deployed your Google Apps Script (see setup guide), paste the URL here. Your data will automatically sync to Google Sheets every time you add a client, BIRP note, or assessment — and load from Sheets whenever you log in from any device.

Apps Script Web App URL
Need the setup guide? Download it from your files — it walks through creating the Google Sheet and Apps Script step by step.

Data Overview

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Clients
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Assessments
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BIRP Notes
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Last Export
How this works All your client records, BIRP notes, assessments, and session logs are stored in your browser. Exporting creates a single encrypted backup file — save it to your Google Drive folder. On any other device, log into your dashboard and import that file to restore everything instantly. Export weekly as your regular backup routine.

Export to Google Drive

Creates a complete backup of all your practice data — clients, BIRP notes, assessment results, sent links, and session logs. The file is date-stamped so you can keep version history in Drive.

☁ Open Google Drive Folder
After exporting: Save the downloaded file to your Google Drive folder. Recommended filename format is automatic: PiperPractice_Backup_YYYY-MM-DD.json. Keep the last 4 weekly exports in Drive as version history.

Import from Backup

Restore your practice data on a new device or after clearing your browser. Download your backup file from Google Drive, then import it here. Importing will merge with — not overwrite — existing data.

Drag & drop your backup file here
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Important: Only import files exported from this dashboard. After importing, verify your client list and data are correct before continuing to use the system.

Clear All Data

Permanently removes all practice data from this browser. Export a backup first. This cannot be undone.

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Client Management
Comprehensive records for each client in your caseload
Steffan S. Piper
Clinical Assessment · Confidential
B.A., M.A. · AMFT/APCC Intern
California Southern University
Steffan S. Piper
Your Assessment Results · Confidential
B.A., M.A. · AMFT/APCC Intern
California Southern University
Your Results
Assessment Summary

These results have been shared with you by Steffan S. Piper, AMFT/APCC Intern. They are intended to support — not replace — your clinical conversation. Please bring any questions or reactions to your next session. If you are in crisis, call 988 or go to your nearest emergency room.