Stephanie Bowman Czeresko, MA, LPC
Founder and Director
Licensed Professional Counselor
EAGALA certified Mental Health Specialist
Stephanie is the founder and clinical director of Pathways Growth & Learning Center, LLC. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 12 years in the mental health field in working both in private practice and at Palmetto Health in their Behavioral Day Treatment Program.
Her experience with horses began as a young girl participating in 4-H, Pony Club and competing in local and regional horse shows. She has always appreciated the special bond between people and horses, believing this connection to have a unique therapeutic value.
Stephanie graduated from Skidmore College with a degree in Business/ Accounting. She first worked for International Paper Company and then later worked for Ernst & Young, one of the “Big 8” accounting firms. From this she gained an appreciation for the complexities of large corporations.
In 1992, her life headed down a new trail as she pursued her Masters in Counseling at Columbia International University. Her desire was to offer Financial Counseling, which she does through her private practice in Columbia. She also worked part-time for Palmetto Health in its Day Treatment Program leading groups and offering financial counseling to patients.
In 2006, Stephanie was introduced to Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. She was amazed at the power this type of therapy/learning has in working with a variety of issues. The experiential nature of these types of services quickly provides opportunities for insight and awareness that might otherwise take weeks or months to surface in traditional therapy.
Stephanie is a firm believer that the varied paths that have led us to where we are today are never wasted. They serve to prepare us for the “trails” we will journey down in the days, weeks, and years to come.
Mirinda A. Watson, MA, LPCC LPC
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Mirinda began counseling with Pathways Growth & Learning Center in early 2012. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Arts in Counseling.
Mirinda’s areas of expertise are depression, anxiety, self-esteem difficulties, mindfulness & stress reduction skills, trauma, adolescent and young adult issues as well as family/parenting issues. She has experience and specialized training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Skills (MBSR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
Mirinda and her husband live in Sandy Run, SC with their three children and a brood of pets. In her spare time, Mirinda enjoys reading, being outdoors, staying involved in church activities, horseback riding, Gamecock football, and spending time with family and friends.
