Stephanie offers individual relationship and parenting support & group therapy.
And also leads the one-year 'Leading with Wisdom and Heart' course she designed for parents, educators, and professionals.
Stephanie is a psycho-spiritual counselor trained at the Helix Training Institute, with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals through spiritual psychology and mindfulness practices. She is also a mindfulness meditation instructor with a deep background in yoga, bringing an understanding of structured breathing and attentive awareness to her practice. Her approach blends psychological awareness with spiritual practice, forming the foundation for radical wholeness.
Through the integration of spiritual psychology, mindfulness, and yoga, Stephanie helps clients address imbalances, cultivate a deeper connection to their true nature, and experience personal growth and healing.
Counseling & Coaching
Simplicity Parenting Support Groups: Nurturing Communities for Families
Join our Process Groups, guided by Simplicity Parenting principles, to cultivate a supportive community for families with children of all ages. These groups focus on:
Creating a nurturing environment
Emotional support for kids
Positive parenting strategies
Mindful parenting techniques
Raising resilient children
Led by Stephanie, these self-formed groups connect like-minded parents and families with shared values, empowering them to navigate parenting challenges with confidence.
Empathetic Life Coaching: Navigating Emotional Challenges with Peer Support
Experience a judgment-free, peer-to-peer counseling relationship with my Life Coaching approach, tailored for individuals and couples seeking emotional guidance. My goal is to empower you to:
Overcome emotional obstacles
Develop self-awareness and introspection skills
Cultivate healthy relationships and communication
Achieve personal growth and emotional resilience
Navigate life transitions and challenges with confidence
Through empathetic and non-judgmental support, I'll help you explore and understand your emotional landscape, fostering a deeper connection with yourself and others.
Nancy - mother of two teens
I’ve never met anyone like Stephanie - she’s keenly aware and dedicated to the belief that in guiding and healing one person or parent, you are helping the children and/or all others whose lives are touched by that person. That has already begun to happen in my life. In our work together, I’ve always felt valued, validated and safe. Kind, generous, authentic and wise - that's Stephanie.
The Wisdom Heart Course and Transformative Presence Course
Oct 14th, 2025 - May 2026
Wisdom Heart: This yearlong educational study and practicum program is designed by Stephanie Cleary to equip educators and parents with educational and hands-on approaches to address various challenges and developmental milestones related to early childhood development, discipline, conscious parenting, and creating harmony within the household and/or parent and child class setting.
This course is available both in person and online via Zoom.
This program is designed for:
Parents: This program is open to parents who are interested in exploring the principles and practices of Waldorf Early Childhood education. They can gain insights into how to incorporate methodologies into their family life which support their child's development. The program also focuses on the personal growth and transformation of the parents themselves.
Aspiring Educators: Individuals who aspire to become Waldorf Early Childhood educators can benefit from this program. It provides them with the knowledge and skills necessary to plan and facilitate parent and child classes, allowing them to become effective educators in the Waldorf tradition.
Current Educators: This program is also suitable for current educators who are already working in the field of early childhood education but want to learn more leading Waldorf parent and child classes. It can help them expand their teaching techniques and incorporate Waldorf principles into their existing practices.
Professionals in education, social work, counseling, and healthcare can significantly enhance their parent-child communication skills, leading to improved professional interactions and greater effectiveness in their roles.
Topics of Exploration:
1. Child Development: Understanding developmental milestones and age-appropriate activities.
2. Mood&Classroom/Home Environment: Creating a conducive and supportive environment for growing children.
3. The Healing Path of the Parent: Addressing the personal growth and challenges of parents.
4. Deepening Trust: Fostering trust between parents and children.
5. Music as a Method: Utilizing music to refocus children and create balance.
6. The Art of Circle Time: Holding seasonal circle time, including lap games, developmentally appropriate movement, and songs.
7. Table Top Puppet Shows: Concluding circle time with seasonal puppet stories.
8. Table Top Puppet Making: Learning the art of needle felting and handmade puppets using wool roving.
Program Hours/Structure:
The program is held throughout the school year from October 9th 2024-June 7th 2025.
1. Participants meet once a week for three hours - either in class, or via Zoom.
2. There is a weekly two-hour observation in a classroom setting.
3. Throughout the program, participants receive one-on-one and group mentoring.
4. Participants join a weekly evening parenting class on zoom.
Location:
The in-person/in-class instruction takes place at the Waldorf School of Garden City, located at 225 Cambridge Ave, Garden City NY 11530. However, for those who prefer not to attend in person, there is an option to engage in the program exclusively through Zoom.
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your child's big emotions, wish for more calm and rhythm at home, or long for a space to reflect and recharge?
If so, you're warmly invited to continue the journey with Stephanie Cleary, a longtime Waldorf educator. Stephanie has just begun leading two year-long programs that nurture both parents and educators in cultivating wisdom, compassion, and presence.
Over the past few weeks, many families joined Stephanie for "Parenting More Than Managing Behaviors," a free four-class series that explored how mindfulness and compassion can transform family life.
If you joined or plan to watch the recordings, you've already had a taste of the warmth, insight, and presence that flow through both yearlong programs.
Leading with Wisdom & Heart
Tuesdays, 8:30–11:30 am | Began October 14
A 3-hour weekly transformative circle for parents and aspiring educators to learn the foundations of Waldorf Early Childhood Education — and to bring the same warmth, rhythm, and wonder into their homes and classrooms.
Many parents and alumni/ae have joined to become more confident, peaceful, and attuned parents. This yearlong educational study and practicum program is designed to equip educators and caregivers with Waldorf-inspired approaches and practical skills to plan and lead parent–child groups for early childhood families.
It's not too late to join — tuition will be prorated for late enrollment.
YEAR LONG MEDITATION COURSE with Stephanie Cleary
Transformative Presence
Wednesdays, 8:30–10:00 am | Begins October 15
A 1.5-hour weekly mindfulness and meditation circle to transform your day from the inside out.
Through weekly practice, you'll build calm, focus, and resilience using Rudolf Steiner's meditations, Tibetan Buddhist methods, and classical yogic techniques.
You'll gain:
A steady rhythm of practice
Clear guidance and group support
Tools to calm reactivity and reshape habits
Ways to bring mindfulness into parenting, relationships, and daily life
For: parents, educators, caregivers, and seekers of presence, compassion, and clarity. All levels welcome.
It's not too late to begin — tuition will be prorated for those joining now.
Both programs are held in the 2nd Floor Meeting Room at the Waldorf School of Garden City.
Members describe Wisdom & Heart as "healing, grounding, and transformative — a nurturing anchor that carries them through the week."
If your heart is ready for this kind of transformation, we would love to welcome you.
Join us to deepen your understanding of parenting, mindfulness, and community in the Waldorf spirit.
Bianca W.
Little did I know when I attended Stephanie’s parent-child classes with my older daughter, my life would be changed forever. Stephanie has a way of delivering her invaluable parenting wisdom in a way that is as warm as it is profound. She brings a sense of tradition back into the home that sadly often gets lost in today’s day and age. During times when our parenting journey has felt rocky and lost, Stephanie has been there for us as a guiding light, always with the knowledge, wisdom, and heart-centered direction to help us find our way back home - as parents and human beings.
