Stephen Toriello, IFS Therapy in California

Professional Background

Education, License & Certifications

Smith School for Social Work, MSW

The New School, BA Buddhist Studies, Minor in Jazz Performance

Registered Associate Clinical Social Worker #105479

Supervised by Claudia Viadro LMFT #41816 and Clarissa Harwell LCSW #92663

Other Training

Somatic IFS Professional Certification

IFS Institute Level 1 

Somatic Experiencing® Module 1 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety

Essentials of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

The Interdependence Project Meditation Teacher Training 

Yoga Works, 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training

Hello! I’m glad you’re here. My name is Stephen (pronouns he/him). I’ve written a little about myself below – I hope it helps you in your search for the right therapist. I’d be honored to support you, and I welcome you to reach out if you think we might be a good fit.

My Approach

I offer a mindful, somatic approach to IFS therapy and my style is warm, open-minded, and collaborative. Together, we’ll explore ways of working with rather than against your thoughts and feelings, and we’ll create the conditions for your natural wisdom, clarity, and healing potential to arise. Clients often find that our work together helps them feel more grounded, connected, and at peace.

The core of our work is relational – building safety and trust with each other, while focusing on the relationship you build with yourself. In all that we do, I emphasize relating to all parts of oneself with kindness. Building on that foundation, there is room for creativity and integration of various tools and approaches. 

This is your process and it can be tailored to meet your needs. I like to collaborate with clients to find ways of integrating our work into their daily lives outside of sessions. I might offer breathing exercises, mindfulness practices, or other suggestions for building new habits. I encourage feedback and we’ll check in along the way to make sure we’re heading in the right direction.

Depending on your goals, we might work towards healing emotional wounds, letting go of burdens, gaining clarity in your life and relationships, or easing internal conflicts and tension. Experiences such as stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and trauma can make life challenging, and I’m here to support you so you can thrive. We can all use some help from time to time navigating the struggles of being human.

My Journey

My journey towards becoming a therapist began with mindfulness and music. My high school Jazz band was a safe space for me to express myself creatively, which was transformative at a time in my life when I was dealing with anxiety and the challenges of young adulthood. I was particularly inspired by our music teacher and his practice of Zen meditation, which he seemed to share by osmosis with his open-hearted presence. This experience sparked an ever-unfolding process of intentionally cultivating greater sensitivity and openness in myself. 

In pursuit of this, I designed my own undergraduate education that included Jazz, Buddhist Studies and Environmental Science. I dove more deeply into meditation practice, spending many hours in silent retreat and living at Buddhist centers in the US and Asia. I trained as a meditation instructor and taught mindfulness at universities and workplaces. I worked as a carpenter, urban gardener and farmer, which – along with my yoga teacher training – helped me to be more grounded in my body. 

I’ve worked to address social justice issues including houselessness and the criminal justice system, developing an awareness of the importance of societal well-being in addition to the personal growth that I’d explored through other avenues. The holistic emphasis on individual as well as societal health was the reason I chose to pursue Social Work as a career. I feel privileged to be able to integrate much of what I’ve learned through these varied experiences in my work as an IFS therapist, and to support others in their own process of self-exploration. 

About Me

In addition to my role as an IFS therapist, I’m also a lover of nature, music, movement, laughter, friends and family. I’m from a big Italian family in Brooklyn, New York, and I’m now soaking up the sunshine in Southern California, where I live with my wife on our family ranch.

I’d love to help you.

Please contact our client care team to get matched with an IFS therapist who would be a good fit for you.