Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabel Stovsky.
Hi Isabel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Not to sound cliché, but I realized I wanted to become a therapist while sitting on my own therapist’s couch. In my late twenties, I felt directionless and unfulfilled. I was teaching yoga full-time – a role that was meaningful and grounding in many ways – but I knew it wasn’t my long-term path. So I applied to the social work program at CWRU and moved back home to Cleveland.
Throughout my training, I had the opportunity to explore a wide range of internships and roles, gaining experience in therapeutic riding, equine-assisted therapy, other animal-assisted interventions, hospice work, and individual, couples, and family therapy. Eventually, I opened my own private practice shortly after having my first son. During that pregnancy, I struggled with depression and experienced firsthand the significant gaps in perinatal mental health support – and that was with the privilege of being a white woman with access to care. As I began diving into the research and completing specialized training, I learned just how high the cost truly is when we fail to support pregnant individuals, parents, and families.
Today, I work with mothers across the lifespan, and I am continually in awe of the strength, vulnerability, and resilience women carry. I feel genuinely fortunate to walk alongside them during such profound and challenging seasons of life.
In addition to my private practice, I serve on the board of Starting Point, an organization whose mission is to “prepare children and youth for a lifetime of success by building the capacity of professionals to provide high-quality care and education, connecting families to those services, and advocating for systems change.” Their work is invaluable, and I’m grateful to play a small part in it.
Outside of work, I’m grateful for a wonderful husband, our almost-two-year-old son, my soul dog Cleo, and a daughter arriving in February. We spend a lot of time with our extended family and love exploring Cleveland’s museums, playgrounds, and Metroparks. My husband and I are both Cleveland natives, and it’s been a special full-circle experience to raise our own family in the place that shaped us.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve been very fortunate in my life and recognize the privilege I hold as a white woman navigating this field. Because of that, many of the challenges I’ve faced have been fairly typical for someone building a business. I’ve also benefited from incredible mentors who have opened doors, offered guidance, and modeled what’s possible. My family has been a tremendous source of support as well, especially my husband, Brian.
Even with all of that support, the greatest obstacle I’ve faced has been navigating motherhood while running a business. It’s a theme I see often in my work, and I learn just as much from my clients as I do while holding space for them through similar seasons. Ultimately, it’s a challenge without a perfect solution, and learning to live in that in-between feels, in many ways, like the truest expression of motherhood.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At the heart of my work is the belief that we all have an inner wisdom and strength, and by tapping into that foundation, we can navigate life’s complexities in a more balanced and grounded way. My approach integrates traditional therapeutic techniques with holistic practices, such as mindfulness and body-centered therapies, to support the emotional, mental, and physical well-being of the women I work with.
I have a Master’s of Science in Applied Social Sciences (the equivalent to a Social Work degree) from the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University and my Bachelor’s degree from Bates College. I was trained in EMDR through the Institute For Creative Mindfulness and completed a post graduate training through the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Program at the Cleveland Psychoanalytic Center. I also have specialized training in advanced perinatal mental health psychotherapy through Postpartum Support International.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I grew up in Shaker Heights with my parents, two brothers, and our beloved family lab, Marley. I truly loved growing up in Cleveland, and I carried that pride with me when I went off to college and eventually lived in Maine, Massachusetts, California, and Texas. It took time – and a few career pivots – to discover that becoming a psychotherapist was my true path, but I always knew I was drawn to connecting with people, supporting them, and really seeing them.
Looking back, the journey feels straightforward, but in the moment it was filled with its share of ups and downs, doubt, and hesitation. What grounded me through all of it was the strong foundation of support I had growing up. That sense of security and encouragement made me feel capable of handling whatever came next.
Pricing:
- 150-175 individual therapy
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.isabelmsw.com/
- Instagram: isabelmsw
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabel-ballard/
