Beehind the Scenes with Stephanie Partida

Stephanie Partida’s path into counseling was deeply personal. After going through her own rock bottom, she felt a strong calling to help others find healing and hope.

She spent nearly a decade living in Bishop, California, where, during a quiet moment of prayer on her back patio, she felt nudged toward something bigger: starting a counseling practice.

“I wasn’t even licensed yet. But I asked for a sign, and right then, a hummingbird hovered in front of me. That moment confirmed everything.”

Not long after, Stephanie and her family relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, where her vision came to life. Today, she leads Encounters Counseling and Recovery, offering addiction recovery, domestic violence support, and family therapy across Nevada.

“I know what it feels like to be hopeless and powerless. My goal is to meet people where they are and remind them they’re not alone.”

A practice built with purpose

Stephanie’s work centers on helping people during their most difficult times, from addiction and trauma to family transitions and court-mandated programs.

“We want every person who walks through our doors to feel seen, supported, and heard.”

Her team doesn’t just serve clients, they minister to them.

“We want every person who walks through our doors to have an encounter with hope, with healing, and with Jesus.”

Her team provides services in both English and Spanish, offering counseling, group programs, and a safe, judgment-free environment for healing. Whether helping families navigate conflict or supporting survivors of domestic violence, Stephanie’s approach is client-first and dignity-driven.

From overwhelmed to organized

When Stephanie’s previous practice management platform, Luminello, shut down unexpectedly, she needed a new system that wouldn’t slow her down or pull focus from her clients.

She explored other options, but found them too costly or too rigid for her evolving needs. That’s when she found Zanda.

“Zanda gave us the structure we needed without losing our heart.”

She chose Zanda for three key reasons:

• Customization: “We built our own forms for counseling and court programs. That flexibility was huge.”
• Affordability: “I just couldn’t justify $400 a month on other systems. Zanda had everything I needed and it aligned with my values.”
• Ease of use: “It’s like plug and play. Even my team picked it up quickly.”

How Stephanie uses Zanda

Zanda is now woven into nearly every part of Stephanie’s practice:

• Sends customized intake packets for both counseling and court-aligned programs
• Documents clinical notes, treatment plans, and progress reports
• Uses custom billing codes like “pro bono” and “cash pay”
• Shares records with interns and team members for seamless handoffs
• Posts a booking link on her Psychology Today profile and Google Business Profile to automate scheduling

“We’ve had six or seven clients book directly through our Psychology Today link since switching to Zanda. That never happened before.”

Stephanie’s tips for other providers

Stephanie believes small, practical systems can lead to big shifts in care. Her top advice? Start simple and grow intentionally.

“If you’re new to custom forms, just build one–like an intake or treatment plan and test it with a client. Once it works, build from there.”

Her favorite Zanda tips:

• Use billing codes to clearly label pro bono, insurance, or private pay clients
• Leverage tutorials and chat support to get up and running faster
• Use shareable intake links to streamline onboarding when sending forms directly to clients

“Even if you’re not tech-savvy, Zanda makes it easy. Once you’re set up, everything flows. And the support team is awesome if you need help.”

Built for impact

Stephanie founded her practice on the belief that everyone deserves access to hope, healing, and second chances. That includes those often overlooked adults in recovery, survivors of domestic violence, families in crisis.

“It’s not about the money. It’s about changing lives.”

With Zanda, Stephanie can now maintain the structure her team needs while staying fully aligned with the mission that started it all.

Whether it’s creating ASAM-compliant forms or handing off a case with a click, she’s running a growing multi-city practice that works for her.

“Zanda keeps us on track without taking us away from what matters most.”

Advice to fellow clinicians

Stephanie’s message is simple:

“Start small. Stay focused. And pick a platform that won’t drown you in noise.”

Whether you’re just starting out or managing multiple programs, choose systems that support the work that really matters.

Want to build a practice that works as hard as you do?

Whether you’re supporting individuals, families, or helping clients overcome addiction, you deserve tools that match your mission.

Zanda is an all-in-one practice management platform designed by health professionals who know what it takes to run a successful business:

• Streamlined documentation and onboarding
• Custom workflows for your unique services
• Features that help you stay organized, compliant, and connected

Get started with Zanda and focus more on clients, not paperwork.