Stephanie Dorais

Stephanie Dorais, PhD, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor and behavioral scientist whose work sits at the intersection of mental health, addiction recovery,  and decision-making. She studies the psychological processes that shape health behavior, with particular attention to how stress, hope, perceived possibilities, and the relative value of immediate and long-term rewards influence people’s choices.

Dr. Dorais began her career in quantitative research after earning a B.S. in Statistics and Operations Research from NYU’s Stern School of Business. She later earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education from William & Mary. Drawing on randomized experiments, longitudinal studies, daily diary designs, and intensive time-series methods, Dr. Dorais evaluates how psychological processes unfold within individuals over time and how interventions might be delivered at moments when people are especially vulnerable to habitual choices. 

Her current research investigates whether psychological and contemplative interventions can alter processes underlying  and health-related and addictive behavior, including temporal discounting, loss aversion, and stress-driven decision-making. She is especially interested in how momentary changes in attention, emotion, meaning, and perceived pathways influence whether people pursue immediate relief or act in accordance with longer-term goals. Her research on addiction has examined hope and relapse, thriving in long-term recovery, spiritually transformative experiences in recovery, and outcomes of motivational interviewing–based treatment.

Dr. Dorais has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed publications and teaches counseling, behavioral economics, applied statistics, and research design. She serves as an Associate Editor of Counseling and Values and is coauthor of The Space Between Us: Contemplative Counseling and the Art of Encounter.