About Barefoot
Barefoot Mental Wellness was founded by Stephanie Barfuss, LCSW, LAC, as a space for thoughtful, calm, and grounded care.
Today, the practice is growing into a small, collaborative team while remaining rooted in the same philosophy: listen carefully, respect each person’s pace, and move forward one step at a time.
Mental health care and substance use recovery are distinct paths, and each deserves focused, compassionate support. Bringing both together under one practice allows clients to find the service that fits their needs without losing the personal connection at the heart of Barefoot.
Wherever you are beginning, our team is here to meet you with dignity, trust, and practical support.
Stephanie Barfuss, LCSW, LAC
Founder and Psychotherapist
Stephanie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Addiction Counselor in Montana. She founded Barefoot Mental Wellness to offer adults a calm, collaborative space for meaningful change.
She works with adults seeking support around anxiety, stress, emotional well-being, substance use and recovery, life transitions, and patterns that feel difficult to shift alone.
Stephanie’s approach balances careful listening and reflection with practical tools. She respects each client’s pace, values, and lived experience while helping them move forward in ways that feel realistic and sustainable.
In addition to psychotherapy and substance use counseling, Stephanie provides mental health evaluations and chemical dependency evaluations.
Ginger Connelly, ACLC, CBHPSS
Addiction Counselor License Candidate
Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist
Founding Team Member
Ginger provides individual substance use counseling, chemical dependency evaluations, and behavioral health peer support services for primarily adult clients. Substance use counseling and chemical dependency evaluations may be offered in person in Missoula or through telehealth when appropriate. Peer support is currently offered in person only.
Her work is recovery-oriented, strengths-based, and grounded in dignity and collaboration. Ginger supports people who are exploring their relationship with substances, working toward change, maintaining recovery, or seeking practical support and connection.
As an Addiction Counselor License Candidate, Ginger practices within applicable supervision requirements. As a Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist, she also offers peer support focused on recovery resources, self-advocacy, personal strengths, and meaningful next steps.
Ginger joined Barefoot Mental Wellness as a Founding Team Member and is helping shape the practice’s growing substance use and recovery services.
Tiffany Dear
Practice Manager & Community Outreach
Founding Team Member
Tiffany helps make connecting with Barefoot Mental Wellness clear, welcoming, and manageable. As Practice Manager, she is the first point of contact for many new and current clients and assists with general questions, service inquiries, scheduling coordination, and navigating next steps.
She works behind the scenes to support smooth day-to-day operations and helps clients connect with the service or team member that best fits what they are looking for.
Tiffany also leads community outreach and relationship-building with referral partners, local organizations, and recovery resources. Her work helps make Barefoot’s mental health, substance use, evaluation, and peer support services easier to find and understand.
As a Founding Team Member, Tiffany has helped shape Barefoot’s growth from a solo practice into a small group practice. If you are unsure where to begin, Tiffany can help guide you through the available options.