Welcome to Communio.
Relationships shape who we are. They can be a source of pain, but they can also be a place of healing. At Communio Counseling, I work with individuals and couples to understand the patterns that leave them feeling stuck and to make room for new ways of connecting.
About Zach
I’m Zach Stueve, Licensed Professional Counselor and the founder of Communio Counseling. I work with couples and individuals, teach full-time at Franciscan University of Steubenville, and have worked as a Master Mentor at the CatholicPsych Institute since March 2023.
I graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville with a Bachelor of Arts degree, double majoring in clinical psychology and theology. Following my undergraduate studies, I received a Master of Theological Studies degree from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family Studies, a program that integrates theology, philosophy, political science, and psychology in order to give a truly Catholic understanding of the human person. Following this, I received a Master of Arts degree from Franciscan in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Before joining Franciscan’s faculty, I worked as a research associate and lab manager at Carnegie Mellon University’s Relationships Lab, where my research focused heavily on attachment theory in the context of adult romantic relationships.
My approach to counseling is process-oriented and experiential. I draw on Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and have received intensive training in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT). I also have training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), both of which I integrate into my counseling approach. Together, the client and I pay attention to what happens emotionally and relationally, both in your life and in the counseling session. My hope is that each client can have a corrective emotional experience: a chance to feel understood, respond to familiar struggles in a new way, and begin to connect differently with others.
I chose the name Communio because relationship is central to how I understand both the human person and the work of counseling. The Catholic Church teaches the Trinity is a communion of love, and that understanding shapes how I think about marriage, family, and our need for connection. This understanding shapes the relationship we build in counseling.
I grew up near Boston and now live in Steubenville with my wife, Molly, and our two daughters. Outside of work, I enjoy watching sports, arguing about movies and TV shows with my friends, and thinking about all the books I want to read.