{{Short description|American therapist, author, and speaker (1979–2019)}} {{Infobox person | name = Sean Stephenson | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1979|05|05}} | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|08|28|1979|05|05}} | death_place = Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. | death_cause = Concussion | alma_mater = DePaul University | occupation = {{hlist|Therapist|Author|Motivational speaker}} | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = | spouse = {{Marriage|Mindie Kniss|2012}} | height = {{convert|3|ft|cm||abbr=on}} | website = {{URL|seanstephenson.com|SeanStephenson.com}} }}
'''Sean Clinch Stephenson''' (May 5, 1979 – August 28, 2019) was an American therapist, self-help author and motivational speaker.<ref name="butpg1">{{cite book |title=Get Off Your "But" |first=Sean |last=Stephenson |publisher=Jossey-Bass |location=San Francisco |year=2009 |page=1}}</ref> Because he was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, Stephenson stood three feet tall, had fragile bones, and used a wheelchair.<ref name="tribuneprofile">{{cite news |title=Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Motivational Speaker Sean Stephenson Uses His Disorder to Inspire Others |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/chi-sean-stephenson-05-may05,0,4199197,full.story |first=Ted |last=Gregory |work=Chicago Tribune |date=May 5, 2009 |accessdate=August 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222043134/http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/chi-sean-stephenson-05-may05,0,4199197,full.story |archivedate=February 22, 2011}}</ref>
==Early life== When Stephenson was born, doctors quickly recognized the signs of the genetic mutation osteogenesis imperfecta, commonly known as "brittle bone disease". Most of his bones had been broken during the delivery. He was placed in intensive care at Chicago Children's Hospital, and doctors warned his parents that he might die very soon.<ref name="butpg1" /> He survived, but spent much of his youth in pain and experienced the stunted growth and mobility limitations common for people with osteogenesis imperfecta.
==Education and career== Stephenson began delivering motivational speeches at the age of 17.<ref name="tribuneprofile" /> With the assistance of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, in 1998 Stephenson met his motivational speaking hero, Tony Robbins. Robbins became his mentor and encouraged him to change his lifestyle to improve his health.<ref name="butpgix-x">Robbins, Tony. "Foreword" in {{cite book |title=Get Off Your "But" |first=Sean |last=Stephenson |publisher=Jossey-Bass |location=San Francisco |year=2009 |pages=ix-x}}</ref> While attending DePaul University, Stephenson worked as an intern for President Bill Clinton and for Illinois Congressman Bill Lipinski.<ref name="tribuneprofile" /> After receiving his bachelor's degree in political science in 2001 from DePaul University, he published his first book, ''How You(th) Can Succeed!: Transforming Dreams into Reality for Young Adults'', and returned to motivational speaking.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.apbspeakers.com/speaker/sean-stephenson |title=Sean Stephenson |access-date=January 30, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302022152/http://www.apbspeakers.com/speaker/sean-stephenson |archive-date=March 2, 2012}}</ref>
After his speeches, Stephenson found he was often approached by people seeking advice on personal issues. Feeling ill-equipped to advise them, he decided to go back to school and become certified as a therapist.<ref name="butpg24-25">{{cite book |title=Get Off Your "But" |first=Sean |last=Stephenson |publisher=Jossey-Bass |location=San Francisco |year=2009 |pages=24–25}}</ref> He took courses at Bennett/Stellar University, a private institution specializing in neuro-linguistic programming and hypnotherapy,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bennettstellar.org/About-Bennett-Stellar/about-bennett-stellar.html |title=About Bennett Stellar |accessdate=August 8, 2011 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807161334/http://www.bennettstellar.org/About-Bennett-Stellar/about-bennett-stellar.html |archivedate=August 7, 2011}}</ref> and at American Pacific University (since renamed Kona University). In March 2004, Stephenson began work on a doctor of clinical hypnotherapy degree at American Pacific.<ref name="butpg24-25" /><ref>At the time Stephenson began his studies, American Pacific was unaccredited. In 2009 it became accredited through the Distance Education and Training Council. ({{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Accreditation Details: Kona University|url=http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/InstAccrDetails.aspx?756e697469643d3230383231312663616d70757349643d30267264743d382f372f323031312031313a33303a323420504d|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716060402/http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Index.aspx|archive-date=July 16, 2012|accessdate=August 8, 2011|work=The Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs|publisher=United States Department of Education}})</ref> He operated a therapy practice from offices in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois.<ref name="butpg24-25" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetostand.com/bio.htm |title=About Sean |publisher=Sean Stephenson Enterprises |accessdate=August 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608085559/http://www.timetostand.com/bio.htm |archivedate=June 8, 2012 }}</ref> He also continued to work as a motivational speaker, earning {{USD|15,000}} to {{USD|30,000}} per appearance.<ref>{{cite news |title=Oak Brook Therapist Lives Life One Way: Big |url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110718/news/707189935/ |first=Anna |last=Madrzyk |newspaper=Daily Herald |date=July 18, 2011 |accessdate=August 8, 2011}}</ref>
His second book, ''Get Off Your "But": How to End Self-Sabotage and Stand Up for Yourself'', was published in 2009. It was a self-help book that recounted his own personal story along with the stories of others, and provided exercises for readers to perform while they read. Tony Robbins provided a foreword.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0509/0509but.htm |title=Just Do It |first=Steven |last=Martinovich |work=Enter Stage Right |date=May 25, 2009 |accessdate=August 7, 2011}}</ref> That same year, Stephenson was the subject of ''Three Foot Giant'', a television documentary that aired on The Biography Channel in November 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20091102bio01 |title=One-Hour Bio Special ''Three Foot Giant'' Profiles Sean Stephenson a Remarkable Man Who at 3 Feet Tall Lives a Larger Life Than Most |work=The Futon Critic |date=November 2, 2009 |accessdate=August 7, 2011}}</ref>
==Personal life and death== Stephenson married Mindie Kniss in 2012. On August 28, 2019, Stephenson died after a serious concussion.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/sean-stephenson-death-author-and-therapist-dies-due-to-complications-after-suffering-head-injury/ |title=Sean Stephenson death: Author and therapist dies due to complications after suffering head injury |first=John Thomas |last=Didymus |date=August 30, 2019 |work=Monsters and Critics |access-date=September 8, 2019}}</ref> His last words were "This happened for me. It didn't happen to me."<ref name=":0" />
==Books== * ''How You(th) Can Succeed!: Transforming Dreams into Reality for Young Adults'' (2001) * ''Get Off Your "But": How to End Self-Sabotage and Stand Up for Yourself'' (2009)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://seanstephenson.com/ Sean Stephenson] – website for Sean Stephenson Enterprises LLC
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephenson, Sean}} Category:1979 births Category:2019 deaths Category:American motivational speakers Category:American motivational writers Category:American self-help writers Category:People with osteogenesis imperfecta Category:Place of death missing Category:American wheelchair users Category:Writers from Chicago Category:21st-century American male writers Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers Category:American male non-fiction writers
{{Wikiquote|Sean Stephenson}}