LMHC, 5 years of experience
New to Grow
Hi! I am Julie Metevia. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor based in the Fort Lauderdale area of Florida. I have 5 years of experience providing compassionate, evidence-based care in diverse settings, including a non-profit domestic violence shelter and the area school system. I utilize a variety of therapies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT ) and mindfulness-based interventions. I have also been trained in using Trauma-Focused CBT (for adolescents) and EMDR therapy. I am committed to empowering clients through strength-based and trauma-informed approaches. My goal is to support individuals in building resilience, emotional health, and lasting personal growth.
During our first session I will start by welcoming you and helping you feel at ease. I will ask what brought you to therapy. We will then review the paperwork that you have likely completed before our session, such as privacy and confidentiality, informed consent, cancellation policies, and insurance/payment details. After the housekeeping end of therapy is discussed, we will move on to exploring more about what has brought you to therapy, any relevant background information, specific issues and symptoms, any life events or stressors you are experiencing, and goals or areas of growth you would like to work on. Together we will start to define your goal(s) more specifically and discuss any barriers to achieving your goals. We will end the session with a brief review of what we accomplished, and I will ask for your feedback about how the session felt for you and we will end by scheduling the next appointment. The first session usually takes about 1.5 hours.
As a therapist, I bring a unique blend of organization, compassion, and clinical skill to my work with clients. I strive to create a safe, supportive environment grounded in empathy, active listening, and genuine warmth, where individuals feel heard and respected without judgment. My approach emphasizes helping clients set manageable, realistic goals that support meaningful and lasting change. I communicate clearly and effectively, adapting my style to meet each client's needs while maintaining flexibility and responsiveness in the therapeutic process. With a strong commitment to ongoing learning and self-awareness, I continuously seek to grow both personally and professionally to provide the highest quality of care.
I want to acknowledge the important step you've taken in beginning this journey toward better mental health and well-being. Reaching out for support is not always easy, and your decision to do so reflects courage, self-awareness, and a commitment to your own growth. Starting therapy can bring up a mix of emotions—hope, uncertainty, even vulnerability—and that’s completely normal. Please know that this is a safe and supportive space where your experiences, feelings, and goals matter. My role is to walk alongside you, offering guidance, understanding, and tools that can support you in navigating life’s challenges and creating meaningful change. Our work together will be shaped by your unique needs and values. Whether you’re here to process specific issues, build new skills, or explore personal growth, I’m here to support you at a pace that feels right for you. If you have any questions before our first session—about the process, confidentiality, or anything else—please don’t hesitate to reach out. I look forward to getting to know you and working together.
I am certified in CBT and have used this model with a wide variety of clients in various settings. It is easily applicable for use with a variety of problems. I like the CBT model because it allows me to work collaboratively with clients to identify and change unhelpful patterns of thinking, behavior, and emotional responses that may be impacting their daily functioning and relationships. CBT encourages clients to be self-reflective and autonomous and is an easy framework to understand and implement in daily life.
I have used DBT mostly with adolescents in a school setting. DBT is a type of Cognitive Behavioral therapy that focuses on four core skills; mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Through therapist support and learning these core skills clients are able to accept their current situations while also working toward positive change. I have found this therapy model effective in helping clients to manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and develop healthier coping mechanisms.