LMHC, 28 years of experience
Hello, my name is Stephanie and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the state of Florida. My experience includes working with adolescents, adults, couples and families with various psychiatric needs to include: depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, panic disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, dissociative disorders, self esteem and co-occurring disorders. I utilize different therapeutic modalities such as EMDR, Accelerated Resolution Therapy , CBT, TF-CBT, Christian counseling, art therapy, mindfulness techniques and guided imagery. My experience includes private practice, public speaking, adjunct professor and working for 3 psychiatric hospitals, both in Arizona and Florida. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with individuals who trust me with their story, and am dedicated to be a part of your mental health journey to recovery.
The first session is definately the time to begin telling your story to see if we're a good fit for each other. I want to meet you where you're at and learn what your treatment goals are. The first session I will ask questions not only about you, but your interpersonal experiences growing up. I call this part, "exploring your family of origin." In knowing these parts of your story, I generally find similarities in who influenced you in your life, feelings and thoughts, and your general outlook on life.
I absolutely love what I do and have empathy and compassion for each and every one of those individuals that choose this journey. I never take for granted this is your safe space to be vulnerable and express any thoughts and feelings you are having. I want my clients to feel heard and have the freedom to express themselves. I am a good listener and no story needs to be minimized or ignored.
I have been working for 28 years as a trauma specialist and have found great fulfillment in working with clients who have a history of abuse and trauma. The work has been humbling and I'm always in awe that people can be so resilient in spite of such tragedies. I also specialize in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and have found this to be a valuable treatment for military trauma, victims of crime and traumatic experiences associated with these individuals.
This therapy is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by helping individuals identify and challenge negative thoughts and beliefs related to a traumatic event. The treatment ultimately leads to a more balanced and accurate understanding of the trauma while healing the memories and the associated feelings.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. This type of therapy aims to help individuals process and reduce the distress associated with traumatic memories by using bilateral stimulation of the brain using eye movements while focusing on disturbing memories and beliefs. I have been using EMDR in my practice for 24 years and found it to be beneficial for individuals experiencing grief and loss as well as military and personal trauma.
I often practice using an eclectic style, as this therapeutic process is tailored to the needs of the client and determines which treatment types will be most helpful for that person. This model is not restricted to a one-size-fits-all modality and is not looking for universal behavior patterns. Instead, it gathers very specific information from the patient, then matches the form of treatment to the individual that will be utilized by the therapist.