I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Florida with over 15 years of experience providing psychotherapy. I work with individuals of all ages, including children, adolescents, and adults from diverse backgrounds. My focus is on helping clients overcome mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and emotional and behavioral difficulties. I also work with couples to improve relationships and have provided individual and group counseling to adults with dual diagnoses. I take a Humanistic and Focused Solution-Based approach to therapy, creating individualized treatment plans tailored to each client’s needs. I am passionate about helping my clients develop the skills they need to manage their emotions, build healthier relationships, and navigate life’s challenges in a more effective way. Overall, I am committed to providing compassionate, collaborative therapy that supports my clients' personal growth and emotional well-being.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session together, my goal is to create a comfortable and supportive environment where you feel heard, understood, and at ease. We'll take time to introduce ourselves and explore what brought you to therapy. This is your opportunity to ask any questions about the process, and I’ll ensure you have a clear understanding of what to expect moving forward. We’ll begin by discussing what’s been happening in your life and what you hope to achieve through therapy. Whether you're facing emotional struggles, behavioral challenges, relationship issues, or simply seeking personal growth, I want to hear your perspective. Understanding your experiences and concerns allows us to create a plan that is tailored to your specific needs. Next, I’ll ask for some background information about your life, including your family dynamics, work, relationships, and mental health history. This helps me gain a deeper understanding of any factors that might be influencing your current challenges and ensures our work together is grounded in your unique circumstances. Once we’ve established a foundation, we’ll begin setting clear goals for therapy. These goals will guide our work together, providing direction and focus. Whether you're looking to manage stress, improve communication, navigate life transitions, or address specific behaviors, setting goals gives us a roadmap for progress. I’ll also explain the therapeutic process, including the approaches and techniques I use. I integrate humanistic therapy, solution-focused techniques, and other evidence-based strategies to best support your needs. It’s important to me that you feel confident in our approach, so I’ll make sure you understand how these methods can help you achieve your goals. We’ll also go over the logistics of therapy—how often we’ll meet, the length of sessions, and any activities or reflections you might do between sessions. Clear expectations help ensure we’re on the same page as we move forward. Additionally, I’ll discuss confidentiality, so you feel secure knowing that what we discuss remains private, with a few exceptions related to safety and legal requirements. Although the first session primarily focuses on getting to know each other and laying the groundwork for therapy, we’ll also begin addressing any immediate concerns. Depending on your needs, I may introduce simple techniques or coping strategies that you can start using right away. This journey is about you, and my role is to support and gui
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My greatest strengths as a provider stem from my deep understanding of diverse therapeutic approaches, my strong interpersonal skills, and my ability to adapt to the unique needs of each client. I pride myself on using a humanistic and solution-focused approach, which allows me to connect authentically with clients while working toward practical solutions. I’ve developed a strong ability to manage challenging behaviors, particularly with clients who require specialized behavioral interventions. My experience with children, especially those with Autism, allows me to tailor interventions to foster growth and communication in ways that meet their specific needs. What I believe makes me unique as a therapist is my ability to blend evidence-based techniques with a deep, empathetic understanding of each client’s individual struggles. I’m skilled at navigating complex family dynamics and cultural contexts, such as working with Spanish-speaking families, which adds another layer to my holistic approach. My versatility in providing individual and group counseling for adults with dual diagnoses also showcases my ability to support clients across the lifespan, with a range of challenges. I strive to create a safe space where clients can explore their challenges, build trust, and foster personal growth. I’m passionate about helping individuals, couples, and families improve their emotional and behavioral well-being while also strengthening their relationships.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I am best positioned to serve individuals who are facing a variety of mental health and behavioral challenges. With over 15 years of experience, I have worked with diverse populations, including children, adolescents, and adults from different ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. My work primarily focuses on individuals dealing with severe mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, emotional and behavioral issues. Additionally, I have experience in providing treatment for individuals with dual diagnoses. When working with adults, I use a humanistic, solution-focused approach to help clients explore their emotions, behaviors, and goals. I create treatment plans tailored to their specific needs, drawing on my expertise in behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral strategies, and relational work. I focus on helping adults develop healthier coping strategies, improve communication, and navigate interpersonal issues, particularly in the context of relationships or family dynamics. I also address underlying trauma, self-esteem issues, and provide guidance on managing life stressors. For adolescents, I recognize the unique challenges of this developmental stage, such as identity formation, peer pressure, and academic stress. I work with adolescents to improve emotional regulation, increase self-awareness, and develop problem-solving skills. I incorporate interventions that focus on communication, conflict resolution, and building resilience to help them navigate both personal and academic challenges. I also engage families in the therapeutic process when appropriate, emphasizing positive reinforcement, setting boundaries, and fostering trust and collaboration. In both cases, my approach is centered on the individual, and I utilize evidence-based practices to create a supportive, non-judgmental environment where clients can feel heard, understood, and empowered.
About Idiana Morales
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
With extensive experience in applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, I specialize in guiding individuals to identify and modify negative thought patterns and maladaptive behaviors. My approach involves collaboratively working with clients to develop actionable goals, teach effective coping strategies, and reinforce positive changes. I have successfully treated a range of concerns, including anxiety disorders, depression, trauma, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. By employing evidence-based techniques such as cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, and exposure therapy, I assist clients in building resilience and improving their emotional well-being. My expertise also extends to delivering CBT for children, adolescents, and adults, tailoring interventions to developmental and cultural contexts. I ensure sessions remain client-centered, fostering self-awareness and empowering individuals to manage challenges independently. In addition, I integrate CBT principles with other therapeutic modalities, such as solution-focused and humanistic approaches, to address complex mental health needs.
Couples Counseling
With a strong foundation in Humanistic and Solution-Focused therapeutic approaches, I have extensive experience working with couples to improve their relationships. My work involves helping partners navigate challenges such as communication breakdowns, trust issues, emotional disconnect, infidelity, and parenting disagreements. By fostering a safe and nonjudgmental environment, I guide couples to identify their shared goals and individual needs within the relationship. I implement evidence-based interventions, including active listening exercises, conflict resolution strategies, and emotional regulation techniques, to help them rebuild trust and intimacy. I emphasize the importance of understanding each partner’s perspective to deepen emotional connections and enhance understanding. My tailored approach empowers couples to develop healthier communication patterns and strengthen their bond, fostering long-lasting positive changes in their relationships.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I have experience utilizing Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) to empower clients in identifying and building on their strengths to achieve their goals. This approach allows me to help individuals, families, and couples focus on solutions rather than dwelling on problems. By exploring past successes and envisioning preferred futures, I guide clients toward small, achievable steps that lead to meaningful change. My work involves collaboratively setting specific, realistic goals and leveraging solution-focused techniques, such as the miracle question, scaling questions, and identifying exceptions to problem behavior. Through SFBT, I have helped clients improve relationships, manage anxiety and depression, address behavioral challenges, and build coping skills. This approach has been particularly effective with children, adolescents, and families, fostering resilience and self-efficacy in addressing a wide range of emotional and behavioral concerns.
Positive Psychology
Throughout my career as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, positive psychology has been an integral part of my therapeutic approach. I emphasize fostering strengths, resilience, and well-being to help individuals achieve meaningful and fulfilling lives. By focusing on positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishments, I have empowered clients to create sustainable changes in their lives. I integrate positive psychology techniques such as gratitude practices, mindfulness, and strength-based interventions into treatment plans. These approaches have proven effective in addressing anxiety, depression, and other emotional challenges by shifting focus from solely addressing deficits to building on the client’s inherent potential. In my work with children, adolescents, and adults, I’ve seen how cultivating optimism, fostering hope, and encouraging goal setting have enhanced self-efficacy and improved overall mental health. For example, with families, I help members reframe challenges into opportunities for growth, improving relationships and communication. Positive psychology also informs my work with couples, where I focus on enhancing connection and appreciation for one another’s strengths to rebuild trust and intimacy. This strength-based approach has been transformative in helping clients not just overcome difficulties but thrive in their personal and professional lives.
Eclectic
With over 15 years of experience as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I have had the opportunity to integrate eclectic therapy into my practice to effectively meet the diverse needs of my clients. Throughout my work, I’ve found this approach particularly valuable when addressing complex and multifaceted issues, where a single therapeutic modality might not be sufficient. By blending techniques from various schools of thought—such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, humanistic approaches, and psychodynamic interventions—I am able to create highly individualized treatment plans that align with each client's unique needs, preferences, and goals. Whether working with children, families, or adults, I adapt interventions based on their specific challenges, ensuring that the therapy remains responsive and effective. For example, I have used cognitive restructuring for clients struggling with anxiety while incorporating mindfulness techniques to help them manage their physiological symptoms. In family therapy, I might blend communication strategies from solution-focused therapy with deeper explorations of family dynamics to address underlying issues. This flexibility allows me to provide a more comprehensive approach to treatment. I also leverage eclectic therapy when working with individuals facing co-occurring disorders, where a mix of behavioral, emotional, and relational issues are present. By tailoring my approach, I can engage clients in meaningful ways, fostering both short-term relief and long-term change. Ultimately, my goal with eclectic therapy is to meet clients where they are and guide them toward healing using the most effective tools available.