Elders (65+) Therapists in Gainesville, FL

I am a Registered Social Work Intern. Prior to completing my Master’s degree at Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida, I attended Florida International University where I studied Social Work and earned a degree Social Work as well as Gender Studies. I am dedicated to community service and have worked with various programs such as Strong women Strong Girls, where I received an award in Civic Engagement for most hours volunteered. . My previous clinical experience focused on working with Seniors concentrating on Anxiety and Depression disorders. I have also worked with teenagers and children as young as two years of age.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my profile. Have you ever found yourself struggling with feelings of sadness, fear, shame, or loss? My goal as a therapist is to provide a safe space, free of judgment, for you to receive support, explore your concerns, and foster healing. My style is warm, genuine, and open. My approach to counseling is empowerment-focused, self-compassionate, and strengths-based. I have significant experience in working with trauma and interpersonal violence, including sexual assault and intimate partner violence, as well as vicarious trauma from high stress professions.

***IMMEDIATE OPENINGS AVAILABLE*** zoom or in person. It is time to stop “SURVIVING” and start “THRIVING”! I would be honored to join you in getting free from the bondage of fear, shame and guilt that may have you stuck in “survival mode”. You can learn the skills to thrive and fully enjoy your life.

**Accepting new clients!** I primarily work with clients who are going through challenging life transitions as well as clients coping with anxiety, depression and relationship issues including break ups, co-dependency and self-esteem challenges. Using the body as an ally, I work somatically using techniques derived from Mindfulness Therapy, Person-Centered as well as Internal Family Systems therapy - you will learn how to tap in to your inner voice which can guide you to answers your mind may not have thought of.

My therapy approach focuses mainly on working with adults, adolescents, couples and families in solution focused therapies and cognitive behavioral therapies. Combining these modalities along with integrative, interpersonal, and transpersonal psychotherapies is incorporated to tailor counseling sessions to my clients' needs. My goals in therapy are to find the sources of the negative thoughts, feelings and behaviors that are causing blocks to a functional life style. I like to use a collaborative approach with my clients in order to explore a client's strengths and to help educate the client on new methods of coping with life's challenges.

I appreciate how difficult the decision can be to engage in therapy and believe in the power of having a safe and nonjudgmental space to explore the challenges life often brings. My areas of clinical expertise include crisis and trauma work. As a therapist, I am committed to being genuine and authentic with my clients. I have had the opportunity to work with a diverse range of clinical issues including grief, relational problems, self-injury, suicide, depression, anxiety, suicide loss, trauma, abuse, and other issues that can create disconnection to oneself and others.

My goal in therapy is to help you rediscover your self - and to help you work through barriers to living your life with vitality, meaning, and connection. Have you lost track of who you are, or struggle in relationships? Do you feel trapped, tired, worried, or overwhelmed? We can address your depression, anxiety, grief, and relationship conflicts through a combination of discussion, practical techniques of body-mind therapy, and awareness practices. My focus is on helping you feel grounded and empowered, so that you are able to live your life more freely.

I am committed to helping people cultivate health, well-being, life-balance, meaningful relationships and vitality in their lives. My approach to counseling focuses on the whole person (body, mind, spirit and relationships) to help people heal, grow, thrive, reach personal goals and flourish. I have over 20 years of experience working with individuals and groups in private practice, educational and community settings. My training in Counseling (MA), Exercise Science (MS), Nutrition (PhD, Licensed Nutritionist), and Intuitive Eating (certification) provides a unique expertise to help people transform their lives.

My approach to psychotherapy is highly relational. I believe that most of our distress in life, often in the form of anxiety, depression, or uncontrolled anger, arises from unresolved conflicts in our important relationships, past and present, and that psychotherapy works by providing a new relationship-a supportive, empathic one in a which person can explore these important interpersonal connections, come to understand them in new ways, and change them. I focus the dialogue on a person's significant relationships, past and current, and on the feelings that one has about oneself and the important people in one's life.

I received my Bachelor's of Science in Business Management from Liberty University in 2004. After working in the business field for several years, I realized that I wanted to be able to work with people on a deeper level. In 2014 I received my Master's of Arts in Counseling at Reformed Theological Seminary in Oviedo, FL.

I help individuals, families, and couples who want to feel satisfied in their connection with their partner, mediate thoughts and identify thinking errors, and help manage anxiety and sadness to perform better in their lives. I strive to serve as a guide while supporting you with healing from past hurts, inter-generational trauma, and systematic pressures by getting to the root of your restrictive core beliefs that guide your behavior, how you see yourself, and perceive life and relationships. I provide a safe and judgment free atmosphere which allows for transparency, empowerment, cultural appreciation, and validation.

Healing is more than just fixing what's not working; it's about living an engaged life that feels meaningful and purposeful for you. In order to create impactful change, we must first understand what we want to move towards. Together we will identify goals and create a path forward that reflects where you want to go and focuses on your therapeutic goals. I will strive to create a safe environment to support you in your journey. That means seeing you as a whole person and seeing the context in which you live, including your culture, identities, and history.

Therapy should be accessible to everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender preference, trauma history, mental or physical health challenges or income. That is why I keep my fees low. Psychotherapy can help you move through difficult times and losses. It can help you identify your personal barriers to change and help you develop tools to enhance your future. I will work with any client within their ability to pay if they are needing support and tools for change.

I enjoy working with people of all ages and with all sorts of problems. I see my role as helping you sort out the exact stress you are feeling, and giving you some concrete ways to deal with it. Often problems are multifaceted and it helps to have someone experienced and caring to help you get a wider view and come up with good solutions. My style is collaborative, and I'm interested in creating personal growth as well as getting symptom relief. My concern is your individual well-being as well as your happiness and satisfaction with your work and relationships.

Are you feeling burned out from taking care of others? Are you drinking too much? Feeling depressed most days? Worried you are neglecting your relationships? Of maybe a loved one told you to get help or else they were done? Is your work performance suffering? Have others started to notice? Are you worried they will? Or maybe you are noticing your feelings and thoughts seem out of control and you don't understand why? Are you laying awake at night reliving "failures?" Just how tired are you? You are in the right place for solutions and finally, some relief!

My ideal client is someone who is ready to embark on a journey of healing. The therapeutic process is a wonderful life altering experience that can lead you to your true self and help you find and connect with the best version of yourself. By facing and challenging the fears and thoughts that tell you that you do not deserve happiness you can lessen your anxiety and depression and start living a life that you love.

Thank you for taking a look at my profile in your search for a therapist. I value my relationship with clients highly. I pay careful attention to their internal struggles and relational needs, while also tapping into their resilience and sources of hope for lasting change and improvement. I take note of the impact that identified issues have on my clients and their loved ones, and attend to the constraints that keep them from resolving challenges that lead toward more adaptive outcomes. I see individuals, couples, and families seeking assistance with personal, relational, and trauma-based issues and strive to provide the best care.

I start sessions by getting to know you and your dreams, goals, and desired outcomes. We will work together to re-evaluate any limiting beliefs that haven’t been serving you well. Together we will develop ways to help you struggle less with the thoughts and emotions that have been holding you back from the things you most want. We will identify your goals and develop a plan to help you lead a more peaceful, productive, and fulfilling life.

Life challenges, past hurts, consuming worries, and loss can be so overwhelming at times that it can feel as though they are directing your life. It is during these times that we seek to access our inner resilience to open the door to healing and a pathway to a life of feeling present, connected, and fulfilled. Resilience-informed therapy works to strengthen your ability to process, adapt, grow, and flourish despite challenging circumstances. With enhanced resilience, we are able to enjoy more meaningful relationships, repair the narrative of past trauma and loss, and live with a sense of presence and purpose.

I have built my practice around serving individuals and couples who are navigating their professional and personal lives while coping with stressors related to identity, race, culture, relationships, trauma, and oppression to name a few. In short, I help people cope and build new skills for thriving in life. I offer space to feel seen and heard within context where there is no "norm" for living but rather acceptance and openness for you to be who you are and were meant to be but have yet to figure out on your own. I both challenge as well as validate and support you in the growth and healing you never knew was possible.