A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA...
About Me
I am a board-certified Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Florida, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in New Jersey, and a Qualified Supervisor (QS) in both states with a Ph.D. in counseling and counselor education, and I am the owner and founder of Atlantic Counseling for Empowerment, PLLC; an ethically motivated, industry-leading, and cutting-edge counseling and psychotherapy practice, offering tailored and client-specific treatment that is culturally sensitive for individuals, couples, families, and groups. I have received qualified training in a multitude of supervised clinical settings, providing me with the competence to handle a wide array of mental health problems and client populations. I have years of clinical and work-related experience in the areas of anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, trauma- and stressor-related disorders, substance-related and addictive disorders, personality disorders, and co-occurring disorders. Currently, I specialize and practice in the counseling of mood disorders, substance-related and addictive disorders, and co-occurring disorders.
Based on an integrative case conceptualization, I passionately believe that the heart of counseling lies in the therapeutic relationship and the empowerment of all clients. Clinically, I intend to promote an environment that reconstructs and reinforces clients’ objectives, while achieving the goals of wellness, resiliency, autonomy, and eventually, self-efficacy. Theoretically, I counsel from a social constructivism paradigm, utilizing various cognitive and behavioral approaches within a transtheoretical framework. Ultimately, I believe in a holistic and integrative approach to counseling based on a strong therapeutic relationship from a wellness perspective.
At this present time, I am a practicing counselor and psychotherapist in South Florida and an Assistant Professor in the Counselor Education Department at The Chicago School, where I am the Co-Chapter Faculty Advisor for the Theta Chi Sigma chapter of Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International, and my research focuses on case conceptualization and deliberate practice. I also serve as an adjunct professor in the Department of Counselor Education at Florida Atlantic University. My other research interests are in the areas of addictions prevention, counselor competence, and client outcomes. I am the past Vice President of the Beta Rho Chi chapter of Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International and former Graduate Student Representative for the Florida Association of Counselor Education and Supervision. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends while staying physically active and savoring life. Born and raised in New Jersey, I am an avid New York Giants and Yankees fan, who is happy to call South Florida, home.