Francine Atkins LMHC

If you did not complete your intake form prior to session this will need to be completed and consent forms will need to be sign. This can take 45-60 minutes. During this time, it will allow me to build rapport, gather information about your personal history, family history and about the problem that led you to seek counseling.

My path to becoming a therapist was inspired from being waitress/server. At that time, I had the passion to become a police officer with the goal of reaching at risk youth. I did pursue that goal which was short lived. I always knew that I wanted to do something that would be impactful to a person to better their lives. I was inspired to choose this profession from my experience working 13 years as a waitress/server. During that time, I had observed on most of my shifts that at least one staff (cook, prep cook, waitress and manager) would appear to be on a substance. Additionally, some individuals appeared to have had mental health issues. Staff who had issues would always come to me for suggestions. It motivated me to want to understand substance abuse and mental health issues, which I pursued.

The first 1-2 sessions will involve a comprehensive evaluation of your needs. By the end of the evaluation, I will be able to offer you some initial impressions of what the work might include. At that point, I will discuss your treatment goals and create an initial treatment plan. Your treatment plan is not a one size fit all; it is developed in collaboration with your input of your needs. You should evaluate this information and make your own assessment about whether you feel comfortable working with me. If you have questions about the procedures, you should discuss them whenever they arise. If your doubts persist, I will be happy to help you set up a meeting with another mental health professional for a second opinion. Most people feel more relaxed by the second session. You may be ready to begin the process of figuring out what is causing your distress and collaboratively we can start to identify and develop your treatment plan goals. Your treatment plan goals will be written down and periodically will be reviewed to see if you have achieved some goals and if treatment plan needs to be modified. I will discuss several counseling theories and techniques and give you a brief explanation of how each one works and why one might work better for you than another.

• Florida, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, 17510

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Florida. I attained a Masters in Mental Health and Addiction Counseling at Palm Beach Atlantic University. I have worked in substance abuse and mental health treatment since 2016. I have been providing treatment to individuals, families, couples, and group for mental, emotional and substance abuse issues and relationship problems. I counsel many age groups: late adolescents, college students, young adults, men, and women of all ages. I am experienced in working with clients from all walks of life and with various presenting problems, including substance abuse, grief/loss, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, stress, and suicidal impulses. In 2021, I opened the doors to Restore and Renewing my private practice with the goal of providing clients from a diverse population with mental health and substance abuse/relapse prevention services. Whether you are looking for a bit of counseling, or need professional assistance overcoming a traumatic experience - your wellbeing is my number one priority. I go above and beyond to cater to the needs of every client with personalized services. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I find fulfilment in helping clients manage their mental health, uncover their true potential, and move to the next level. To do so, I utilize Solution Focused, Person -Centered and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and other therapeutic approach.