How has your particular field of specialization evolved in recent years and how has that impacted your work?
I have been a therapist for twelve years. I was fortunate enough to experience a variety of specialize areas of concern. I was worked with Domestic violence, Substance abuse, narcisstic abuse, and Trauma extensively, In the last six years, I moved to the administrative end working as clinical director. This expanded my understanding of the industry as a whole and how to provide the most effective treatment. It also gave me insight to common patterns observed with different populations and it's facilitated my ability to recognize and assist with behavioral pattern and distorted cognitions.
How does collaboration with other providers play into your work?
Collaboration with all providers as well as family or any other support system is crucial to treatment. It allows a more comprehensive and supportive process and ability to treat the issues from a multi-faceted perspective. It's important to know if you're on medications, or any other things that contribute to symptoms. The earlier the intervention, the better the prognosis. That also applied to family and support systems. The more people involved and unified in the treatment process, the better the prognosis.
Are there any recurring themes or issues you’ve noticed as you treat people in your area of specialization, and how has this insight guided your approach?
With the pandemic we are currently facing, I have seen a tremendous increase in substance abuse, particularly alcohol, There is a lot of fear and uncertainty at this time. People lost jobs or family members they weren't able to see. These circumstances lead to heightened emotional states, often resulting in maladaptive behaviors. Working with these issues had led me to see how important acceptance and surrender is. We will work on mindfulness, and solution focused therapy to alleviate distress.
Specialties
Addiction
Regular involvement with a substance or activity in a compulsive, hard to control way that often has harmful consequences. Often refers to substance use, but can include compulsive behaviors such as sex, gambling, or shopping.
Abuse/Survivors of abuse
Abuse includes any significant mistreatment along the lines of psychical, emotional, sexual, verbal, and neglect. Survivors of abuse may experience negative thoughts and feelings, flashbacks, distrust of others, social withdrawal, self-harm, and increased likelihood of developing mental health and substance abuse issues.
Attachment issues
Children that experience parents and/or guardians that are avoidant, ambivalent, or resistant from an early age, may develop attachment issues. This can manifest as difficulty forming or maintaining friendships, romantic relationships and empathetic bonds throughout life, as well as other issues.
Codependency
Involves a person sacrificing their needs to meet the needs of others. Their thoughts and actions center on a significant other, spouse, friend, or relative. Becomes an issue when relationships are unbalanced and unhealthy.
General Expertise
Depression
Depression often causes people to feel sad, empty, or hopeless, and can cause a lack of interest in life. It can also affect a person's thinking patterns and physical health.
Anxiety
Anxiety can mean nervousness, worry, or self-doubt. Anxiety disorder is a mental health disorder that entails excessive, repeated bouts of worry, anxiety, and/or fear.
Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by persistent instability in relationships, extreme emotional reactions, and chronic fear of abandonment. People with this may also tend to be moody, experiencing a lot of high highs and low lows.
Adolescent mental health
Adolescent mental health focuses on adolescent-specific experiences including physical and cognitive development, social and environmental factors, sex, sexual identification and orientation, emotional processing, and substance use. Given the influence that parents/guardians have on adolescents, home life is a particularly important consideration.
Bipolar disorder
Characterized by alternating symptoms of depression and mania. During more extreme episodes, depression may lead to the point of suicidal ideation and attempts while extreme bouts of mania are marked by impulsive behavior, lack of sleep, elevated esteem, and even psychosis.
Fees
$190
First Session
$240
Family Therapy
$240
Couples Therapy
$130
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Family Session
Couples Session
Individual Session
Clientele
Parents
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Mindfulness Practices
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Attachment-Based Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Marriage and Family Therapy
Motivational Interviewing
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Training / Certifications
CAP, DBT, Forward Facing trauma, Psychopharmocology
Licensure
FL, LMHC, MH10697
Education
MS Psychology, BS English Literature and Psychology, CAP
Work History
I began working with Victims of Domestic violence, in support of non-profit Organization No more tears. I became an expert witness testifying in court for victims of DV. I went into private practice, working with institute for essential change, as a sex therapist working with issues related to gender, sexuality and sex addictions/co-dependency. I began working with DUI program for Broward County and JFS Broward. I was in charge of the outpatient evening. I then got involved with Substance abuse work as a therapist in a Detox/Residential Facility, and eventually I served as clinical Director for the facility. I am certified in DBT as well as forward facing trauma treatment. Currently, I am passionate about issues surrounding sexuality, co-dependency, and survivors of trauma. I also work extensively with substance abuse and co-occuring disorders.
Location
3250 NE 1st Av, MIAMI, 33137, FL