Rooted in curiosity and in compassion, I offer a client-centered creative approach to personal growth, mental health and wellness. I work with a variety of individuals - tall and small, neurotypical and uniquely-wired, with- and without-chronic conditions &/or diagnoses. I offer tele-mental-health to adolescents, caregivers, transitioning adults, and folks of all ages and abilities impacted by chronic illness or condition. I am an aspiring healing artist with licenses to counsel, coach, and educate across the state of Ohio and in Florida. For more on who I am, what sorts of experience I have to offer, and areas of specialty - visit my website (www.MindfulMilestones.org) or request a 15 minutes consult.

Dealing with life’s many obstacles alone can be challenging. My hope is that I can help support you along that journey. Togetherness is described as a strength and courage. As an associate marriage and family therapist with a multicultural background and first a generation American I have been educated in a multitude of life’s perspective views. With over five years of experience working with CBT, PCT, SFBT, and narrative therapeutic modalities I’ve successfully worked with substance use disorder and behavioral health. My therapeutic process is person centered my goal is to walk along the side of you in support of your journey.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist that specializes in working with eating disorders, body image, depression, anxiety, and trauma. I use evidence-based treatments to help with various concerns and provide an empathetic and validating environment. I work hard for my clients and help hold them accountable to their goals. I work with clients starting at 13 years old and older and I am accepting of clients of various different backgrounds. I am currently accepting new clients both in-person and via Telehealth.

Emily's passion for mental health began when she was just a child who saw how much counseling helped those in her family. Since then, her passion has only grown for helping others respond to life and its challenges. Emily believes in the importance of building a strong relationship with her clients, understanding how their identities impact their lives, and ensuring that she is always learning and growing as a person and counselor.

From her experiences in an on-campus clinic and a hospital support center, Emily has developed an approach to counseling that combines Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Person Centered Therapy. While everyone has different therapeutic needs, Emily tends to draw mostly from these approaches. Emily's professional interests include grief and loss, anxiety, body image concerns, stress management, and life transitions.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over seven years of experience working with children, teens, and parents. "Enter into children's play and you will find the place where their minds, hearts, and souls meet." -Virginia Axline. I specialize in Child-Centered Play Therapy, a developmentally appropriate treatment modality for children that utilizes their natural mode of communication, play. I also utilize Expressive Arts, Family Systems, Strength-Based, and CBT.
I work primarily with children, teens, and young adults experiencing stress and anxiety, executive functioning deficits, identity confusion, mood disorders, grief and loss, and life adjustment challenges (i.e. separation/divorce). By providing a safe, non-judgmental environment, clients can effectively express, explore, and process their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I believe every client is equipped with a unique set of strengths and skills that can help them overcome adversity. By helping clients rework negative perceptions of events in their lives or of themselves, clients can move to a more regulated state.

I specialize in evidence-based practices, including CBT, DBT, and mindfulness-based theories, to help clients explore difficult emotions, challenge harmful thought patterns, and better manage stress and anxiety. As a proud two-time HBCU graduate (Spelman College and Howard University), I bring a wealth of experience from working in diverse settings such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, and virtually-based mental healthcare.

My expertise includes supporting individuals with eating disorders, developmental challenges like Autism and ADHD, and those navigating life’s complexities. I am especially passionate about uplifting and empowering Black women, considering it a true privilege to amplify our greatness and nurture healing and growth.

As a licensed clinical psychologist with experience both in general mental health and behavioral medicine, I offer a variety of services to individuals aged 18 and older. My specialty is in providing behavioral health services to promote positive lifestyle changes and improved quality of life. In journeying with patients toward health and well-being, I take into consideration biological, psychological, and social bases of health and disease. I value the opportunity to come alongside others in their pursuit of personal growth, insight, and change.

I draw from a variety of empirically based treatment modalities—tailoring my therapeutic approach to meet the needs of each of my patients. I also try to identify and address underlying factors that may be contributing to the more surface level problem(s), such as poor sleep, overbreathing, and/or nutritional deficiencies--making referrals to other medical professionals when indicated.

While some concerns benefit from getting to the root cause, I also work with my patients to address problematic thoughts and beliefs, clarify values, set goals, become more accepting, stay in the present moment, and improve problem solving skills. More important than any therapy approach, however, is the therapeutic relationship I strive to cultivate.

In addition to operating from a biopsychosocial lens, I am attuned to the spiritual needs of my patients. Although I work with individuals from any religious/non-religious or cultural background, I specialize in Christian integration—incorporating a Biblical perspective when requested. I also have an interest in integrating psychology and technology and promote the use of mental health mobile apps.

Caroline received her BA in psychology from Cornell University and her MA with academic distinction in clinical mental health counseling from Northwestern University. She is currently a registered mental health counseling intern with the state of Florida, working under the supervision of Sarah Watt, LMHC. Prior to pursuing the counseling field, she spent ten years in the northeast building experience in the culinary, nonprofit, and business worlds. This gave her invaluable perspective that she could not have gotten had she entered the counseling field right away. At the end of 2019, she felt called back to the area of mental health and to her hometown of Ocala, FL where she lives with her daughter. She has experienced the positive impact of quality counseling in her own life, and strives to provide this for each of her clients. She is passionate about the power of the therapeutic relationship and the growth that can occur when we nurture our minds.

You are motivated, yet having trouble getting results like you used to. A perfectionist, but feeling like you're stuck. You may even feel like taking care of yourself is something you've been putting off for a bit longer than you would like. Whether it's anxiety, trauma or everyday stressors, you're in a place where you no longer want to be, and you need some compassionate accountability to help you navigate through. This courageous step you're about to take is one that will take you on a journey to knowing yourself better. And the truth is, you DO deserve to work towards that best version of yourself, all you need is some support!

As your therapist, I can help you keep all the things you love about yourself and adapt them to your current circumstances. As one who specializes in treating anxiety and trauma, I will help you lean into discomfort while facing the things that have brought you feelings of overwhelm and frustration. Providing compassionate accountability is my jam!

I understand that procrastination or nervousness might be an obstacle to start this journey of therapy, but I believe that because you've been through difficult things, you can come out on the other side as a more whole version of yourself. On the other side of your fear can be that breath of fresh air you've been needing. So, let's jump into the work together!

www.samanthaspeed.com

Hi, thanks for reading my Bio! I've been a psychologist now for 30 years. Over that time, I've helped more than 10,000 people. This is my 3rd career - I started as a Domino's Pizza manager, then a computer programmer for IBM. I became a psychologist after seeing my own psychologist during a difficult divorce. I learned so much from that experience that I knew it was right for me - so I went back to school. I've also completed 90% of a post doctoral certificate in neuropsychology.

I find that most people I work with are interested in one of two kinds of therapy. First, some people are interested in problem solving / solution focused therapy - finding solutions to life's many problems. I use brain science and the design of human beings to develop creative shortcuts to these problems. I've created my own names for them, such as the 'what else' technique, or reverse psychologizing yourself, or the 3 P's of grieving, or the 'outside the box' technique.

Other people want to understand themselves at a deep level. Perhaps they find themselves making the same mistakes in life. Or they wonder 'how did I get here?' The want to understand their personality structure and to make deep, long lasting changes - to become, not necessarily happier, but more successful and satisfied with life. During this process, I describe what I consider to be 'the ultimate in mental health.'

And now you know ... The rest of the story!