As a Marriage and Family Therapist I work with individuals, couples, and families from a systemic point of view. I work with clients to figure out where the various puzzle pieces fit inside their lives and relationships. I have earned a Masters and PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy, and along the way have taken extra training in a variety of areas.

Clients come to me to work on issues of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, anger management concerns, recovering from sexual assault/sexual abuse, and for exploring issues of sexual identity or sexuality issues. I am comfortable working with individuals, couples, and entire families — and I am comfortable working with adolescents and adults. I am in-network with several insurance panels.

In working with couples, I primarily utilize the Gottman Method Couples Therapy. This approach to therapy is one of the most well researched and effective approaches to helping couples resolve issues, increase connection, improve communication, and gain a better understanding of how relationships work.

When I am not in the office, you can usually find me hanging out at home, tending the garden, collecting eggs from the chickens, caring for our goats, harassing our dogs and cats, or harassing my very patient wife and very tolerant adult children. I sometimes get to play golf (and sadly lose A LOT of balls). And I enjoy working with various local groups such as the Human Rights Coalition of Alachua County, the Human Rights Council, the PRIDE Center, and working to help make our community a safe place for all people.

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While working at the Refuge House Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center she realized her passion for working with adult and children survivors of abuse and trauma.

She is passionate about helping individuals create a positive change in their lives. She is committed to listening, learning and assisting clients to achieving their goals.

She has a genuine desire to help individuals navigate challenges and achieve emotional well-being. She is dedicated to creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients can openly express themselves.

Vanessa Bain received her Bachelors degree in Social Work From Thomas University and her Masters in Social Work from Florida State University.

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My professional background is in community agency settings providing outpatient individual therapy and group therapy services for a diverse population of adult individuals with mental health concerns ranging from mild to severe. I have case management experience, and I am able to assist clients experiencing encounters with the law, child protective services, homelessness, and other stressors experienced out in the community.

In 2017, I completed a Bachelor of Science degree in the area of Psychology at University of Florida. I then completed a Master of Arts in Counselor Education from University of Central Florida in 2021 and was a member of my local chapter of Chi Sigma Iota International Honor Society in Counseling. I am also a member of the Florida Mental Health Counselor’s Association. A fun fact about me is that before I became a counselor I worked in property management for seven years. After I got married, my husband and I decided it was time for us to focus on bigger dreams. So here I am, doing what I love most! Along with being a plant parent of more plants than I wish to divulge…

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Gina is passionate about helping others reach their mental health and addiction goals, live a healthy lifestyle and thrive in their relationships. She specializes in work with adults on anger management, addiction, communication, depression, anxiety, work with veterans and their families, LGBTQIA challenges/identity exploration, overcoming life challenges and fostering self-esteem. Her clinical work is supported through Erik Erickson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development, cultural competency, art therapy, DBT, CBT, trauma-informed CBT, Motivational Interviewing, strengths-based interventions and Person-centered Therapy.

Gina lives in the Gainesville, FL area with her now husband, their daughter and 2 guinea pigs. In her spare time, she is enjoying learning how to garden, sings in a local chorale, and loves scrapbooking, baking, yoga and walking/jogging for self-care.

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I have worked in the Human Services field for two decades. In that time, I have focused on individuals in the following settings: prisons and jails, community mental health, transitional housing programs, schools, and health care clinics. I use evidence-based interventions and a client-centered approach that carves out space for strengths and empowerment.

I have lived in many places, from Texas to Alaska and several in between, but I fought hard to land in Gainesville and am ecstatic to live somewhere with such an ideal balance of beauty and grit. Living in Florida for all its glory comes with many obstacles; historical and current oppressions, mosquitos, limited housing, and a political climate that can jeopardize ones sense of internal and external safety.

My Bachelor’s Degree was obtained in Human Services with a concentration in chemical dependency. For the last several years, I worked as a certified substance abuse counselor in Virginia, specializing in opioid use and harm reduction. In 2023 I graduated with my Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling with an emphasis on substance use disorders. After completing my clinical internship at Alachua County Crisis Center, I started a small local nonprofit named Released that supports those that have been incarcerated. As someone dedicated to the impact of trauma, I received my Trauma Counseling Certification from the University of Milwaukee and was certified in core competencies as an advocate with the Florida CoalitionAgainst Domestic Violence.

Many of us feel overwhelmed and isolated. As a counselor, I strive to hold a space of compassion to address your unique journey and process what you bring into the room using humor, silence, or gentle encouragement. I integrate mindfulness, cultural and community integration, art, and storytelling, usingFeminist, Gestalt, and Systems theories in my counseling practice.

I look forward to meeting you and building a genuine therapeutic relationship that allows for laughter, tears, and, most importantly, all the in-between moments of nuanced growth.

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Ely was born in Havana, Cuba and immigrated to Miami, Florida at an early age. She feels a personal responsibility to provide care for and advocate for clients who, like her, have faced systemic and interpersonal discrimination.

Ely’s primary approach to therapy is Existential Therapy, in conjunction with CBT, Person-Centered and some mindfulness interventions. Her goal as a clinician is to assist clients in discovering their own meaning and purpose in their lives, while also empowering clients to make significant changes.

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Dexter Rogers is a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist  Intern and a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern who’s goal is to create safe, affirming, and non-judgmental spaces. He wants his clients to feel safe to work on issues that feel difficult to approach and/or understand. He enjoys working with a wide range of clients. From adolescents and adults, to couples and families, Dexter is adept at working with a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, grief, and relationship concerns.

Dexter takes a systemic approach to counseling. When working together, you will be encouraged to explore yourself on an individual level, and also begin to discover how your relationships with others may be affecting you. He uses IFS (Internal Family Systems), narrative, and mindfulness-based interventions along with CBT/DBT skills. He believes these interventions encourage self-exploration and growth both internally and in relationships with family, friends, and partners. He welcomes clients from all backgrounds and stages of life. He is a sex-positive, LGBTQ+, kink, and poly affirmative therapist.

Before transitioning to counseling, Dexter was a high school educator and theater professional. His background enables him to incorporate unique skills and perspectives that facilitate improved familial and relational communication. He received his M.Ed. and Ed.S. degrees in Marriage and Family Counseling from the University of Florida in December 2020. There, he spent his clinical time working at UF Health Springhill providing counseling to a wide range of clients, both inpatient and outpatient.

Outside of work Dexter enjoys spending time with his family, friends, and cat, as well as watching TV and cooking.

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My name is Conor Mitchell. I am an artist and musician, a father and co-parent, and a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern. I believe in the power of therapy, mindfulness, mentorship, and ritual to change lives (they’ve certainly changed mine).

I am a two-time alumnus of the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Comparative Religions/English and a Specialist in Education/Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Counseling. I began my clinical experience in a residential addiction treatment center where I found deep satisfaction in service work and participating in the recovery efforts of inpatient and outpatient clients.

I have previously worked in various careers including art, poetry, music, and plenty of desk jobs. I also lived in Southeast Asia for several years studying meditation and contributing to sustainable architecture, farming, and cultural preservation efforts.

While joy in life is a birthright, it often lies dormant in the face of obstacles. I can help you encounter these obstacles to discover growth, opportunity, and a more accurate sense of self. I work with a broad spectrum of humans who may feel stuck or victimized in a variety of ways. I am trauma and addiction informed and affirming of all belief systems and identities. My goal is to tune into your inherent resilience, resourcefulness, and capacity for healing to turn wounds into gifts.

I look forward to discovering your innate genius and witnessing your growth. Together, we can co-create a therapeutic path forward that allows you to work through (as opposed to bypassing) what you find troubling, hurtful, or no longer useful.

Let’s find the next right step together.

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I began this kind of work volunteering on the crisis hotline at the Alachua County Crisis Center. The training I received there was person-centered: I view and respect you as a person to be listened to first, not as a diagnosis, symptom, or set of problems. I graduated from UF with a B.S. in Psychology, then a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling, during which I also worked as an intern therapist at the Crisis Center. I worked with clients with a wide range of identities and issues, but tended to focus on people with trauma and personality and/or mood disorders (these often come hand-in-hand).‍

The work I do is integrative, holistic, and relational. I view you as a whole person, and this includes the body, mind, emotions, relationships, cultural background, and present relationship with larger systems. I’m influenced by somatic therapies, DBT, Relational-Cultural Therapy, mindfulness-based therapies, and Gestalt. My approach is trauma-informed, LGBTQIA+ affirmative, and social justice oriented.

‍Before being a therapist, I’ve been a transcriptionist, a lab technician, a delivery driver, a freelance musician, a bartender, and worked in several kitchens. Outside of work, I enjoy listening to and playing music, spending time outdoors, yoga, cooking, reading obscure books, spoiling my darling cat, and loving the people I love.

Healing, growth, and change are part of living – and so is the pain, suffering, and trauma that get in the way of that. Working together, we can find and encourage the version of you who experiences freedom, ease, and joy, and overcome harmful beliefs, patterns, and experiences. Please feel free to reach out and I wish you the best!

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