Meet Our Counselors

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Tonya is a Clinical Director and co-founder of Phoenix Wellness Center. She has an undergraduate degree from Grand Canyon University and a master’s degree in counseling from Northern Arizona University. Tonya works with adults, couples, teens, and children with a variety of mental health concerns. She is a certified EMDR therapist and has additional training in trauma and interventions for children. Tonya recently completed training in ERP, an evidence-based treatment for OCD. Tonya also enjoys mentoring and supervising interns who are on their way to being licensed therapists. You will often see her therapy dog-in-training, Watson, with her in sessions. 

Janel is a co-founder and Clinical Director of Phoenix Wellness Center.  She has a Master's Degree in Counseling from Arizona State University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Arizona.  Janel is a registered clinical supervisor with AZBBHE and primarily focuses on training and clinical supervision.  Janel's clinical specialties included EMDR and interpersonal modalities.  She specializes in trauma, attachment, substance use, and loves working with other mental health professionals.

Vonyee is a Licensed Associate Counselor from Liberia, West Africa.  She has spent the last 15 years in the education system as an educator and the past 4 years in the mental health field.  Vonyee graduated with a Master's degree in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University.  She is trained in EMDR, CBT, ACT, grief, mindfulness, and substance abuse.  Vonyee works with kids 5 and up, adults, and couples.  She is available Monday through Friday and every other Saturday.

Susan is a Licensed Associate Counselor with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grand Canyon University. Modalities include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Person-Centered, and Motivational Interviewing.  Susan focuses on working with individuals and meeting them at their level of readiness for change and toward goal identification and providing the necessary tools to assist them in identifying & achieving skills to live a productive life. Susan works with adolescents, teens, and adults. Susan is available for telehealth appointments. 

Cara is a Licensed Associate Counselor from Grand Canyon University. Her bachelor’s degree is in Elementary Education, and she is working towards her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Cara uses a person-centered approach to best serve her client’s needs. She provides a safe, nonjudgmental, and compassionate environment for her clients to explore personal growth. Cara hopes to help each client flourish, achieve their goals, and live a balanced life. She enjoys working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. Cara believes in the power of authentic connection and collaboration to facilitate empowerment and growth.

Nikki is from Northern Arizona University with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Biological Sciences from Arizona State University. Nikki aspires to create a welcoming and safe space for clients of all ages and backgrounds. She uses a multicultural, client-centered, trauma-responsive framework to empower her clients and help them live authentically. Additionally, Nikki utilizes an integrated approach including, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Mindfulness. Nikki has experience working with depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, BIPOC issues, LGBTQIA+ issues, fatphobia, intergenerational trauma, and more. Through her work as a counselor, Nikki collaborates with her clients to provide treatment best suited to their individual needs, wants, and goals. She is available in person or via telehealth and offers afternoon and evening appointments.  

Amber is a counseling intern from Grand Canyon University working towards her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Northern Arizona University with a minor in Sociology along with a master’s degree from Arizona State University in Family and Human Development. Amber uses an eclectic approach and draws from mindfulness-based therapies, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and person-centered therapy. She strives to create a safe place for clients by cultivating a non-judgmental, open, and accepting environment and she is LGBTQIA+ affirming. Amber works with a variety of mental health concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, and career issues. Her goal is to help clients learn and implement healthy coping strategies and empower them to make positive changes to live authentic and well-balanced lives. Amber has availability on Saturdays and on the evenings during weekdays. 

Mia is a counseling intern pursuing her Master's degree in clinical mental health counseling at Grand Canyon University. With a genuine passion for assisting individuals in discovering and harnessing their unique strengths to craft lives they genuinely adore, Mia is eager to make a positive impact in the mental health field.

Mia's professional journey is enriched by her diverse background, which includes experience in teaching and working closely with children who have developmental disabilities. This diverse background has honed her interpersonal skills and instilled in her a deep sense of empathy and understanding that she brings to her counseling practice. Diversity, patience, and mindfulness are at the core of Mia's approach to counseling. She believes in the importance of embracing individual differences and fostering an environment of inclusivity where clients can feel safe and supported in their personal growth journeys.  Mia is excited to learn and grow as a counselor and is looking forward to serving her clients.

Nicolle is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Arizona State University. She works with clients of all ages including children, adolescents, adults, families, and individuals. As a Marriage and Family Therapist, she is dedicated to helping both individuals and families gain skills centered around family relationship dynamics with a strength based, multi-perspective lens on the family system. She incorporates her background in public health to provide trauma informed and mindful components of care to clients facing life transitions, chronic illness, anxiety, depression, anger, and self-esteem challenges. Her mission is to support clients reach self and family optimization through establishing attainable and reasonable goals. Nicolle is available for in-person and telehealth appointments in the evenings and on weekends. 

Jen is a Licensed Associate Counselor and graduated with a Master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University. Jen is a Certified Trauma Professional and an EMDR-trained clinician. Jen has been trained in DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), Sandtray, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Jen specializes in addressing “little t” and “big T” trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, and life changes in a warm, welcoming environment. Jen works with kids (6 and up) and adults. She is available Monday through Thursday and offers evening appointments. 

Heather has a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grand Canyon University. A Certified Trauma Professional, she utilizes a client-centered, strengths-based, integrated approach to help clients work toward meaningful goals. Heather has training and experience in Exposure Response Therapy (ERP), an evidence-based treatment for OCD. She has experience with anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, and transitions across the lifespan.  A preschool and kindergarten teacher for over ten years, Heather incorporates psychoeducation and mindfulness into the therapeutic relationship and strives to cultivate an atmosphere that is warm, non-judgmental, and accepting.  Heather works with all genders and ages, specializing in teens, and is LBGTQ+ allied and affirming.    

Vanessa has a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University. Her style is to support you in recognizing your own strengths, processing your thoughts and emotions, while empowering you with great coping skills. Vanessa has a warm and non-judgmental approach to create a safe space for you to share. Vanessa works with children, adults, couples and families. Vanessa has availability for evening appointments.

 Amorita has master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grand Canyon University. Her style is providing a non-judgmental approach while empowering you with good coping skills. She specializes in treating adults with a variety of issues as well as couples.  Her goal is to help you utilize the best version of yourself and be given tools to help you be successful in any area of your life.  

Amber is a counseling intern and is currently working on her master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Grand Canyon University. She earned her bachelor's in Secondary Education from Arizona State University and taught middle school social studies for six years. Amber works with her clients utilizing a mix of Person-Centered and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approaches to tackle important problems such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, LGBTQIA+ issues, post-partum depression, and trauma. Amber has experience working with adolescents and works to foster a positive and collaborate relationship with her clients that respects and honors their values, culture, race, sexuality, and gender identity. Amber is available weekday evenings. 

 Tiffany is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist, Certified Family Trauma Professional, and has a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling. Tiffany is trauma-focused and strength based. She strives to understand and meet all her client's individual needs. She works with a variety of clinical issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, ADHD, anger, life transitions, and social skills. Tiffany has experience with neurodiversity including working with individuals on the Autism spectrum, individuals with alternative lifestyles, and the LGBTQ+ community. She is available for telehealth appointments and works with adults.    

 Irene is a Licensed Master Level Social Worker (LMSW) with over 18 years of working with families and children.  She utilizes a strength-based trauma-informed approach and is passionate about early childhood mental health, the parent/child relationship, attachment & trauma healing, and recovery.  Irene offers a safe non-judgmental environment using a variety of methods that will meet the individual needs of the children, families, or adult seeking help.  Irene offers Parent-Child relationship therapy, Child/Parent Psychotherapy, EMDR, Play Therapy, Sandtray Therapy, and Mindfulness.  Irene  is available for telehealth appointments during the week and in-office appointments on Saturday for ages 5 and up.   

Treasure is a counseling intern from Northern Arizona University working towards her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She has a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Psychology from Northern Arizona University. Treasure strives to create a space where people feel comfortable and safe opening up about themselves and their experiences. She utilizes a client centered, multicultural, and trauma informed approach to meet her clients where they are at and help them heal and move towards their goals. Treasure utilizes an eclectic approach applying Mindfulness techniques, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI). Treasure has experience working with LGBTQIA+ issues, domestic violence, anxiety, trauma, life transitions and other life issues. Treasure meets each person where they are in their journey and tailors each session to individual needs.  

 John is a Licensed Associate Counselor in the State of Arizona. He has a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Cleveland State University CACREP-accredited program and has experience using Motivational Interviewing and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in the treatment of chemical dependence, trauma, anxiety and depression. He works primarily through a Cognitive-Behavioral, Humanistic and Existential framework but holds strong interests in mindfulness and the incorporation of creative arts into the process of healing and self-discovery. John works with adolescents and adults of all ages.  John has daytime and evening appointments available.

Rhonda is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary. She works with teens, adults, couples, families, and individuals.  As a Marriage and Family Therapist, she is passionate about helping restore relationships, she cares deeply about helping her clients find healing, wholeness, and balance. She has experience working with relationship issues such as attachment, life transition, communication, couples, and parenting challenges as well as self-acceptance, depression, and spirituality all from strength based, goal oriented, and trauma informed perspectives. She is available for evening and weekend appointments.

Amanda is a Licensed Associate Counselor in Arizona and has a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from University of Phoenix. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), a Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist- Family (CCTSF), and completed the Harris Institute Infant/Family Clinical Practice Certificate program. She is trained in EMDR, Sand Tray therapy, and the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT). She incorporates her knowledge of trauma, neurobiology, and the mind-body connection into her person-centered therapeutic approach. Amanda works with adults, adolescents, and children 5 years of age and older. 

 Dr. Winston is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Arizona. She received her Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA and her Ph.D in Human Development from Virginia Tech University. She provides care for couples, families, individual adults, children and teens, with a variety of presenting problems. She specializes in working with clients struggling with depression, low self-esteem, adjustment issues, couples communication and intimacy issues, military families and a range of childhood difficulties. Dr. Winston also specializes in gender and diversity issues.  

 Carli is a Licensed Associate Counselor and has a Master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University. She works with individuals experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem, and relationship concerns. Carli works from a strengths-based perspective, empowering clients to live a healthy, balanced, and authentic life. She utilizes Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical-Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help clients create awareness and positive change. She works with teenagers (ages 16 and up) and adults. Carli is available on  weeknights and Saturdays by appointment.