Meet Our Counselors

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Tonya  is a Clinical Director and co-founder of Phoenix Wellness Center. With  an undergraduate degree from Grand Canyon University and a Master's  Degree in Counseling from Northern Arizona University, she 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.  

Melissa is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master’s degree  in Counseling. She addresses a range of clinical issues including:  trauma, abuse/neglect, parenting skills, anxiety, depression, stress,  grief and loss, life transitions, relationship issues, anger management,  and unhealthy behaviors. Melissa is a military veteran and has  experience working with first responders and military families. She is  trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement  Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness, and the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT). She  works with all ages and has evening and weekend appointments available.   

 Derek is a Licensed Master of Social Work in Arizona. He received his  Master of Social Work Degree from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.  The majority of his professional experience includes working with  individuals, youth, and families.  Derek takes a strength based approach  to therapy keeping a systems perspective including family in the  environment and acknowledging a client centered approach as well.   Derek's approach is informed by therapeutic modalities which include:  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help client with cognitive  distortions and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and mindfulness  based interventions. 

Carli is a Licensed Associate Counselor and graduated with a Professional Counseling Master’s Degree from Grand Canyon University. She works with individuals struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem, behavioral issues, as well as relationship and adjustment concerns. Carli works from a strengths-based and client-centered framework by encouraging and helping clients explore strengths within themselves to address their issues. Therapy modalities include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Reality Therapy, Mind-Body connection, and Mindfulness techniques. She works with teenagers (ages 16 and up) and adults. Carli is available weeknights and Saturdays by appointment. 

Denise is a Licensed Associate Counselor in the state of Arizona. She has her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University. She is an EMDR trained therapist and has experience utilizing somatic experiencing (SE), psychodrama and other experiential techniques in the treatment of developmental trauma, grief and loss, addiction, depression, and anxiety. Her therapeutic style supports a gentle, patient and experiential approach to self-understanding that is holistic-focusing on mind, body and soul-while encouraging clients to recognize strengths, identify goals and believe in their capacity to obtain healing, personal growth and maturational wisdom. Denise works with adults and is available for evening and weekend appointments.

Jasmin  is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of  Arizona. She has a Master's degree in Marriage  and Family Therapy from California State University of Dominguez Hills. Jasmin has been  trained and certified in Zero to 5 and perinatal mental health. Jasmin  also has additional training in seeking safety and Trauma Focused -CBT.  Jasmin has experience working with adolescents with severe mental illness, mothers who have experienced post postpartum  depression and transitioning within their new roles. Jasmin's clients  include adults, children of all ages including 0-5 and adolescents,  families, and couples. Jasmin provides Sunday and weekday appointments.  

Tiffany  is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.  Tiffany is a Registered Play Therapist and uses the healing power of play for  clients of all ages. She addresses a wide range of clinical issues including:  trauma, anxiety, depression, abuse/neglect, parenting skills, and  behavioral issues. She is a Certified Family Trauma Professional and  uses modalities including EMDR,  Trauma Focused-CBT, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive  Behavioral Therapy  (CBT). She works with individuals on the Autism spectrum and is trained  in Applied  Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and behavioral modification.  Tiffany is available for appointments to see children of all ages,  adolescents, families, and adults.   

 Tara is a Licensed Master of Social Work in Arizona, and received her  Master of Social Work degree from Arizona State University.  The  majority of her professional experience includes working with both adult  and child survivors of interpersonal trauma, sexual abuse,  posttraumatic stress, chemical dependency, depression, and anxiety. She  is person-centered, strengths-based, Her approach is informed by therapeutic modalities to  include: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive  Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and  Mindfulness-based interventions. Tara is available for evening and  Saturday appointments

 LeAnn  is a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC), who graduated from Grand Canyon University with a Master of Science in Professional Counseling.  LeAnn works with adolescents (ages 13 and older), families  and adults, including the SMI population, veterans and active military personnel. LeAnn works with anxiety, depression, behavioral challenges, trauma, self-esteem,  PTSD, relational concerns, adjustment concerns, and chemical dependency.  Some modalities that LeAnn is experienced in include; Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement  Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT),  Schema therapy techniques, Solution Focused, Motivational Interviewing,  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and 12-Step. 

 Leah is a licensed master’s level social worker (LMSW) and graduated from Arizona State University. Leah works with adults who are working on concerns with anxiety, depression, trauma, attachment, codependency, relationships, life transitions, anger management, unhealthy behaviors, and grief and loss.  She draws from a variety of frameworks with a focus on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Mindfulness. Leah offers the option of having Millie, a medium-sized Goldendoodle, and a Certified Therapy Dog, be included in the sessions. Research has shown that animals can be beneficial in helping those who struggle with mental health concerns. 

 Shelby  is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. She has a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from East Carolina  University. She is trained in PREPARE/ENRICH (Premarital and Marriage assessment and counseling), Motivational Interviewing,  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and the Matrix Model (substance abuse  treatment model). She treats anxiety,  depression, couple/family communication issues, and substance abuse. She works with individuals, couples, families, adults, teens and children over 5. 

Elaine is a Licensed Associate Counselor with a Master of Science in Professional Counseling. She is experienced using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), and Narrative Therapy. She also has additional training in nutritional integration with mental health and aims to treat clients from a holistic perspective. She works with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, body image concerns, relationship issues, stress, grief, and life transitions. She works with ages 16 and up, individuals and couples.   She has evening appointments available.

Amanda is  a Licensed Associate Counselor in Arizona and has a Master's degree in  Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Phoenix. She is  a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), a Certified Clinical  Trauma Specialist- Family (CCTSF), and incorporates her knowledge of the  effects of trauma, neurobiology, and the mind-body connection into her  therapeutic approach. She is trained in EMDR, Sand Tray therapy,  Conscious Discipline, and is in her final year of the Harris Institute's  Infant/Family Clinical Practice Certificate program. Amanda uses a trauma-informed lens and works with adults, adolescents, and children 5 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.