Meet Our Counselors

---

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. 

Cara is a clinical counseling intern, 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.

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.    

Nikki is a counseling intern from Northern Arizona University working towards her 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.  

 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. 

Asunia is a Licensed Associate Counselor with a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University. Modalities include Humanistic Approach, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), and Motivational Interviewing.  Her style is working with individuals toward goal identification and providing the necessary tools to assist them in identifying & achieving their long- and short-term goals. Asunia works with teens, adults, and couples and is available for in-office and telehealth appointments. 

Coreen is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a  master's degree in Counseling from Argosy University. Coreen has experience and training working with adults experiencing thoughts disorders, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, traumatic life experiences, interpersonal-relationship challenges, co-occurring disorders, and more. Her approach is building comfort by living in the moment and aims to support you in evolving to connect with your true self, adapting unhelpful life strategies into more helpful methods. Coreen invites you to pause and reflect on your life through various modalities, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization, and Reprocessing (EMDR,) and various person-centered approaches. Coreen is available to see adults Saturday and Wednesday evenings, both in-person and telehealth.  

 Tamra is a counseling intern from Northern Arizona University working towards her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (a CACREP-accredited program). She has a bachelor’s degree in Applied Human Behavior and a minor in Sociology from Northern Arizona University. Tamra uses an integrated, trauma informed and client-centered approach with her clients. Therapy modalities can include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Mindfulness and Motivational Interviewing. Tamra strives to create an empathetic and non-judgmental environment to help create a safe space for clients to share and grow. She works with a variety of clinical issues including anxiety, depression, ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and career issues and goals. Tamra works with individuals and is LGBTQIA+ affirming. She is available for evening and weekend appointments and works in person and telehealth. 

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. Denise is an EMDR-trained therapist and a somatic experiencing practitioner (SEP) who enjoys utilizing 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. 

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. 

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. 

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.  

 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.   

 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.