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.  

Vanessa is a clinical counseling intern, from Grand Canyon University. Her Bachelor's degree is in Communications and she completing her Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Professional Counseling. 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 and can provide services at a reduced rate. Vanessa has availability for evening appointments.

  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.  

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.   

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.  

 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.  

 Bryan  is a Licensed Associate Counselor in the state of Arizona. He has a  Master’s degree in Counseling from Arizona State University. Bryan has  completed additional training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical  Behavior Therapy (DBT), Experiential Play Therapy  for children, behavioral treatment of  chronic pain, treatment of  chronic anxiety, treating children and young adults with high-functioning autism, and emotionally focused therapy. He is a  military veteran and former first responder. Bryan’s clients include  adults and  adolescents.  Bryan also provides Saturday appointments.  Bryan sees clients via telehealth.

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 and takes Saturday appointments.

 Johnna is a Licensed Associate Counselor  with a Masters in Counseling from Arizona State University. She is a  trained EMDR therapist specializing in treating trauma, abuse, grief,  PTSD, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and emotional distress. Johnna works with adults, teenagers, and  children, and also has experience working with individualized concerns  faced by First Responders and Military families. She offers evening and  Saturday 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. 

 Christine is a Licensed Associate Counselor with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Christine is a Nationally Certified Counselor, as well as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. She assists clients with various life challenges and difficult situations. She welcomes clients of any age. Christine offers weeknight and Saturday appointments.

   Phil spent twenty-one years in the education field serving as a Teacher, Assistant Principal and Principal. After retiring from education, he earned his Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling from Ottawa University. Phil is a Licensed Associate Counselor and specializes in anxiety, grief and stress management. He is trained in Dialectical Based Therapy, EMDR, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Motivational Interviewing.  Phil also runs the Chill Skills group for 12-14 year olds and the Mindfulness Group on Saturdays for adults. 

Ambrose is a Licensed Master of Social Work in Arizona. They have a  Master’s degree in Social Work from Arizona State University. Ambrose utilizes a combination of trauma-informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy  and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with adults and adolescents. They specialize in working with individuals  with serious mental illnesses (SMI), Bipolar, Borderline Personality  Disorder, Major Depression, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety and  Panic Disorders, process addictions, and the LGBTQIA+ community. They are a non-binary clinician who provides gender  and sexual minority affirmative and inclusive mental health treatment. Ambrose provides Saturday appointments, and is available for both short-term and long-term therapy.   

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 is trained  in EMDR and Sand Tray therapy. She incorporates her knowledge of the  effects of trauma, neurobiology, and the mind-body connection into her  person-centered therapeutic approach. Amanda 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.