Our Professional Counselors
Jodi Julien, DNP, AGNP
is originally from Kansas and has resided in Florida for over 20 years. She has specialized in addiction treatment and other mental health disorders for over 10 years. She began her career working as a Registered Nurse in substance abuse detoxification and has since completed her Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner and Doctorate in Nursing Practice. She currently works with individuals with substance use disorder, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other mental health disorders. Jodi also works in pain management and as a nursing instructor.
Deborah Gonzalez, Anger Management Counselor, Certified Parent Instructor, Relationship Coach, Master Life Coach, LLC
Life Coaching
Life Coaching is a profession that is different from consulting, mentoring, advice, therapy, or counseling. The coaching process addresses specific personal projects, business successes, general conditions and transitions in the client's personal life, relationships or profession by examining what is going on right now, discovering what your obstacles or challenges might be, choosing a great course of action to make your life be what you want it to be.
Cap "Therapy Dog with Aurelio Ayuso"
Therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort and affection to people who need healing, stress relief, or social interaction¹. They can visit a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, disaster areas, and more¹. They can help to improve the lives of other people by boosting morale, reducing anxiety and depression, and assisting with learning¹.
Therapy dogs are pets that improve your health by giving emotional support³. They can also visit a variety of settings, including retirement or nursing homes, schools, hospice homes, and hospitals³. They are trained to be gentle and friendly and to accept strangers hugging them or petting them³.
Research has shown that the presence of therapy animals can lower blood pressure, decrease anxiety, improve mood and foster feelings of support and confidence in humans⁴. Additionally, dogs can act as a jumping off point in therapy, breaking the ice and opening up the conversation by fostering a safe environment⁴.
It's important to note that therapy dogs are different from service dogs. Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks on behalf of their owners. They receive rigorous, high-end, task-oriented training aimed specifically at helping their owners cope with disabilities³.
Aurelio Ayuso, MSW, LCSW, CAP, ICADC
Aurelio specializes in the treatment of addiction, trauma, and abandonment using strength based strategies deeply rooted in solution focused, and mindfulness therapies. Aurelio is committed to the mental health and wellbeing of his clients and has been working with those that suffer from depression, anxiety, trauma, and addiction as well as couples and families for over 13 years.
Fluent in Spanish.
Lisette Perez, MS, LMHC
Lisette’s therapeutic approach to counseling is client centered, and she believes every client has the ability to improve their quality of life. She also provides individualized client centered therapy incorporating an eclectic style and incorporating cognitive behavioral therapies, solution focused and Gestalt therapy among others. She focuses on each client’s ability to reach self-actualization. Her specialties include pervasive mental illness, autism, child/parent relationship, teens, adults and more! She is also fluent in Spanish.
**Cindy Wilks-Vásquez, MSW, LCSW
Cindy Wilks-Vásquez partners with people to help them find their inner strengths and resilience in order to overcome life’s challenges and live a fulfilling life. She uses an integrative and strengths-based approach, using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Compassion-focused Therapy.
Telehealth Only
Fluent in Spanish and French.
Christy Mares, RMHCI
I'm Christy, a Registered Mental Health Intern with five+ years counseling experience. I am deeply passionate about helping people foster more satisfying relationships, heal from past wounds, and find practical and meaningful ways to live with more joy and freedom. To me, therapy is a place of profound listening, curiosity, attunement and courage. It is a place to learn and unlearn, to hold on and to let go. Individuals, couples and families come to me to work on relational issues, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, neglect and abuse, gender identity, fertility issues, miscarriage and
infant loss, seasonal affective disorder, COVID-19 emotional recovery, divorce, infidelity and difficulty in life transitions.
Erika Melecio, LMHC, MCAP
Erika specializes in the treatment of addiction, as well as several mental health disorders ranging from depression and anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, to PTSD, personality disorders, as well as psychotic disorders. Erika utilizes a number of modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness amongst others. Erika has been in practice for close to a decade and has earned her license in Mental Health Counseling, as well as being a Master’s Certified Addiction Professional. Erika has worked with many individuals including couples counseling and family therapy. Erika is also a fluent Spanish speaker.
Cherith Bounds, MSW, RCSWI
With a Master’s Degree in Social Work, a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, and experience as a certified Exceptional Student Education teacher, I am passionate about helping all individuals facing a variety of social and emotional challenges. I specialize in working with children, adolescents, and adults using a strength-based collaborative approach. If you are struggling with trauma, stress, depression, anxiety, social struggles, college and career challenges, LGBTQ+ related struggles, grief, loss, divorce, addiction, I can help you discover solutions and successful coping skills for a positive future.
Suzanne Sunkel, MA, NCC, EMDR therapist, Registered Mental Health Counselor, RMHCI.**
Do you ever feel stuck in a cycle of anxiety, depression, substance use, or reliving past traumas? We will walk together through your counseling journey by applying techniques and strategies which support your goals. Discovering patterns which no longer serve you can clear the way for the release of painful thoughts, memories, and habits. I enjoy collaborating with new and existing clients who seek a better understanding of themselves and the world around them. Let's navigate life's detours together. Our office serves Vero Beach and surrounding areas.
I utilize EMDR, cognitive behavioral therapy, solution focused therapy, nutritional influences, and Christian integration with clients. I collaborate with clients who are motivated to strategically shift through attitudes, behaviors, and feelings which increase stress.
I look forward to working together in a safe, confidential environment. Your goals and well-being are my primary focus.
Maybe we can put this at the end:
Kendalyn Lambert, Registered Mental Health Counselor, RMHCI
I’m so glad that you are here. Being human can often be painful,
lonely, and difficult. As a therapist, I honor the courage and vulnerability that it takes to reach out for support. It is no small task to look at the broken, painful parts of our lives. However, the choice to do so is also a choice to create meaningful change and to find healing.
Amanda Hoogkamp, Registered Mental Health Counselor, RMHCI
As you take a deep breath, know that you have already taken the hardest step towards change. Acknowledging that something needs to be different is a brave and important decision. Let me assist you in the rest of your journey. My approach to therapy is unique in that I integrate multiple types of therapy with each client. I believe in finding what works best for you and what brings the most change and help to your situation.
Therapy can be challenging as you navigate through uncomfortable emotions and experiences, but I am here to walk alongside you and support you through this journey. My experience ranges from working with individuals struggling with anxiety and depression to those who have experienced deep trauma and abuse.
Located in Hazlet, New Jersey
Danielle Parascondola, CAM
There are times in our lives where we experience anger and stress. Sometimes that anger will create a loss of self, family, friends, our jobs and even our health.
As a Certified Anger Management counselor, I want to help you identify those problems and explore ways you can express your anger with healthy behaviors. My experience also comes as a Crisis Counselor, helping people move from a hot to a cool place safely.
Ann "Anita" Kelly, MS, LMHC
Anita works in the downtown Orlando office and in the Hiawassee (Metrowest/Dr.Phillips) Orlando office. She facilitates weekend workshops at the Vero Beach office.
Ann "Anita" M. Kelly, is licensed with the State of Florida as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor # MH12491, She works with adolescent and adults in an individual, couples, family and group setting.