About Me
What are you all about?
My name is Mitzi. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Miami, Florida.
I did not grow up knowing much about mental health nor how to take care of my mind. I observed stress and trauma in myself and others and believed you just figured out how to deal with it as you grew older…..and I was totally wrong. While it is true that everyone has their own struggles along the way, we do not simply “get over it”. We can make changes that help us feel more resilient and secure. We see the world through the lenses of our experiences; sometimes those lenses can be foggy, messy or intrusive. Although we may not be able to change what’s in front or ahead of us, we can try to change the way we care for ourselves. Will I push you to see things through rose-colored glasses? Absolutely not; sometimes things are just not positive or easily fixed. Sometimes we just need the space to be sad in a safe way and sometimes we want to see things differently. I hope to help you see that our pain can be temporary, and our strength can be permanent. We are often our own worst enemy & that can be pretty damn exhausting. Isn’t it time we start giving ourselves a chance?
My reason for becoming a therapist is a pretty common response amongst therapists and that is: I have always been the listener of the group. I have always wanted to understand others. I feel my best when I can support others. The therapeutic relationship is one of the driving forces of progress. You should be able to be totally yourself in session. Your therapist should be unconditionally accepting, supportive, and trustworthy & I believe I can be all those things for you. Therapy should be a comfortable space that is all about you. Where else can we get that in life?
What is your approach to mental health?
My style is relaxed, approachable and value based. I believe you are the expert of your life and experiences, and it is my job to help guide you in feeling more confident of that. I want to learn what is important to you, from your beliefs, family life and goals, to your favorite book and food. I hope that whether we laugh, cry, or sit in silence, that you will gain some clarity, peace, motivation or insight from every session.
I aim to help you understand yourself and feel more connected to your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Sometimes our conversations may get difficult, awkward or uncomfortable. I will meet you where you are while gently moving towards your goals. While therapy should be challenging, you should never feel you have to run before you can walk. I make it a priority to incorporate coping skills and healthy habits that make sense for you and your lifestyle. It is also a priority to gain skills that will help us gain short term relief, as well as, long term relief.
We will work on skills to better your future, while practicing being present, as we understand your past. Sounds like a lot? I’ll be there to guide you through it. I encourage collaboration with any other health professionals or people in your support system that you wish to include. We will find your own definition of purpose & peace.
What is your education & experience?
I attained a Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Florida International University in 2015. I completed my internship at Switchboard of Miami and Family Counseling Services of Miami. I feel that my internship site was exactly what I needed as a baby therapist. I got to work with people of all different cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, genders, races, sexual orientations, and more. It truly drove the point home of how universal mental health care is. I provided individual counseling and group counseling. One of the most unique and rewarding opportunities I had during my internship was working in the crisis center. It was there that I experienced how vital it is to form a connection with someone.
For about 10 years, I worked in Applied Behavior Analysis. The primary populations I worked with were children & adolescents on the Autism Spectrum and with behavioral concerns. This job was equally challenging as it was rewarding. I got to work with amazing families of all types. Mental health advocacy became a huge role.
For the last few years, I have been working in private group practice providing individual counseling with children, adolescents and adults. I’ve had the honor of seeing people heal, grow and empower themselves. During the global pandemic, I have been able to expand my platform to online counseling. I recently began to focus mainly on individuals ages 18-35 experiencing anxiety and depression.
Credentials: MH 17339