National Board Certified Counselor Florida Licensed Mental Health Counselor Board Approved Counselor Intern Supervisor
Welcome! I work with clients experiencing stress in relationships, the workplace, and the legal system, and due to substance abuse, co-dependency, chronic illness, disability, or caregiver-related issues. I also enjoy helping people who feel as though they’ve hit a brick wall in life and can’t seem to find their way around it. In times of significant stress, we sometimes forget that the best way around a challenge is to just go through it and to trust that we will come out intact on the other side.
My education, personal and work experiences:I came to the counseling profession in mid-life after spending a number of years practicing law, performing music, and managing organizations in the retail, non-profit, public and private sectors. My Master’s Degree in Counseling is from Rollins College, my law degree from Florida State University; I also have a Master’s Degree in Music from Ohio State University. I’ve had advanced training in family mediation, diversity facilitation, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, Reiki (healing touch), and counselor supervision. Throughout my career I’ve used logic, humor, empathy and incisive questioning to help my colleagues and clients see beyond their limitations and envision their possibilities. Successfully managing a physical disability from birth and using a wheelchair for mobility have promoted a strong sense of personal agency and resiliency that I model for my clients.
My counseling philosophy is strengths-based with a focus on mindful, one day at a time living. As a result of our work together, you will be able to clarify what it is about your challenging situation that you can change and what must be accepted; to remember that you don’t have to like your circumstances in order to accept them; and to recall and marshal your personal strengths, innate resilience, positive support systems and sense of purpose to support you as you move toward health, wholeness and the ability to touch the lives of others in a positive, supportive way.
Hours of availability: In general I see clients Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 10 am and 7 pm. I accept these insurances: Cigna, ComPsych, Humana LifeSynch, MHN, MHNet and Value Options (Military One Source clients). Your insurance carrier may have out of network benefits for employee assistance plan and mental health services. I do bill insurance, except for Health Spending Accounts. You are responsible for deductibles and co-pays at the time of service. My out-of-pocket rate is $100 per hour, and a sliding fee scale may be available in limited circumstances.
Forms for New Clients - After an appointment is made, you can save time by downloading, printing and completing the following forms prior to your first visit. Bring the completed forms with you. All of the forms will download with the following PDF document: New Client Information
Contact me at (407)242-2956 or at Suellen@CounselingFL.com to set an appointment! If you’re looking forward to moving ahead with your life, I look forward to hearing from you!
