Our Counselors

Dr. Brett Engle, PhD, LCSW

** Dr. Engle offers sessions in English and Spanish

Dr. Brett Engle is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Florida and has been a therapist for over 20 years. He is a motivational interviewing trainer and trauma specialist. Dr. Engle treats emotional disturbances of all kinds, many of which are based in traumatic experiences.

Dr. Engle obtained his bachelors in psychology and masters in social work from Boise State University. He received his PhD in social Welfare at Florida International University and was awarded a National Institute of Health grant to complete his dissertation on adolescent commitment language as a predictor of therapeutic outcomes. Dr. Engle taught clinical social work classes for over 10 years and has been an Assistant Professor at the FIU Wertheim College of Medicine since 2009. He has published over a dozen peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters and presented at numerous conferences, including as a grand rounds and keynote speaker.

Anyone who wants to be free of the effects of a traumatic past or from negative emotions that seem to come out of nowhere is encouraged to contact Dr. Engle directly. Dr. Engle utilizes person-centered, strengths-based, and experiential mindfulness-based treatment interventions designed to impact the unconscious mind, i.e., the way a person automatically thinks, feels, and reacts. He directly targets emotional change rather than expecting the client to first make behavioral changes in order to benefit from therapy.

Dr. Engle's specialties:

• Trauma
• Anxiety, including generalized anxiety, phobias and panic disorders
• Anger
• Depression
• Wellness and performance

Dr. Marcela Mejia, PsyD

** Services are offered in English and Spanish
** Individual and Couples Therapy 

Doctor Marcela Mejia is a licensed psychologist, in the state of Florida, specializing in helping adolescents and adults understand and manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Florida International University and her Doctorate of Psychology, with Utmost Distinction, from Albizu University.

Dr. Mejia utilizes cognitive behavioral, solution-focused, strength-based, mindfulness-based, and humanistic approaches to therapy. She focuses on each individual holistically, studying the client’s point of view at all stages of the treatment through assessment of their current emotional and mental state. She is committed to providing a nurturing environment and helping clients develop coping skills so they can unlock their creativity and thrive, becoming the best version of themselves.

There are times in life when we face personal, professional, or relationship challenges that can leave us feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about ourselves or our choices. Dr. Mejia offers her knowledge, experience, and expertise to help you find peace of mind, unload your suffering and pain, renew your sense of hope and freedom, and make healthy choices to move toward a full, authentic, and harmonious life.

Dr. Mejia’s specialties:

• Depression
• Anxiety / Stress
• Trauma and PTSD
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Eating Disorders
• Anger management & Communication
• Relationship issues
• Grief / Loss
• Drug and Alcohol Addiction / Abuse
• Coping with Life transitions (i.e., divorce, becoming a care giver, job loss, re-establishment sense of self / identity)

Edna PetitHomme, PMHNP

**Edna offers mental health services in Haitian-Creole

Philosophy of Care

Edna PetitHomme is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in the state of Florida. Her education includes a Doctorate in Nursing Practice and a Master’s in Family Medicine from Florida Atlantic University. She received her Post master’s Certificate in Psychiatry at Florida State University.

She has training and experience treating and monitoring patient with psychiatric disorders. She has worked in community mental health serving and advocating for jailed individuals. Edna possess strong clinical skills enhanced by her ability to build rapport with patients. Edna follows evidenced based guidelines with clinical experience.

She is passionate about providing compassionate, quality, and comprehensive mental health services to her patients. Edna seeks to establish a caring relationship with you in order to improve your quality of life.

Education

Florida Atlantic University and Florida State University
DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC

Specialties

• Depression
• Bipolar Disorder
• Behavioral issues
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Panic Disorder
• Eating Disorders

She sees adult clients for mental health evaluations and medication management.

She has worked in community mental health serving and advocating for jailed individuals.

Including brief psychotherapy and prescribing mental health medications if indicated.

Gladys Amador, LMHC, NCC

** Services are offered in English and Spanish

Gladys Amador is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and National Certified Counselor in Florida. In 2014 she graduated from Barry University, a CACREP qualified university in Miami Shores Florida. Since then, she refined her practice at Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital as a practicum student and later honed her skills at a non-profit in Miami-Dade County.

Gladys speaks both English and Spanish fluently and can provide individual therapy in the language of your heart. Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey to Cuban parents, she grew up in South Florida as a first generation American. Her expertise include a broad spectrum of disorders from serious mental illness of paranoid schizophrenia to adjustment disorders, grief, anxiety, depression and family separation to name a few. She has worked with indigent clients, the homeless, professionals, the elderly, college students, relapse prevention/substance misuse clients among others. One of her passions includes group facilitation where she led anger management and life skills sessions at forensic alternative and women’s rehabilitation treatment centers.

She is a 200-hour certified yoga instructor with Yoga Alliance and believes whole-heartedly that connection is the cure. Gladys loves to dance, spend time with friends and family, and do all things water – swimming, kayaking, boating, skiing.

A true professional in the mental health field, Gladys invests countless hours polishing and practicing the human/healing arts to support people find and refine their passions.

Gladys’ specialties include:

• Mood disorders
• Dual diagnosis
• Women’s issues
• Couples/Relationship/Family therapy
• Trauma-informed care
• Addictions
• Anxiety/Stress
• Depression
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Motivational Interviewing
• Narrative Therapy

Ivy Lee, PMHNP

Philosophy of Care

Ivy Lee is a psychiatric nurse practitioner in the state of Florida. Ivy has started out as a patient technician at a drug rehab facility, moved to in-patient psychiatric hospital, and started working as a bedside nurse for two years. While being a bedside nurse for two years, Ivy has completed her master’s degree at Florida International University for her ARNP.

Ivy’s practice philosophy is to be holistic and individualize treatment. She wants to create a trusting relationship with her patients so that she can provide the best treatment. Ivy wants to provide a safe space for her clients, while maintain a professional environment.

Education

Florida International University
PMHNP

Specialties

• Medication Management

Kristi Gannon, LCSW

Kristi Gannon is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in both the state of Virginia and Florida. Kristi currently offers telehealth sessions only for both of those states. Kristi completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Northern Illinois University and received her Master’s degree in Social Work from Aurora University.

Kristi has worked with diverse adult populations with different backgrounds throughout her career, including both on an individual basis and with couples. She has undergone specialized training to be recognized as a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional by the ICATP. Kristi understands that no single approach to therapy works for every individual, and therefore integrates a variety of therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral, person-centered therapies, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness techniques to help clients achieve their desired goals.

Kristi is passionate about the work she does with her clients and uses a collaborative approach to empower clients in taking control of their own recovery. She offers an empathic, non-judgmental, and safe atmosphere that promotes growth and healing.

Kristi’s specialties include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Mood disorders
• Psychotic disorders
• Trauma
• Addictions
• Stress Management
• Relationship problems

Leonie Sistrat, PMHNP-BC

** Leonie offers psychiatric mental health services in Creole

Philosophy of Care 

Leonie Sistrat is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in the state of Florida who is a highly motivated, dedicated and compassionate nursing professional with over 10 years of experience delivering quality patient-centered care. She obtained her degree in Nursing from Broward College, a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing and a Master of Science degree in Nursing from Walden University.

She is an outcome focused Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who ensures the provision of comprehensive, integrated care to maintain and optimize good mental health outcomes. Leonie is highly proficient in integrating critical thinking and sound clinical judgement to effectively manage routine and emergency psychiatric issues, with a sustained emphasis on safety and quality of care. She has experience in providing psychiatric care to clients across the lifespan and providing safe and evidence-based medication management.

Leonie strives to cultivate a strong and trusting patient/provider relationship that improves the mental health and wellness of diverse patient populations. Leonie’s specialties include diagnosing and treating clients with:

Education

Walden University
Master of Science

Specialties

• Depression
• Anxiety
• ADHD
• Bipolar disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Adjustment disorders
• PTSD

Marion Codling, PMHNP

Philosophy of Care

Marion is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C) that treats clients across the lifespan. Marion has extensive experience working with and treating patients with a variety of behavioral, emotional, and mental health disorders. In addition to medication management, Marion incorporates an innovative approach of treatment that focuses on treating the “Mind, Body and Spirit,” to meet her client's mental, physical, and spiritual needs. Marion has extensive training in crisis stabilization of acutely ill clients requiring hospitalization, as well as those in an outpatient clinical setting. Marion’s expertise includes but is not limited to diagnosing, treating, and prescribing medication for Depression, Anxiety, Mood Disorders, ADD/ADHD, Psychotic Disorders, Cognitive Disorders, and Substance Use Disorders.

Marion has over 20 years of working as a Mental Health Registered nurse and now as PMHNP/FNP and she prides herself on having the ability to build a genuine rapport with her patients while providing outstanding patient-centered care. Marion incorporates the holistic approach by educating her clients on making lifestyle changes to improve self-care and promote wellness. When combined with psychotherapy and psychotropic medication, her clients can lead a healthier and more productive life. Rest assured that Marion will provide outstanding, individualized, and quality patient-centered care while adhering to clinical practice guidelines.

Education

Chamberlain University
Master's in Nursing

Maryville University
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification

Specialties

• Depression
• Anxiety
• PTSD
• Bipolar Disorder
• Schizoaffective disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Conversion disorder
• ADD/ADHD
• Personality disorder
• Grief and loss
• Eating Disorders

Pedro Sam, LMHC

** Services are offered in English and Spanish

Pedro graduated from Nova Southeastern University in 2006 with a Masters in Mental Health Counseling. He is a licensed therapist who has been practicing counseling for nearly 14 years. He is also a Qualified Supervisor for Mental Health Counseling Interns seeking licensure. Pedro has served as a therapist and as the Clinical Director at various mental health and recovery centers through out the years. Pedro dedicates his practice to improve the lives of individuals who have lost hope and need direction. Pedro has experience counseling individuals, couples, and also facilitating psychotherapy groups. Pedro's treatment modalities are cognitive behavioral, motivational interviewing, and solution focused therapy among others.

Specialties:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Bipolar
• Marriage and couples counseling
• Substance Abuse and Addiction Issues
• Issues of teenager and student age individuals
• Behavioral Issues, Self Harm, and Anger Management
• Trauma and PTSD
• Life Transition and Adjustment Issues
• Stress Management
• 12 Step NA/AA Step Fellowship Guidance

Yveline Jacques, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC

Philosophy of Care

**Dr. Yveline Jacques offers services in English, French, and Creole

Dr. Yveline Jacques is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner in the state of Florida. Dr. Jacques has been in the medical field for a total of 20 years and has been practicing psychiatry for the past four years. She is certified to treat clients across the lifespan, but she is specialized in adult psychiatry helping clients with a variety of psychic disorders including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Jacques completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing at Nova Southeastern University. She received her Doctor of Nursing Practice from University of North Florida.

Dr. Yveline Jacques utilizes evidence-based practice for the prevention, assessment, diagnosing, treatment, and rehabilitation of the mentally ill with the purpose to alleviate mental suffering associated with psychiatric disorders and the optimization of mental well-being.

Dr. Yveline Jacques understands the importance of your mental health and is ready to establish trust, listen to you, being informed of your symptoms and your concerns, involving you in your plan of care, partnership with you in achieving your desired treatment outcome. 

Education

Nova Southeastern University
MS Nursing

Specialties

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
• Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD)
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
• Bipolar Disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Schizoaffective Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Insomnia
• Personality Disorder
• Eating Disorder