Bad habits do not form from fully bad intentions. I believe that most people do the best that they can with what they have available to them at the time. As a result, I often see people stuck in self-destructive or harmful patterns that they themselves don't know how they got to. Change begins when we start to have the feeling that these old patterns and ways of being are no longer working for us in the way that they used to. The feeling that something has to change, and maybe feeling lost or defeated in how to make a meaningful change, may have been what lead you here.

Unresolved trauma is often at the root of what has lead us to habits and patterns that no longer serve us. Whatever has lead you to seek help or self-growth, we can work together to put words to where you want to be and formulate a plan together to help you reach your full potential beyond the scripts that you have been following.

My initial goal with all of my clients is to build a strong relationship with them. Whatever brings you into my office, my first goal is to understand who you are and how our relationship together can help you get to where you want to go. Healing is best facilitated when we feel safe enough to get it wrong sometimes and try out something new. 

I often find that my clients will come in with a feeling as though their struggles are not "enough" to matter. The notion of not feeling "sick enough" plagues many people with a history of trauma, eating disorders, addiction, and/or relationship struggles. My goal with these clients is to help them build a deeper sense of self-validation and self-love to help them see themselves more clearly. Within my approach, my clients can expect me to be authentic and human in how I present myself while also challenging them to do the same. Through the relationship that I strive to develop with my clients, I find my clients feeling empowered to try on new behaviors and ways of being in a safe and supportive space, which encourages self-growth and exploration. 

Gabby identifies as a white, cis-gender, bisexual, secular, woman and uses she/her pronouns. 

Gabby formed an interest in becoming a counselor from a young age. After facing her own difficulties growing up, she found a strong appreciation for those in her life who helped her get to the other side of her struggles. Along with her gratitude for the help that she received from others, she developed a strong passion and desire to assist people in their time of need. She has the lived experience of being a survivor of trauma, and is in recovery from drug abuse and an eating disorder. 

Outside of the office, Gabby enjoys many nerdy hobbies. She loves playing table top board games, playing video games, reading both fiction and non-fiction (but mostly anything that has wizards, fairies, and dragons in it), baking, running, spending time with her two cats, going to Disney, Halloween Horror Nights (every year since HHN 25 and counting!!), painting, and watching movies. 

• Aetna (Commercial)

• Aetna (Medicare Replacement)

• Anthem

• BCBS

• Cigna

• Evernorth

• Florida Blue

• Golden Rule

• Humana

• OPTUM

• Surest (formerly Bind)

• Tricare (Out of Network)

• United Health

• UMR

• UBH

• MyFlorida Blue

• Medicare

• Medica

• Medicare Part B

• United (Medicare Replacement) 

Gabby's Primary areas of expertise and focus are: Trauma/PTSD/CPTSD, Eating Disorders, Substance use/abuse/dependance, and Couples/Relationship Issues. 

Gabby also has experience and works well with the following:

• Religious Trauma

• Financial Trauma

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Life Transitions

• LGBTQIA+ needs and struggles

• Self-Harming

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• Autism Spectrum 

• Open Marriage and Open Relationship needs

• Thruples and Polycules 

• Interpersonal Relationship Struggles

• Body Image Issues

• Self-esteem struggles

• Ages 12+

• All genders

• Communities allied with: 

  • • • LGBTQIA+ Allied

      • Non-Binary Allied

      • Sex Positive

      • Kink Positive

      • Sex Worker Allied

      • Racial Justice Allied

      • Open Relationship and Non-Monogamy Allied

      • Secular Community Allied 

      • Fat Positive

• Gabby has training in and utilizes the Health at Every Size (HAES) model, especially when working with patients with eating disorders and disordered eating concerns. 

• Gabby also has training in and applies the Gottman Method to couples and relationship based therapy. 

• Gabby has further received training in EMDR and can provide EMDR for a full range of struggles with a specific focus on use with patients who struggle with persistent symptoms of Trauma, PTSD, and CPTSD.

• Gabby has recently obtained training and approval to become a qualified supervisor for Registered Mental Health Interns in the state of Florida. 

Gabby continues to pursue training, continuing education, and experience in a variety of methods, modalities, and techniques. She regularly attends conferences such as the American Group Psychotherapy Association's (AGPA) Yearly Conference along with eating disorder training, and other areas of interest.  

Gabby primarily works to keep her response to treating patients from an evidence based care lens that matches the ideal techniques and modalities to the patients presenting issues and concerns based on the most recent research and evidence in science at the time. Some of the methods and modalities that she uses in therapy are:

• Trauma Informed Care

• Person Centered Approach

• EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Processing

• Gottman Method

• CBT - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

• DBT - Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

• Psychodrama

• Gestalt 

• Expressive Arts Therapy

• Existential Therapy

• Experiential Therapy

• Exposures Therapy

• Interpersonal

• Strengths-Based 

• Motivational Interviewing

• Culturally Sensitive

• Narrative Therapy