Matt Walsh, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, Chair

Bio & Pic Coming Soon

Nadiya Rosen, M.Ed., NCC, APC

Vice-Chair

Nadiya Boyce Rosen is a School Counselor and doctoral student at Florida Atlantic University (Ph.D. in Counseling). Her background includes advocacy work for individuals with disabilities and assisting non-profit organizations that support families experiencing homelessness and those with special needs. Her career and research interests include Play Therapy, Mindfulness, and the impact of trauma on child and adolescent behavior in schools. Mrs. Rosen has given presentations on mindfulness, self-care, and trauma-informed practices at the local, state, and national levels.

Pierre Nicole Patriarca, BS

Nicole Patriarca, BS, is a current graduate student taking her MEd in Counseling & Development at George Mason University. She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Assumption College, Philippines, her hometown. She is currently a graduate research assistant for GMU College of Education and Human Development’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion where she assists in the department’s efforts relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, empathy, social justice, and many others. She is also an honorary facilitator for GMU’s Honoring Our Community, an anti-racist discussion group that aims to have honest conversation about racial and social justice with the goal of cultivating an anti-racist culture and tighter sense of community. Her interests in the field of counseling include trauma, grief and loss, impact of oppression, depression, and anxiety among young adults.

Luisairis Soto, LMHC, NCC, CCTP

 

Luisairis (Iris) Soto (they/them) is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), nationally certified counselor (NCC), and certified clinical trauma professional (CCTP). They earned their Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from a CACREP-accredited counseling program, Rollins College, in 2017. Luisairis’ passion for mental health counseling comes from their own personal experiences being challenged with depression and anxiety and sharing spaces with others who experience similar challenges. They gained their clinical experience working with clients within inpatient, outpatient, and residential community settings with specialized interests in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), developmental and attachment trauma, and attachment injuries in adult relationships. In October of 2018, they received the Florida Counseling Association’s Member of the Year. Currently, Luisairis serves as the President-Elect for the Florida Counseling Association (2021-2022). They also serve as Past-President of the Florida Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling (2020-2022). Their community involves serving as the Executive Board Secretary for Peer Support Space; a grassroots organization dedicated to filling in the gaps in mental health care for marginalized communities. Luisairis has a passion for helping others, creating safe spaces for conversations about mental health and emotional needs, and becoming well-informed about the resources we have available in our community so that this can help bridge community needs within our mental health system. Currently, Luisairis works at Orlando Health as a Patient & Family Counselor providing mental health services to individuals and families struggling with both medical and mental health challenges.

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Lisa E. Heddon, MS, LPC, NCC

Lisa is a doctoral student in the Counselor Education and Supervision PhD program at the University of Georgia and a psychotherapist in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Her specialties are helping individuals heal from eating disorders, complex trauma and adverse experiences, and grief and loss. In addition to working in private practice, she is experienced evaluating and treating teens and adults of all genders in eating disorder treatment, across multiple levels of care. Lisa has completed advanced training in EMDR and is currently pursuing certification in Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) alongside her doctoral studies. She works from a person-centered, attachment-based feminist perspective and is passionate about helping individuals find power and their voice through the process of therapy.

Tara Robison

My name is Tara Robison. I am a graduate student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Walden University. I am passionate about helping others, so I created a graduate support social media platform for students who need assistance within the program at Walden. I am also the moderator/admin for the ACA interest community SWIC. I seem to favor committees that are diverse and promote ethical practices, so I am a part of the ACSSW Social Justice and Membership committees. My motto is to dream, plan, and achieve. Trauma-informed care for clients is a principal focus as I continue down the learning path toward becoming a licensed counselor. I am an advocate for the inclusion and acceptance of all clients.
I look forward to working and sharing ideas with all members!