“What we know matters, but who we are matters more." - Brené Brown
For Counseling, we can work together through TeleHealth Online Services, if you are in Florida and we both decide we are a good fit!
​
If you are a current UF student, please contact the University of Florida Counseling and Wellness Center at (352)392-1575). A brief consultation meeting with an intake counselor can help to determine if there is an opening for us to work together for individual, group, or couples counseling.
​
​If you are not currently enrolled as a student at UF, feel free to contact me for counseling, training, or ceremonies. You are welcome to call or text (352)448-9901 or email DrEmiLenes@gmail.com
What are your credentials? ​​
-
PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Florida (UF)
-
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
-
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
-
Clinical Assistant Professor
-
Commencement Speaker - UF (2003, 2019)
​
What are your educational experiences?
-
For over 15 years, I have been providing individual, group, and couples counseling. Currently I work with college students at the University of Florida, and previously, for 12 years, I worked in a trauma-responsive, strengths-based environment for teenage girls. Additionally, implementing creativity and healing group activities at an inpatient hospital crisis stabilization unit has been deeply fulfilling. My master’s, specialist (dual specialization in mental health and marriage and family), and PhD degrees are all from the University of Florida. I have received specialized training in Somatic Experiencing (SE) Trauma Resolution, Gestalt, Narrative, and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).
-
I deeply believe in lifelong learning and have found that every personal and professional experience has an opportunity for growth. I love continuing education credits, youtube videos, and being either a facilitator or a participant in online training. Opportunities have arisen for me to provide over 100 interactive educational sessions at local, regional, national, and international conferences and professional settings over the years, where I have attended countless sessions of additional presenters in the field.
​
What are some of your values?
-
My work feels like soul work, and I am deeply honored to get to be of service with people during significant times in their lives. In addition to holding healing spaces for times of deep suffering and disconnection, I love celebrating with people for small or big life happenings. For over 10 years, I have also been facilitating meaningful rituals and ceremonies for important life occasions (e.g., weddings, funerals, memorials, blessing circles for new mothers). I am humbled by the power of relationships and how people can support, empower and learn from one another. My connections with beloved family and friends are vital to my holistic health. My personal wellness practices include photography, intentionally returning to the present moment, embodied experiences, exploring trails, rivers, and a wide spectrum of music. I value experiential engagement, deep breathing, sandtray, therapeutic music, writing, metaphors, guided imagery, coloring, drawing, collage, poetry, etc.
​
For additional Frequently Asked Questions about counseling, click here.