Question 1

What is a typical counseling session with you like?

Accepted Answer

• Clients have shared that our time together is enjoyable, deep, and growth fostering. Laughter and tears are both wholeheartedly welcome. Our sessions provide spaciousness for your embodied wisdom to be accessed. My approach is collaborative, contextual, trauma-responsive, and celebrating of collective and individual identities. I bring curiosity, intergenerational compassion, and cultural humility. I often provide creative Mind/Body techniques for attending to the human nervous system. For example, here is an exercise for connecting offered by Rev angel Kyodo williams.(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgLc1ZlLkl8)
 • Somatic (relating to the body) modalities I have been trained in include 2 years of learning Somatic Experiencing, a world renowned method of trauma resolution. 
    • If you are interested in learning more, here is a podcast episode  with Alanis Morissette and Dr. Peter Levine d(https://youtu.be/wDK09A49tRU.)iscussing somatic experiencing as a modality of healing. 
 • Importantly, during or after an overwhelming experience, engaging creativity (e.g., music, art, metaphors, etc.) has been known to be a protective factor to help people alleviate anxiety or PTSD.  The healing that people experience when accessing the creative part of their brain by engaging in experiential methods can often surpass talk therapy.
    • Creativity in our sessions can include: music, sandtray,(https://onlinesandtray.com/) poetry, drawing, meditation, guided imagery, writing, quotes, metaphors, collages, coloring, collage, breathing together, experiential activities, engaging with parts of yourself that are having an inner conflict, role playing to prepare for an upcoming courageous conversation, etc. No prior art experience is at all needed, nor any supplies. If you are interested, here is a link to a free online creativity and healing course (https://www.coursera.org/learn/healing-with-the-arts?action=enroll)as an adjunct to counseling services. Although totally not needed and never expected, you are always welcome to bring to the session anything you find creatively inspiring (e.g., a poem, a piece of art, a quote) for us to explore the relatedness with your goals and insights you might find within.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBySucRq_94

Question 2

What if my situation is urgent and I am experiencing a crisis?

Accepted Answer

• Your safety is of unfathomable significance to me. Although it is beyond my current capacity to be on call for emergencies, there is community access to care immediately when you are in need. 
 • For 24/7 mental health support, you are encouraged to either call or text 988.(https://988lifeline.org/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=onebox) 
 • If there is a medical emergency, 911 can send an ambulance. I am able to respond to messages within 3 to 5 business days.

Question 3

Location - Can we meet online or in-person? What if I am not in Florida, or what if I’m in Florida but in a different city?

Accepted Answer

• At this time, I am only scheduling online telehealth video meetings 
 • The state of Florida laws and ethics mandates prohibit counseling clients outside the state where I am licensed. 
 • You may be located anywhere in the state with a private space and reliable internet. I am licensed throughout the entire state of Florida.

Question 4

Do you prescribe medication?

Accepted Answer

• Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists are not trained or authorized to prescribe medicine, so I do not. 
 • You can find a psychiatrist on psychology today,(https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/psychiatrists) and you can filter for insurance and other aspects that may be important to you.

Question 5

What topics could we focus on together?  What ages do you serve?

Accepted Answer

• We may be a good match if you are an adult (18+) seeking support with relationship concerns, making sense of what is happening in your life, understanding others, stress, communication, connection, grief, adjustment to a transition, the present-day impacts of traumatic events that have happened, worthiness, self-care, rekindling your creativity, understanding and creating boundaries, etc. 
 • I offer creative and embodied ways of navigating painful and challenging life circumstances and relational difficulties.  ​

Emi Lenes✨

Frequently Asked Questions