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Acerca de Acceptance and Commitment Therapy What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy? Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an empirically based treatment approach. The goal of ACT is to increase psychological flexibility leading to improved mental health outcomes and symptom reduction. There are 6 components that play a role in our psychological flexibility including: Values, Acceptance, Defusion, Contact with the present moment, committed action, and self-as context. When we increase psychological flexibility we change the way our mind views and responds to stimuli from our environment, increasing our window of tolerance, reducing triggers, and increasing self-awareness and life satisfaction. The components of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Acceptance: Acceptance involves the active and aware embrace of those private events, thoughts, feelings from the past or present without attempts to change their frequency or form, especially when doing so would cause psychological harm. Acceptance means we accept what comes up and we learn to let go of trying to change or alter them but rather learn to work with them through the rest of the ACT components below. Defusion: through this technique we attempt to change the undesirable functions (the way we interact) with our thoughts and other private events, rather than trying to alter their form , frequency or situational sensitivity . For example, we practice remembering that thoughts are thoughts and don't need meaning. An unpleasant "negative" thought is named as such and treated as an externally observed event trough various techniques and told to help diminish its impact and the connection to ourselves. One example of this is to label the process of thinking : “I am having the thought (insert scary, intrusive or unpleasant thought” This helps reduce the literal quality of the thought and therefore weakening it. Values : ACT uses a variety of exercises to help a client choose life directions in various domains (e.g. family, career, spirituality) while undermining verbal processes that might lead to choices based on avoidance, social compliance, or fusion. ​ Contact with the present moment : in ACT we practice non-judgmental contact with psychological and environmental events as they occur. The goal is to help you experience the world more directly as to be able to show up to life our your values. We do this through practice of various mindfulness, defusion, and grounding techniques. ​ Self as context : We learn perspective taking, practice awareness of self and others in relation to the world. working to become aware of one’s own flow of experiences without attachment to them or an investment in which particular experiences occur. This helps us develop empathy both to ourselves and others ​ Committed action: This includes the actions (goals and steps) you can take to help you live a more meaningful life in line with your personal values. Application of skills such as exposure, communication, boundary setting, goal setting, etc. Unlike values, which remain constant and never achieved, concrete goals that are values consistent can be achieved. We will work on setting short, medium, and long-term behavior change goals. ​ Watch the video below for an example on how we use ACT for intrusive, anxious, or overthinking thoughts.

LIFE COACHING I get it, life can be overwhelming and sometimes it’s hard to find time for yourself. You may have felt like time is just passing you by and although you have tons of plans and goals it seems like there is never enough time to get them done. Sometimes it feels like you are living to get things checked off the “to-do” list and you haven’t had enough time to truly do the things you need to do to truly enjoy life and be present with yourself, your family, and your loved ones. ​ You may be feeling burned out, tired, emotional, and reactive, and find yourself living in the future rather than enjoying and experiencing the present. ​ Mindfulness and self-care sessions are for you if you feel like you are stressed out and need some help grounding yourself and prioritizing what’s important. These sessions are designed for individuals who may not necessarily be experiencing mental health challenges but rather looking for self-improvement. ​ These sessions are right for you if you: Would like to develop a better mind-body connection Would like to be better prepared to manage future stressful events would like to become more responsive rather than reactive Would like to improve your ability to concentrate Would like to learn how to slow down and enjoy the moment You feel stuck in your life You have many things on your plate, but nothing seems to get done You would like to learn and implement self-care tips that work for you You would like help becoming more mindful in everyday life You would like guidance in specific areas in your life ​ In these sessions, I can help you develop goals, and intentions, and understand inner conflicts that keep you stuck and prevent you from living life to the fullest. ​ Mindfulness sessions include:​ Identification of core values Identifying and accessing feelings and understanding those feelings Goal Setting and follow through Breathing and grounding exercises Self-care development Mindfulness and Meditation Stress reduction and management ​ Serein Counseling trains Life Coaches in Florida to use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help you find ways to live a rich and meaningful life despite the barriers that might show up. ​ Click here to schedule a free 15-minute consultation Mindfulness: Service

Susana Tamez, RMHCI, M.S. Therapeutic Areas of Expertise: ​ Trauma Complex trauma​ PTSD Attachment trauma Borderline Personality Anxiety ​ Generalized anxiety Social Anxiety Panic attacks Health anxiety Relationship issues Attachment issues Breakups Relational transitions Family transitions Communication ​​ Therapeutic Approaches and Interventions: ​ ​TRAUMA/POLYVAGAL INFORMED: ​​ ​ Somatic Psychotherapy Mindfulness-based psychotherapy Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Cognitive Behavioral therapy Dialectical behavioral therapy Hello there! My name is Rebecca (she/her) ​ Hi there! My name is Susana Tamez (she/her) Growing up in a Latino household - mental health and therapy wasn’t easily accessible to me. I am incredibly passionate about mental health, and I am committed to making therapy more accessible for marginalized communities. I utilize a person-centered and trauma-informed approach. I strive to meet the individual where they are while creating a safe and trusting space, free from judgment. My style of therapy includes Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and psycho-education. I love to learn, so I am always reading and researching other therapeutic interventions to best serve the individuals I work with - I am a true believer that every individual is unique. Fun facts about me: I was born and raised in South Florida but have lived in multiple parts of Florida over the years. I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, watching football, and working out. When I’m not in session, you can find me at a bookstore, record store, or on a random beach. ​ - Susana

Acerca de Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) Schedule a Free Consult What is EMDR? Our brains have a natural system for processing information and experiences so that we can keep what we need for wisdom, learning, and growth and let the rest go. But sometimes disturbing experiences overwhelm that processing system, or we don’t have the information we need for our brains to make sense of what happened in a healthy way. Then, our brains and bodies hold on to all the pieces of the old experience, which can get triggered by reminders in our present life. The eye movements and other right-left stimulation in EMDR activate your brain’s information processing system in the security of my office so you can successfully process the experience and let go of what’s not useful to you. ​ The Great thing about EMDR is that you don't have to talk about your trauma, you will not be asked to retell your story, and you will process through eye movements, taping, auditory processing, and other somatic ways. Of course, you are welcome to share what you would like, but that is completely your choice. ​ The components of EMDR Exploration of resources: Before jumping into the processing phases of EMDR, It's important to understand the role that internal & external resources have played throughout your history...to see how you are relating to them now...and to build stronger connections with the resources you need most to meet your goals in therapy and in life. Internal resources are the invisible things we carry with us inside our minds, bodies, and hearts. They include positive memories of times we felt loved, strong, safe, happy, or capable. They can also include the healthy coping, connection, faith, and courage that got us through hard times -- along with the wisdom and resilience we gained from those difficult experiences. Some of us did not have the circumstances we needed as children to build a lot of strong internal resources, so therapy will include identifying what still needs to be developed and noticing what’s there that needs to be remembered and strengthened. External Resources are the people, practices, and things we can rely on to help us feel better and function better. These can include access to finances, a safe and stable home, friends, family, and community support, healthy activities, a career, and education/information. Sometimes we don’t have all the external resources we need, and sometimes we have trouble using the available resources. It’s not always easy to ask for help or to trust that we’ll get the help we need. Still, we focus on building external resources to do our inner work more safely and effectively. Collaborative treatment plan: Through EMDR, your treatment plan will be created along sing your therapist as you both identify the target memories and or experiences, symptoms, and situations that are causing you the most distress. You will also set goals and then choose which goal to start with. The treatment plan will include the following: Presenting Issue: These are the things that are bothering you in your life, for example: Anxiety while driving Presenting triggers: These are the things that cause your anxiety to spike, for example, driving on a highway or driving alone. Future goals: These are the ways you hope to feel and be in the future due to therapy. For example: Feel okay while driving alone or at night. Assessing the issue : During this phase of EMDR, your therapist will ask you a few questions to help get the memory activated and ready for reprocessing. These questions are to identify how these memories have caused you to develop negative thoughts and feelings about yourself. ​ Desensitization: Then, in the next phase of EMDR, you'll begin the eye movements (tones or tactile stimulation). Your job is just to notice the thoughts, emotions, images, and body sensations from this and other related memories as they go by. From time to time, your therapist will stop to ask what you’re noticing. Your brain is the driver and already knows what to do. You’re along for the ride but can tell your therapist if you have questions, need support, or want to stop anytime. Ideally, you’ll feel like you’ve got one foot in the room with me and one foot in the memory network you’re working on. ​ Installation: In this phase of EMDR, you will use eye movements (tones or tactile stimulation) to help strengthen the positive and more adaptive thoughts, feelings, and sensations you developed during the desensitization phase. ​ Future Template: Once we have fully processed a memory or experience and you have reached a more adaptive response to it, we will the final step in EMDR. Here we will use light eye movements (tones or tactile stimulation) to help you plan for the future and get your brain ready to feel more confident and secure. Schedule a Free Consult

Acerca de Acceptance and Commitment Therapy What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy? Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an empirically based treatment approach. The goal of ACT is to increase psychological flexibility leading to improved mental health outcomes and symptom reduction. There are 6 components that play a role in our psychological flexibility including: Values, Acceptance, Defusion, Contact with the present moment, committed action, and self-as context. When we increase psychological flexibility we change the way our mind views and responds to stimuli from our environment, increasing our window of tolerance, reducing triggers, and increasing self-awareness and life satisfaction. The components of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Acceptance: Acceptance involves the active and aware embrace of those private events, thoughts, feelings from the past or present without attempts to change their frequency or form, especially when doing so would cause psychological harm. Acceptance means we accept what comes up and we learn to let go of trying to change or alter them but rather learn to work with them through the rest of the ACT components below. Defusion: through this technique we attempt to change the undesirable functions (the way we interact) with our thoughts and other private events, rather than trying to alter their form , frequency or situational sensitivity . For example, we practice remembering that thoughts are thoughts and don't need meaning. An unpleasant "negative" thought is named as such and treated as an externally observed event trough various techniques and told to help diminish its impact and the connection to ourselves. One example of this is to label the process of thinking : “I am having the thought (insert scary, intrusive or unpleasant thought” This helps reduce the literal quality of the thought and therefore weakening it. Values : ACT uses a variety of exercises to help a client choose life directions in various domains (e.g. family, career, spirituality) while undermining verbal processes that might lead to choices based on avoidance, social compliance, or fusion. ​ Contact with the present moment : in ACT we practice non-judgmental contact with psychological and environmental events as they occur. The goal is to help you experience the world more directly as to be able to show up to life our your values. We do this through practice of various mindfulness, defusion, and grounding techniques. ​ Self as context : We learn perspective taking, practice awareness of self and others in relation to the world. working to become aware of one’s own flow of experiences without attachment to them or an investment in which particular experiences occur. This helps us develop empathy both to ourselves and others ​ Committed action: This includes the actions (goals and steps) you can take to help you live a more meaningful life in line with your personal values. Application of skills such as exposure, communication, boundary setting, goal setting, etc. Unlike values, which remain constant and never achieved, concrete goals that are values consistent can be achieved. We will work on setting short, medium, and long-term behavior change goals. ​ Watch the video below for an example on how we use ACT for intrusive, anxious, or overthinking thoughts.

Chiara Molla, Registered Mental Health Counseling Intern Therapeutic Areas of Expertise: ​ Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ​ Trauma Complex trauma​ Major Trauma Childhood and Attachment Trauma Anxiety Disorders Generalized anxiety Social anxiety Health anxiety ​ Depression Persistent depressive disorder Major depressive disorder Adjustment Disorder Phase of life problems Life transitions​ Breakups Life Coaching Therapeutic Approaches and Interventions: ​ ​ Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Somatic Psychotherapy Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Mindfulness-based therapy Hello there! My name is Chiara Molla (she/her) My role as a therapist is to provide a respectful, compassionate, and free-from-judgment space to promote the development and transformation of each individual’s sense of being. This will be done through a collaborative journey that focuses on shifting from self-defeating behaviors to living a more meaningful life that aligns with one’s values. I work with individuals who are experiencing anxiety, depression, recovering from complex trauma (C-PTSD), PTSD, and/or facing a life transition that is affecting their lives. As a certified trauma specialist, my approach is to help you regulate your nervous system, reestablish safety within yourself and your environment, empower you to live a life aligned with your truth, and collectively find the power within you. My main therapeutic approaches are Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) , and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) I also integrate somatic psychotherapy and inner child work techniques into our sessions. ​ Some fun facts about me are that I grew up in 3 different countries and 12 cities between the U.S., Germany, and Peru and received my teacher yoga certificate (E-RYT 200) from Goa, India. When I am not working, you will find me spending time with my daughter! ​ - Chiara

Trinidy Bowers “Instead of raising children who turn out okay despite their childhood, lets raise children who turn out extraordinary because of their childhood” - L.R. Knost Areas of expertise ​ Consultation and client placement Scheduling Office management E-mail inquiries Payroll Insurance & superbills Hi! I am Trinidy Bowers (she/her) and I am the Intake Coordinator and Office Manager here at Serein Counseling. I graduated with a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Florida State University. Mental health wellness and awareness is a passion of mine and I am so happy to be in this role to connect you with a therapist that is just right for you. I have a main focus to work with children and teens once I receive my Masters degree. I personally experience the physical impact that trauma and anxiety have on the body; so I truly believe in the work that our therapists are doing at Serein. Know that you are not alone in this journey. I’ll be the joyful voice you hear when you call into the office and I can not wait to speak with you! Outside of work I’m a wife and mother, sports enthusiast, escapee to the beach, specialty coffee fiend, and furniture refinisher. ​

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ANXIETY THERAPY Schedule a Free Consult Do you struggle with Anxiety? ​ ​ I know it’s frustrating, and sometimes it can be scary, especially if panic attacks are common for you. It’s tough to remember what being calm and happy feels like because lately, it has been a never-ending roller-coaster of emotions you want to get rid of. ​ You may have tried online tools, watched self-help videos, or read self-help books, and although they have given you insight and possibly helped in a few ways, it hasn’t been enough, and you still feel stuck, If this sounds like you, then you may be experiencing anxiety. ​ Anxiety is extremely common, and with therapy and determination, you can start to feel better and get back to your life. ​ Serein Counseling is Orlando, Florida's top Counseling Center for treating Anxiety. The therapists at Serein Counseling use a collaborative approach with you, no matter which form of anxiety you are experiencing. ​ Here are the Anxiety Disorders we work with: Generalized Anxiety Disorder Social Anxiety Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Health Anxiety Specific Phobias (anxiety in specific situations) Agoraphobia (fear and anxiety about leaving your home) Separation Anxiety Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder Unspecified Anxiety Disorder ​ Common Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders: Worried thoughts or intrusive thoughts Difficulty reducing the worried or intrusive thoughts Agitation or irritability Difficulty concentrating and focusing Restlessness Difficulty sleeping Panic attacks Muscle tension and pain Gastrointestinal issues Chest pains and pressure ​ How Serein Counseling can help you with Anxiety We provide evidence-based anxiety therapy and anxiety treatment to help reduce anxiety and eliminate anxiety symptoms. Our Treatment for anxiety includes the use of proven approaches such as: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Eye Movement Desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) Internal Family Systems (IFS) Exposure and Response Prevention (for OCD) Mindfulness-Based Therapy Neurobiological Mind-Body Integration ​ Serein Counseling's treatment for anxiety will help you: Understand the neurobiological process behind your anxiety Identify triggers for your anxiety Work on defusing anxious thoughts Learn how to regulate your body and nervous system to reduce anxiety Develop coping skills to help manage anxiety symptoms Identify and address life stressors Learn new coping skills to manage and reduce anxiety Eliminate the chronic pain and physical symptoms of anxiety Learn how to cope and build habits that work for the future ​ Click here to schedule a free 15-minute consultation Anxiety: Service Schedule a Free Consult

Acerca de Polyvagal Informed Psychotherapy Schedule a Free Consult Polyvagal Informed Psychotherapy The Polyvagal Theory was developed by Dr. Stephen Porges and gave us detailed insight into our nervous system and its role in our mental and physical well-being. ​ We are all wired for connection and safety, so when events that threaten connections or safety arise, our nervous system activates to reestablish safety. The autonomic nervous system is our personal surveillance system, always on guard and asking, “Is this safe?” Its goal is to protect us by sensing safety and risk, listening momentarily to what is happening in and around our bodies and our connections to others. ​ Our nervous system's listening and assessing happens far below awareness and far away from our conscious control. Our nervous system's awareness comes from something called neuroception, which is the perception of our autonomic nervous system and not our mind. Once our minds become aware of the various physical states we are experiencing, we begin to make meaning out of these signs and create meaning behind our day-to-day lives. The Autonomic Nervous System The autonomic nervous system is split into two branches: The sympathetic nervous system: The sympathetic branch is found in the middle part of the spinal cord and represents the pathway that prepares us for action. It responds to danger cues and triggers the release of adrenaline, which fuels the fight-or-flight response. The parasympathetic nervous system has two pathways, The dorsal vagus, and the ventral vagus. The nerve travels in two directions: downward through the lungs, heart, diaphragm, and stomach and upward to connect with nerves in the neck, throat, eyes, and ears. The ventral vagal pathway responds to safety cues and supports feeling safely engaged and socially connected. This is our rest and digest state, where we feel free, connected, open to new experiences, and connected to the world. When people refer to activating the vagus nerve to feel relaxed, this is the branch they are referring to. The dorsal vagal pathway responds to cues of extreme danger. It takes us out of connection and awareness and into a protective state of collapse. This is our shutdown mode, where we feel disconnected, dissociated, depressed, and numb. ​ ​ Schedule a Free Consult

Acerca de Internal Family Systems (IFS) Schedule a Free Consult What is Internal Family Systems? Internal family systems (IFS) is one of the most powerful treatment approaches for complex trauma (C-PTSD), Dissociation, and dissociative disorders. Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a theory, a therapeutic approach, and a paradigm shift. The idea behind IFS is that we all have an inner world of parts that help us function and survive in the external world. Our parts can be looked at as little people inside of us or subpersonalities. These parts of us carry jobs and roles that attempt to protect us. ​ We have all said something like, "A part of me wants to do this, but another part of me doesn't feel ready" Sometimes, we may find ourselves slipping into more parts either about ourselves or situations. Through Internal family systems, you will learn how to listen, understand, and build compassion towards each of your parts and understand that there aren't any bad parts. Through IFS, we can learn that each part is valid and has worried or concerns that need to be addressed. By learning to do so, we will better understand our challenges, our symptoms, and ourselves and be able to move forward in harmony. ​ How Does Internal Family Systems IFS Work? In Internal Family systems, we Identify three types of parts: Managers Firefighters Exiles ​ Protective Parts: Managers: In Internal family systems (IFS), Managers are proactive parts that attempt to protect us from anticipated perceived danger. Managers try to control how you are perceived. They often operate from the “never again” perspective. Never again will you be humiliated, rejected, abandoned, etc. An example of this could be a perfectionist part that is working hard to protect you from “looking dumb.” This part might carry the fear of failure. This part can make you overwork, ruminate about past mistakes and overthink current tasks, which is all motivated by the attempt to protect you from the perceived danger of failure. Firefighters: In Internal family systems (IFS), Firefighters are the reactionary parts that come in to soothe emotional pain when a trigger is present. This may happen when a manger part cannot protect us from the threat. Some examples of firefighters can be drinking, sleeping, binge-watching tv, or eating parts. These parts can also show up as pain in the body as they can serve as distractions for emotional pain. What parts of you show up if you find yourself in emotional pain? These are probably your firefighters coming in to put out the pain. Something to remember is that anything can be either of these parts. It just depends on the intention of the part. Exiles: In Internal family systems (IFS), Exiles are the parts of us that carry the pain, trauma, and wounds. Our managers and firefighters are working so hard to protect us from these parts. Our most vulnerable parts are locked up or frozen in the past. This happens when we are trying to forget about the past. We lock up our most painful memories because we fear the overwhelm and reaction from our protectors. When we let our protective parts run our lives, we reinforce the idea of keeping our pain exiled. ​ All parts have good intentions. They have helped us survive our painful world, but many of them have been overburdened with extreme jobs. Many times if you ask these parts if they would like to have another job and that you can assure them you would still be safe, they would happily shift their roles, but this takes time. This is where Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy comes in. An IFS-informed therapist can help you build safe relationships with these parts of you and heal the exiles. This will make it so that these burdened parts don't have to work so hard. The ultimate goal of IFS is to bring balance and understanding of your inner world. ​ The Final Component in our inner world: Self ​ In Internal family systems (IFS), Self is the final component in our inner world. This is the internal resource of healing that we all have. When we are in self, we are experiencing one or more of what IFS calls the 8 C’s. The 8 C’s include compassion, Creativity, Connection, Calm, Curiosity, Confidence, Clarity, and Courage. The bodily experience of Self would be a sense of openness in the body, feeling lighter, and breathing feels calm. This core of us is what facilitates the internal healing process. We are more than our parts; we all have this core self within us that isn't touched by trauma and the external world. When we start communicating to our parts from "our self," we can heal. Internal family systems give us a framework for how our inner world works. Everyone's experience through this process will look different as we are all unique, but we all have the chance to heal. Schedule a Free Consult

PRICING In order to protect your privacy and ensure the continued quality of care, I do not participate in managed care/insurance programs. Fees are paid at the time of your visit. For your convenience, payment is accepted through major credit cards. A Free 15-minute consultation is provided via phone to help determine the services you need and to give you an opportunity to determine if you want to work with me! Individual Therapy 50 Minute Session $150-$175 Life Coaching 50 Minute Session $100 Couple's Therapy 50 Minute Session $180 Reduced Price Therapy 50 Minute Session $50-$80 *** sessions provided from a counseling student who is working on internship hours for graduation***