Marie G. Gumá was born in Caracas, Venezuela. Her family moved to Miami, Florida when she was 3 years old. From a very early age Marie knew she wanted to study psychology and work in the helping profession. She attended Barry University where she majored in psychology. Marie obtained her Master of Science and Doctoral coursework in Clinical Psychology at Carlos Albizu University graduating Cum Laude and a member of the Honor Society (PSI CHI).
Marie is a well-known and experienced professional in the substance abuse industry in the United States. She began her career providing psychological therapy to the underprivileged youth in Miami-Dade County. In 2010, she transitioned her career when she became the department head of a detox unit at Mercy Hospital in Miami, Florida. She has spent years building relationships nationally as an executive in the substance abuse field, specifically supporting first responder departments. Since 2013, Marie has been an advocate, educator, resource and clinical consultant for many National Fire Rescue Departments. Key Biscayne’s Fire Chief, Eric Lang, and Marie began to host community educational events on substance abuse in 2015. She has been a trusted resource for clinical support for Davie Fire Rescue, Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue, Huntington Beach Fire Rescue, amongst others. She has served as the volunteer Clinical Director for Miramar Fire Rescue since 2016. Marie was a Clinical Response Team member at Coral Springs Parkland Fire Rescue from 2017-2020 and provided support post Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Marie served on the Clinical Management Team for the Florida Firefighters Safety and Health Collaborative from 2017-2020. Marie was exposed to the obvious gap in psychological support and services provided to our first responders in this country.
“Morally, I could not sit around and wait for the psychological industry to catch up to the needs of our everyday heroes.”
AWARDS
2018 (Nov) Broward Recovery Month - Advocate of the Year 2018
2019 (March) Coral Springs Parkland Fire Department – Team Citation: Clinical Response Team
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
05-2018 Key Biscayne Fire Rescue- “Mental Health in the Fire Industry”
06-2018 Palm Beach County Fire Rescue- Professional Development – “Enabling in the Fire Industry”
06-2018 Southeast Region Safety Stand down – “Who Are Clinicians and How Do We Complete the Fire Industry?”
07-2018 Miramar Fire Rescue – “Mental Health in the Fire Industry”
07-2018 Florida Firefighter Safety and Health Collaborative – “The Fire Industry and Addiction”
08-2018 Florida State Fire College – Mental Health Symposium
09-2018 Orange County Fire Authority Behavioral Health Conference - “Past, Present and Future for mental health in the Fire Industry: How Clinicians were utilized post Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting”
09-2021 Miami Dade Fire Rescue – “What to expect after an MCI like Surfside’ s building collapse”
10-2021 Miami Dade Fire Rescue – “What to expect after an MCI like Surfside’ s building collapse”
11-2021 Miami Dade Fire Rescue – “What to expect after an MCI like Surfside’ s building collapse”
12-2021 Miami Dade Fire Rescue – D.R.O.P. (Doing Retirement On Purpose)
12-2021 Miami Dade Fire Rescue – D.R.O.P. (Doing Retirement On Purpose)
MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION
Mental Health for First Responders (2018)
Key Biscayne Fire Rescue
Miramar Fire Rescue
Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue
Officer Development/ Don’t Enable your first responders (2018)
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue
Mental Health for First Responders (2019)
Davie Fire Rescue
Greenacres Fire Rescue
Mental Health for First Responders: Part Two (2019)
Key Biscayne Fire Rescue
Florida State’s 4-Hour Mental Health Minimum Standards: For Recruits and Probation Firefighter/Paramedics (2019)
Miramar Fire Rescue
Coral Springs Fire Rescue Training Academy
Florida State’s 4-Hour Mental Health Minimum Standards: For Recruits and Probation Firefighter/Paramedics (2020)
Boynton Beach Fire Rescue
Mental Health for First Responders (2020)
Riviera Beach Fire Rescue
Officer Development: Conflict Resolution (2020)
Miramar Fire Rescue
Officer Development: Conflict Resolution (2021)
Boynton Beach Police Department
Miramar Fire Rescue
Mental Health for First Responders (2021)
Boynton Beach Fire Rescue
North Lauderdale Fire Rescue
Boynton Beach Police Department
Mental Health For Fire Recruits (2021)
City of West Palm Fire Rescue
PUBLISHED
2020 Mental Health Intervention and Treatment of First Responders and Emergency Workers Clint Bowers (clint.bowers@ucf.edu), Deborah Beidel (deborah.beidel@ucf.edu), Madeline Marks (mmarks@som.umaryland.edu)
Chapter 16: "More Than Peer Support: Organizational and Relational) Intervention Model": First Responder Assistance Program (F.R.A.P.)
Mario Jose Gonzalez (Independent Researcher, USA), Marie Guma (Independent Researcher, USA) and Bernardo Jose Gonzalez (Boundless Leadership Consulting, USA)
CRITICAL INCIDENTS/MCI
2018 Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Shooting
2021 Surfside Building Collapse
CERTIFICATIONS
CISM- 2019
IAFF Peer Support – 2019
Fema ics - 2020
Margarita is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of Florida with over 10 years of experience in the Counseling and Social Services fields. Margarita specializes in treating adults 18 – 60 yrs. who suffer from Depression, Anxiety, and Trauma including Loss / Grief. Margarita' s approach is based in the Cognitive Behavioral and Solution Focused Therapy models with integrated Mindfulness. Margarita has also expanded her training in trauma by obtaining her certification as a Clinical Trauma Professional. Margarita’s commitment is to her client's well-being and the their ability to lead a fulfilling and fruitful life.
Melissa is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), practicing for over 13 years, as well as a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). She obtained her Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences (Criminology and Social Work) from the University of South Florida, and her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Troy University, graduating with Honors. She has always been drawn to the helping others, and one major influence for her choosing psychology as a career was her younger brother, Michael, who was born with Autism. He also has a large affection and great relationship with his local First Responders. Some of Melissa's work still includes working with individuals on the spectrum or those with sensory processing disorders. Melissa has worked in a myriad of settings over the years, which include Hospitals, Baker Act units, Outpatient Centers, Residential Treatment Centers, and Private Practice. She began her career specializing in substance use, addictions, and various mental health disorders specifically with adolescents and adults involved in the legal system. Her work expanded to other aspects of recovery including codependency, attachment disorders, dysfunctional family dynamics, and Eating Disorders. In 2017, Melissa opened her private practice. After becoming acutely aware that trauma seem to be an underlying theme with most clients, regardless of the affliction, she became trained in EMDR in 2018, using that as a primary modality ever since, with great success. Outside of her private practice, she offers counseling services for victims of domestic violence through a non-profit and is looking to become more involved with social policy regarding greater resources for mental health awareness and services.
I’m a licensed mental health counselor, a certified addictions professional and a qualified supervisor for the state of Florida. I’ve been in practice for over 30 years and feel very grateful that I’m able to find joy in the work that I do on a daily basis.
I have a strong background in working with addictive disorders, eating disorders, relationship issues, women’s issues, codependency and other mental health issues.
I believe that therapy is a transformative experience, and that the goal is to help you become a better self, with the opportunity to build a life that’s worth living.
I employ a number of different kinds of therapies including cognitive behavioral therapy, gestalt therapy, and motivational therapy
I also strongly believe that creating change in one’s life is about change in all areas. Often I will assist you in evaluating your relationship with food, exercise or meditation as a way of being able to enhance your daily life.
For over 20 years I have been helping people achieve a greater sense of well being in both their personal and professional life.
I have been providing psychotherapy, executive coaching, and consulting services in a variety of clinical and corporate settings throughout South Florida. Some of these settings include private practice, employee assistance, chemical dependency, and inpatient mental health.
I utlilize the following modalities:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Therapy
Neurolinguistics (NLP)
Impact Therapy
Reality Therapy
Talk Therapy
I have specialized training in the following areas:
As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I have been practicing therapy interventions to directly address adjusting to a new life transition, stress and anxiety for over 9 years. I tend to implement the use of CBT with a solution focused lens and find that the work you do outside of therapy is the biggest marker for success. Therapy can be daunting and is vulnerable, I use metaphors and humor to lighten things up a bit. I focus on your individual strengths and help guide you to find solutions that work best for you!
As a yogi I believe in balance and balancing the inner self with mind, body, and spirit. Being in alignment and true to your authentic self are key. At times people need guidance in finding out who that is. I believe growing through change is essential. It is important for a therapist to be self-aware, able to identify a good fit with clients, and able to cultivate a good working relationship. I also embrace awareness and explore my own blind spots while building cultural sensitivity.
I hope to have them find a shift in perspective or new insights to alleviate any of their unwanted feelings or unhelpful thinking patterns. I hope to encourage and empower my clients to facilitate change in a successful way. If a client feels motivated or even slightly lighter (a weight off their chest if you will) Then we have success, even if it is small!
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida with over 17 years of experience. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, career challenges, addiction, and self-esteem concerns. My therapy style is warm and interactive. I believe in open communication and treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and I don't believe in stigmatizing labels. My approach is to ensure that you are in control of your treatment and I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards change. If you are ready to take that step, I am here to support and empower you. I look forward to working with you!
Dinora is a university Sociology professor and a licensed individual, marriage, family, and couple's therapist specializing in anxiety, depression, premarital counseling, stress management, and relationships. She utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, internal family systems therapy, solution-focused therapy, structural therapy, and strategic therapy. When appropriate, Dinora believes in incorporating humor into the therapeutic process.
Guillermo Arauz, a licensed mental health counselor, began his impactful journey in trauma therapying 2011. He excelled in suicide prevention roles for two years. His expertise in crisis intervention and empathetic communication emerged from this experience.
Transitioning to substance use disorder treatment, Guillermo mastered addiction recovery, relapse prevention, and patient-centered care in an inpatient facility, understanding the complex intersection of mental health and substance dependency.
Specializing in heavy trauma work, he empowered survivors of abuse, violence, and trafficking through trauma-informed therapy and tailored cognitive behavioral techniques, fostering healing and resilience.
With over seven years dedicated to treating PTSD among first responders, Guillermo draws from his family's background and an IAFF culturally competent therapist certification. This credential enhances his ability to address the unique challenges faced by first responders.
Guillermo's fusion of personal empathy, professional expertise, and specialized certifications creates a culturally attuned space for first responders to navigate trauma and PTSD. His interventions serve as a beacon of resilience and healing in this vital community.
I'm an aid to those who are ready to make changes in their life by addressing their mental health needs. My passion for mental health and healing comes from years of living in a home, culture, and community that didn't understand or address how mental health has an affect on how we think, feel and act. By gaining awareness on my own trauma, processing, and healing, I found my purpose to work as a trauma therapist and help others find their peace.
Given my personal and over 10 years of professional experience in the mental health field, l've learned to bring my authentic self to each session, while taking a relaxed approachto help clients feel safe and and supported through their process. I specialize in helping to connect and process how current life issues as an adult such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and life issues can stem from childhood issues, while working towards finding a safe space to heal. l often refer to the unhealthy areas in our lives as the"weeds in our garden" and the goal is to walk through the garden and pull out the weeds that don't serve a purpose. My goal for all of my clients is for them to heal and be able to roam free in their garden, free of pain and the chains trauma leaves behind, while living intentionally.
If there's one thing life has taught me, it's that you have to adapt and learn to evolve. Life is forever changing and if you don't keegup, you get left behind. Growing up l've always displayed a
independence. Being able to quickly adapt ensured my survival. In my life l've endured some highs and l've endured some lows. It was from my experiences though, that I realized that independence can only take you but so far. Thinking that I could do it all on my own eventually became a hinderance for me, and it was in my darkest hours that I realized that everyone needs someone. I am not invincible, nor could I pretend anymore that I was. I searched for meaning in my trials.
I prayed for enlightenment and purpose. Then one day it was revealed to me. I will help those seeking guidance and provide support to those in need. Through my studies in psychology and training in
Rehabilitation, I have enhanced my abilities to fulfill my purpose. l've gained a deeper understanding of people and their needs. Specifically, children and young adults.
Children and young adults need 3 things acceptance, protection and understanding. My approach is humanistic and individualized to fit each client's needs.
Let me teach you independence and perseverance. If you are feeling hopeless, let me help you build a dream.
If you are weak, let me help you gain strength. Together we can work through your trials and meet triumph with open arms. No one gets left behind!
Over 10 years of experience in the behavioral health field. My passion for psychology and understanding human behavior has led me to dive into a lifelong mission of self-awareness and self-improvement. I have worked with diverse populations throughout the years including children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. I have been granted with the opportunity to experience with my clients the challenges, hardships, but most importantly the resiliency to overcome adversity. My experience in the mental health field has been multidimensional and integrative. I specialize in anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, stress management, relationship issues, grief, child/ teen behavioral issues, ADHD, anger management, and parenting.
I believe therapy is a collaborative approach where mental health concerns are addressed in a
compassionate, non-judgmental manner. Everyone deserves to be heard.
I, understood, and validated as
they embark on a personal journey of self-discovery and self growth
Fl certified supervipsir
Certified trauma focused therapist
Hello! My name is Jasmine Quander-Smith and I am so glad that you are right here, right now. It is no mistake that you are reading this. This means that you are ready to do the work. As a teenager life can complicated and uncertain. I'm sure there have been many times when you just don't know what to do or have been going through some tough moments in which you wish you had someone you could trust.
I can help. As a therapist my primary focus in working with you is to meet you where you are. Getting to know your situation and seeing the world through your lens.
We will work together to facilitate healing and move towards a more fulfilling life. My work began with adjudicated inner-city youth and has continued into the public school system, adult and child victims of domestic abuse and private practice clients of various backgrounds. My therapy training positions me to have real conversations with clients in confronting the past.
embracing the present and moving into alignment for the future. I have experience working with children,
adolescents and adults, and I specialize in anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationships, sexuality, trauma and mood disorders.
I look forward to meeting you. Let's get to work!
Stephanie is a Master’s level clinician with a focus on working with teenagers and adults ranging from 12 yrs. to 60 yrs. of age.
Stephanie specializes in treatment for eating disorders, anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, and self-esteem. Stephanie has worked with diverse populations such as victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, and LGBTQIA+. Stephanie provides a client-centered approach to psychotherapy, implementing integrative therapeutic techniques to match clients' needs and goals for therapy.
Brian Murphy is excited to be a part of Command Counseling Center. He is originally from Ohio where he started his career serving the community in a non-profit organization as a group home
manager. After completing his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology at The Ohio State University, he relocated to Florida in 2003. He served in Palm Beach County as a Child Safety supervisor while pursuing his dream to be a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. He obtained a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling with an additional
specialty in Marriage and Family Counseling at Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Brian continued to serve in Palm Beach County by working in local non-profit organizations providing individual and family counseling while he completed his Florida licensure in Mental Health Counseling. He then moved into substance abuse treatment where he treated clients in
detox, residential and outpatient care and was also the Clinical Director of one of Palm Beach County’s largest intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs before moving into full time private practice with his wife, Mariselle in Wellington, Florida at Door of Hope Counseling.
Brian enjoys using his therapeutic skills and unique career and life experiences to help his clients reach their goals and go beyond. His areas of focus include anger management, anxiety, coping skills, depression, family conflict, men’s issues, mood disorders, relationship issues, self-
esteem, stress management, substance abuse, trauma and PTSD. His treatment preferences include Attachment-based approaches, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotion and Experiential focused therapies, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Family/Premarital/Marital therapies, Group therapy and Strength-based approaches. Brian is also trained in the integration of Biblical spirituality and clinical psychology upon client request.
Lauren M Castro, M.S. BCBA is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Registered Mental Health Counseling Intern. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Phoenix and her Masters in Mental Health Counseling with a Specialty in Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis at NOVA Southeastern University in Florida. Lauren has over 7 years of experience within the Mental Health field specializing in treating children and adults (2 years old - 65 years old) diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder, Emotional Behavior Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and other developmental disabilities through Applied Behavior Analysis. She has also assisted families through family counseling and training to assist with behavioral modification within the home, school and community settings. During her Mental Health Counseling internship and career, Lauren grew experience working with children and families within the foster care system who have experienced trauma and working on family/home reunification through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Barbara Rodriguez Marrero began her career focused on substance abuse with the juvenile population at Everglades Correctional Institution. She also worked as an intensive juvenile probation officer in Miami-Dade. She has extensive experience with individuals and families providing advocacy, case management services, therapy, and educational groups. She has provided outpatient therapy to families and worked with a variety of offenders for pre-trial diversion. She also served as an advisory council member for a domestic violence organization.
Barbara earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice as well as Sociology/Anthropology from Florida International University in Miami. She has also earned a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology from Argosy University in Arlington, VA and is currently working on her dissertation for a PhD in Human Services from Albizu University in Miami. Doctoral Candidate at Carlos Albizu University. Victim Advocate at Boynton Beach Police Department. Barbie is fluent in English and Spanish.
Helping couples, families & individuals work through life's challenges. I am dedicated to working with clients to discover and reach their goals. The cornerstone of my practice is my belief in that each individual has the strengths and ability for change. I am passionate about helping couples, families & individuals handle transitions and developmental changes. At times, we become stuck and not sure what direction to take to alleviate our stress. I am eager to help clients assess aspects in their life that may need change by guiding them in creating goals to resolve their struggles. Life throws everyone curve balls; I am here to be supportive through this process and will work with you to understand connections, bridge gaps, and ultimately reach your goals. My desire is to help clients distinguish the problem and refocus on positive life changes.
Kristian is a passionate therapist who received her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Florida and her master’s from Webster University. Kristian focuses on enhancing the quality of life of individuals and families by compassionately working on their mental health, addiction, special education, and community support needs. She engages others by building a rapport while assisting her family in achieving set goals. She works with individuals between the age bracket of 5-100, families, adolescents with drug addiction, and parents who need guidance. Some specialty skills include problem-solving—communication, coping, and relaxation exercises for anxiety.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is an action-oriented and result-driven form of psychosocial therapy that believes that maladaptive or faulty thinking patterns are the root cause of maladaptive behavior and “negative” emotions. The purpose of the treatment is to change an individual’s thoughts (cognitive patterns), which can improve their behavior and emotional state. I relish working with others as part of a team towards a common goal and working with people to assist them.