Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Altamonte Springs, FL

Whether you are carrying the weight of trauma, feeling worn down by anxiety or depression, or working through a painful loss or a strained relationship, you deserve a space where you feel understood and genuinely supported. I am Shanda, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 28 years of experience walking alongside adults, couples, and families through life's hardest seasons. My style is open-minded, empowering, and solution-oriented. I will meet you with warmth and without judgment, and I focus on real, practical steps forward. When you are ready, I would be honored to see if we are a good fit.

I believe therapy is a collaborative journey—not a quick fix. If you or your child are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or weighed down by stress, anxiety, or past experiences, you don’t have to navigate it alone. I work with adults and children, bringing warmth, compassion, and a strengths-based approach to each session. My goal is to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore challenges, reconnect with their strengths, and move toward a more fulfilling life. I integrate trauma-informed practices and, when it feels helpful, nature-based techniques to support grounding, perspective, and growth. I’m here to guide and empower you—while helping you take meaningful, practical steps forward.

Refined Beginnings Counseling takes the focus off of issues and highlights solutions. Refined Beginnings Counseling LLC supports an environment that is least restrictive, provides for confidentiality, and convenience by offering tele-mental health services in Florida and both tele-mental health and office visits to clients in Georgia.

I’m glad you’re here. Life can feel heavy sometimes, and you don’t have to figure everything out on your own.

I work with adults of all genders who are navigating anxiety, depression, stress, grief, relationship challenges, low self-esteem, and major life changes. Maybe you’re constantly overthinking, having a hard time setting boundaries, carrying things from your past, or simply feeling stuck and ready for something to change.

Therapy with me is a space where you can show up as you are without judgment or pressure to have all the answers. Together, we’ll work on understanding what’s holding you back, building confidence, developing healthier ways to cope, and helping you feel more like yourself again.

You deserve to feel heard, supported, and hopeful about what comes next.

Jade is an EMDR (Eye movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) trained therapist. (EMDR is a therapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences). She believes that we are all beautiful--some of us know it, some of us don't, and some of us know it too well.

I trained in medicine before I became a therapist, and it changed what I listen for. When a client tells me her chest tightens before every meeting, or that she can't stop thinking about a diagnosis, I take the physical side of that seriously.

I hold a PhD in health psychology and I'm a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois and Florida. My published research is on post-traumatic growth in women. Since 2020 I've also taught graduate counseling and psychology as an adjunct professor.

I see adults dealing with trauma and complex trauma, chronic illness, health anxiety, depression, grief, and major life transitions. I work with women through perinatal and postpartum struggles and through fertility challenges. I also see adolescents.

I speak English, Hindi, Arabic, and Urdu. If you're dealing with immigration, acculturation, or family expectations that don't translate easily, you won't have to explain that context to me first.

I’m a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. I have a passion for assisting individuals, couples, and families navigate the challenges of life.

I have over 5 years of experience working in settings such as private practice, community mental health, hospitals, and mobile crisis response teams as a social worker, mental health advocate, and registered nurse. I have experience working in the emergency room of a level 1 trauma center, with children and families involved in the dependency system, and victims of crimes. One key area of focus for me is supporting individuals facing concerns ranging from anxiety and depression to trauma recovery.

I have earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Family and Child Sciences from Florida State University, with a focus on child and family development. I also received a Master’s in Nursing Degree from Chamberlain University, where I received extensive training in evidence-based therapeutic approaches. I continue to stay open-minded and take any education opportunities to stay current with best practices and emerging research in mental health care.