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Balancing School And Mental Health: How AWA Supports Teens In Teen Day Treatment

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Teen Day Treatment
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Teen Counseling Miami: Which Level Of Teen Therapy Is Right For Your Child?

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Teen counseling Miami
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Teen Therapy Basics And Levels Of Care At Adolescent Wellness Academy

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Teen Therapy In Miami
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Signs Of Teenage ADHD: What Parents In South Florida Should Watch For

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signs of teenage ADHD
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Understanding ADHD In Teenagers: A Calm Guide For South Florida Families

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Understanding ADHD in Teenagers
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Undiagnosed ADHD In Teens: Signs, Impacts, And Next Steps For South Florida Families

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Undiagnosed ADHD in Teens

Latest

Teen Day Treatment
Mental Health

Balancing School And Mental Health: How AWA Supports Teens In Teen Day Treatment

Teen day treatment at Adolescent Wellness Academy (AWA) helps South Florida teens stabilize mental health while staying connected to school. Dr. Maria Mejia, PhD, LMFT explains how the Therapeutic Day Program (PHP) builds routine, embeds academic support, and coordinates with virtual schooling when needed. Families also learn how IOP works as an after-school option, when teen counseling fits, what the first week looks like, and how length of stay follows progress instead of rigid timelines.

January 16, 2026
Teen counseling Miami
Teen Therapy

Teen Counseling Miami: Which Level Of Teen Therapy Is Right For Your Child?

Teen counseling Miami can mean weekly sessions, an after-school intensive outpatient program, or structured day treatment. At Adolescent Wellness Academy (AWA), Dr. Maria Mejia, PhD, LMFT explains how teen therapy works across levels of care, from PHP day treatment to IOP and counseling, with group therapy and parent involvement at every stage. Learn how anxiety and depression can affect school, friendships, and home life, plus warning signs that suggest a teen needs more support than weekly therapy.

January 13, 2026
Teen Therapy In Miami
Mental Health

Teen Therapy Basics And Levels Of Care At Adolescent Wellness Academy

Adolescent Wellness Academy (AWA) explains teen therapy through clear levels of care. Dr. Maria Mejia, PhD, LMFT, outlines how group therapy, individual sessions, family work, and pediatric psychiatry fit together. Learn how teen day treatment (PHP) supports safety, routine, and school participation, how a teen intensive outpatient program (IOP) fits after school, and when teen counseling Miami may be enough. Practical signs help teen therapy in Miami and teen therapy South Florida families choose the right starting level. It covers what the first week includes.

January 8, 2026
signs of teenage ADHD
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Signs Of Teenage ADHD: What Parents In South Florida Should Watch For

Signs of Teenage ADHD can show up as more than distraction. Many teens struggle with time blindness, missed assignments, emotional blowups, and constant conflict around schoolwork, even when they care and try hard. This guide explains common signs of ADHD in teens at home, at school, and with friends, including inattentive and hyperactive patterns. It also covers how ADHD can overlap with anxiety or low mood, and when an ADHD evaluation or teen counseling may bring clarity for South Florida families.

December 17, 2025
Understanding ADHD in Teenagers
Mental Health

Understanding ADHD In Teenagers: A Calm Guide For South Florida Families

Understanding ADHD in teenagers starts with noticing patterns that persist across school, home, and friendships. This guide explains what ADHD is, what ADHD looks like in teens, and how it differs from typical teen behavior. You will learn common ADHD symptoms in teenagers, including organization struggles, time blindness, and emotional overload, plus how ADHD and school problems in teens can affect confidence. It also covers ADHD evaluation for teenagers and what support can look like for South Florida families through therapy and coordinated care.

December 11, 2025
Undiagnosed ADHD in Teens
Mental Health

Undiagnosed ADHD In Teens: Signs, Impacts, And Next Steps For South Florida Families

Undiagnosed ADHD in teens can hide behind good grades, quiet behavior, or constant “trying harder.” Over time, missed assignments, disorganization, emotional overload, and conflict at home may grow. This article explains common signs of undiagnosed ADHD in teens, including masking, school struggles, and anxiety that can look like motivation problems. You will learn how ADHD can affect self-esteem, friendships, and mental health, plus what a thoughtful evaluation and supportive treatment plan can look like for South Florida families.

December 9, 2025
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Diego Hernandez - Therapist (Davie)

Diego Hernandez is a Mental Health Counseling student completing his Master’s degree at Nova Southeastern University.

He is bilingual in English and Spanish and has extensive experience working with adolescents, families, and young adults from diverse cultural backgrounds who are navigating trauma, family conflict, depression, and anxiety.
Diego’s therapeutic approach centers on creating an empowering and supportive space where clients feel safe to fully express themselves. He integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help clients identify what truly matters to them and work toward meaningful, values-based change.

Diego also incorporates a systemic perspective, recognizing the importance of relationships and family dynamics in supporting long-term growth and emotional wellness.

Tatiana Shiber - Therapist (Davie)

Tatiana Lourenco Shiber, MS, RMHCI is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. She has extensive experience working with adolescents navigating intellectual disabilities, trauma, self-harm, family conflict, depression, and anxiety. Tatiana has also worked with diverse populations providing culturally responsive and affirming care.
 
Tatiana’s therapeutic approach is strength-based and incorporates evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) and Narrative therapy. Tatiana is passionate about creating a safe and supportive environment where clients feel empowered to build resilience, develop healthy coping skills, and foster meaningful change. She is dedicated to walking alongside her clients in their healing journey with compassion, authenticity, and respect.

Tiffany Rivera - Therapist (Davie)

Tiffany Rivera holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Florida Atlantic University.

With a passion for empowering young people, Tiffany specializes in client-centered approaches that foster trust, growth, and resilience. She brings a strong background in mentoring youth and supporting individuals struggling with substance use, always meeting clients with empathy, patience, and genuine care.

Tiffany is known for her compassionate nature, strong communication skills, and unwavering commitment to helping adolescents navigate life’s challenges.

Ornella Barille - Therapist (Davie)

Ornella is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern and holds a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and has extensive experience working with diverse populations, including children, families, and young adults. Ornella has worked in both K-12 schools and at the college level, where she has developed a strong commitment to helping adolescents thrive by supporting their personal and academic growth and empowering them to reach their full potential.

Her therapeutic approach centers on creating a safe and welcoming environment where clients can feel comfortable exploring their needs and expressing themselves authentically. Ornella utilizes a blend of mindfulness, existential therapy, and cognitive-behavioral techniques to empower clients in navigating life’s challenges.

Ornella’s compassionate approach fosters self-awareness and encourages clients to build effective coping strategies to achieve their therapeutic goals.

Jamie Namer - Therapist (Davie)

Jamie specializes in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) guiding individuals and families toward healthier, more fulfilling lives. With a focus on positivity, self-growth, and holistic healing, Jamie integrates spiritual perspectives and deep empathy into the therapeutic process. Using solution-based methods and emotionally focused therapy, Jamie helps clients navigate past trauma, enhance self-discovery, and strengthen relationships.

Jamie’s approach combines therapeutic techniques with mind-body healing practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and visualization. Experienced in working with children, adolescents, adults, families, and groups, Jamie specializes in addressing issues like anxiety, grief, self-confidence, burnout, family dynamics, depression, PTSD, and life transitions. The goal is to promote overall well-being and support clients in living a balanced, healthy lifestyle.

Dr. Maria Angelica Mejia – Clinical Director (Davie)

Dr. Maria Angelica Mejia’s therapeutic approach is rooted in empathy, resilience-building, and collaboration. As the Clinical Director for Adolescent Wellness Academy, she is dedicated to supporting high-risk teens in navigating trauma, emotional distress, and life’s challenges with a holistic and trauma-informed lens. Dr. Mejia specializes in working with adolescents facing issues such as suicide risk, self-harm, anxiety, depression, and family conflict, utilizing techniques like CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and strength-based therapy. With extensive experience in community mental health, private practice, and clinical supervision, Dr. Mejia has a proven track record of empowering teens to overcome obstacles and thrive. She holds a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy bringing a depth of knowledge and compassion to her leadership role.

Kimberly Geller

Kimberly Geller - Primary Therapist (Davie)

Kimberly is a compassionate and dedicated therapist with a Master’s degree in Social Work from Florida International University. Kimberly creates a nurturing and secure environment where clients can freely explore their emotions and embark on their journey toward healing and growth. Kimberly specializes in client-centered approaches that helps tailor her therapeutic methods to meet unique needs and goals. By fostering a collaborative therapeutic relationship, she empowers clients to develop effective coping skills and achieve meaningful progress in their mental health journey. Kimberly ensures that each person she works with feels understood and valued throughout their therapeutic process.

Zainub Fatta - Therapist (Davie)

Zainub holds a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University and has extensive experience treating a wide range of mental health issues in adults, teens, and children. She specializes in treating diverse mental health struggles such as anxiety, depression, trauma, bipolar disorder, social anxiety, anger management, etc. She also has a lot of experience treating addiction and substance abuse problems within various treatment centers. Zainub views mental health from a systemic perspective, emphasizing the significance of how one’s environment and childhood impacts them, which is why she also specializes in family therapy and couples therapy, when it comes to achieving holistic well-being. Passionate about empowering individuals to find their voice, she considers it a privilege to listen to their vulnerable stories and provide the support they need. Her therapeutic approach focuses on uplifting clients by building their confidence and challenging them to break old, negative patterns of thinking and behavior.

Krystine Garay

Krystine Garay – Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Krystine Garay is a licensed mental health counselor, marriage family therapist, and certified telehealth practitioner. Raised in Miami, Florida, and a member of the Hispanic community, she provides services in both English and Spanish. With five years of experience, she has worked with children, adolescents, and adults, focusing on domestic violence, substance abuse, family conflicts, co-occurring disorders, and mental health issues.
Krystine holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Florida International University and a master’s degree with dual specializations in mental health and marriage and family counseling from Barry University. She is pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology with a concentration in health psychology from Carlos Albizu University.
Her clinical experience includes rotations at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, where she assisted children with co-occurring disorders using mindfulness exercises, cognitive-behavioral strategies, and dialectical-behavioral techniques.
Krystine believes in the power of personal growth and progress, and she is dedicated to fostering positive change in her clients’ lives.

Alyssa Mencucci – Therapist (Miami)

Alyssa is a dedicated master’s level clinician specializing in providing compassionate
therapy for adolescents and children facing severe mental health challenges. With a
deep understanding of the developmental stages and psychological needs of
adolescents and children, Alyssa offers expertise in addressing trauma-related issues,
guiding individuals through the complexities of grief, managing anxiety and depression,
navigating personality disorders, and supporting those dealing with PTSD. Alyssa uses
evidence-based techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, DBT, play therapy,
and trauma-focused interventions to create a safe and nurturing environment for
healing. Alyssa believes in a client-centered approach, tailoring therapy to meet the
unique needs and circumstances of each individual. She creates a safe and nurturing
environment where adolescents and children can explore their emotions, develop
coping skills, and embark on a journey of healing and growth.

Dr. Jacqueline Pablos – Clinical Director

Vulnerability and connection are at the heart of Dr. Pablos’ therapeutic approach. As the
Clinical Director for Adolescent Wellness Academy, she aims to create a safe space for
clients to embrace their emotions and express their needs in healthier ways. Dr. Pablos
specializes in treating depression, anxiety, body image issues, bullying, eating
disorders, and self-harm behaviors using techniques like CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and
ACT.
With extensive training in hospitals and counseling centers, Dr. Pablos has a strong
background in helping teens and adults with co-occurring mental and physical health
disorders. She holds a Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology, with specialized training
at institutions like Florida International University, Jackson Memorial Hospital,
Clementine Monte Nido, and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

Kimberly

Kimberly Carlesi – Therapist (Miami)

Kimberly, a dedicated therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health
Counseling from Florida International University, specializes in supporting individuals
with eating disorders, trauma, and substance abuse. She creates a safe, nurturing
environment for her clients’ healing journeys, drawing from diverse therapeutic
modalities like cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. With a
focus on trust and collaboration, Kimberly empowers clients through personalized
interventions, fostering self-awareness and resilience.