Ana, bilingual in Spanish and a licensed mental health counselor, serves as the Clinical Director at Compassions Behavioral Health. With a rich and passionate background in helping others, Ana pursued a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of San Diego. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to supporting individuals grappling with life’s toughest challenges, including suicide, trauma, severe mental illness, and substance use disorders. Ana integrates cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), Gestalt therapy, and mindfulness practices into her approach, aiming to ensure that all her clients feel heard, understood, and empowered to overcome the challenges they face.

Clinical Director

Dr. Daud is a compassionate and experienced leader, serving as the Medical Director at Compassion Behavioral Health, where he oversees the clinical care and ensures the highest standards of mental health treatment. Board-certified in both Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry, Dr. Daud brings a unique dual-specialty expertise to the facility, enabling a holistic approach to the complex needs of patients dealing with mental health as well as substance use disorders.

With years of clinical practice, Dr. Daud is dedicated to providing evidence-based care while fostering a supportive, collaborative environment for both patients and staff. His passion for improving lives is rooted in a deep commitment to understanding the nuanced challenges of mental health and addiction, and working with individuals to help them on their journey to recovery.

Dr. Daud has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating a wide range of psychiatric disorders, with a focus on dual diagnosis cases that involve both mental health and addiction challenges. In addition to clinical leadership, Dr. Daud is a strong advocate for integrating the latest research, treatment protocols, and technology to enhance patient outcomes. His leadership fosters an environment of compassion, innovation, and respect, ensuring the treatment team delivers care that is both personalized and effective.

Dr. Daud is committed to staying at the forefront of advancements in psychiatry, regularly engaging in continued education.

Aimee Payton is a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who has dedicated her career to helping individuals feel understood, safe, and empowered in their healing journey. Drawn to healthcare from a young age, she first envisioned a future in labor and delivery but quickly discovered her true calling in psychiatry. Since then, she has devoted more than a decade to working with individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges, finding purpose in meeting people where they are and breaking the stigmas that surround psychiatric care.

As a clinician, Aimee is known for her warm and approachable style, blending advanced training in psychopharmacology with a deeply empathetic, patient-centered approach. She values the provider-patient relationship as a place of trust and connection, listening carefully to each person’s unique story and tailoring treatment to their needs.

In addition to her clinical practice, Aimee has held leadership roles as Director of Nursing and Nurse Manager across multiple inpatient, residential, outpatient, and correctional facilities. These experiences have strengthened her ability to guide teams, improve systems of care, and ensure that patients receive high-quality, compassionate treatment.

Outside of her professional life, Aimee is a proud mother who finds joy in family, gardening, and creating balance between her personal and professional worlds. She sees growth—whether in her garden or in her patients’ lives—as a reminder of resilience and the possibility of renewal.

Monya is a licensed mental health counselor with a passion for helping individuals overcome substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health. Her 7+ years of experience in a variety of settings, including residential programs, detoxification centers, and intensive outpatient treatment. Monya has honed her skills in building rapport with clients and their families, fostering a trusting environment conducive to healing.

Monya’s therapeutic approach is grounded in evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and solution-focused therapy. She empowers clients by equipping them with the tools they need to manage their conditions and achieve lasting recovery. Her expertise extends beyond individual therapy, as she also facilitates group sessions, educating clients about mental health, substance abuse and coping strategies.

Monya’s experience extends to diverse populations, allowing her to tailor treatment plans to individual needs and cultural backgrounds.

Sarah is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who specializes in helping individuals overcome a plethora of challenges such as mental illness, PTSD, family dysfunction, low self-esteem, and addiction. Sarah earned her Master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University in 2019 and has worked in a wide variety of settings. Throughout her career, she has worked with various populations such as adults within the criminal justice system, adolescents, psychiatric stabilization, adults and adolescents struggling with addiction, and dysfunctional families. Sarah believes that everyone has the right to live a happy and fulfilling life and takes pride in supporting her clients on their journey of self-discovery and self-improvement. She believes that therapy is a collaborative journey and a life changing opportunity to achieve self-empowerment and a better quality of life.

Stephanie is a Mental Health and Substance abuse Counselor. Stephanie has been working in the mental health and substance abuse field since 2009. Stephanie acquired a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a concentration in Human services at Walden University and continued her education at Drexel University and earned a Master of Science degree in Addiction Counseling. Stephanie is also a Florida Board Certified Addiction Professional (CAP). Stephanie has also worked with clients dealing with mental health, dual diagnoses, anxiety, depression, addiction, anger and stress management, and trauma. Stephanie uses interventions such Person centered, Cognitive Behavioral Therapist and Motivational Interviewing.

Aimee is a primary therapist at Compassion Behavioral Health. Her primary goal is supporting and uplifting clients while helping them work through emotional and mental burdens. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling, both from Florida State University. Aimee enjoys working with people from various ages, races, and backgrounds. She employs an eclectic mix of techniques and interventions tailored to meet clients where they are and enhance their motivation throughout their mental health and sobriety journeys. Some of these methods include Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Known for her bubbly and open personality, Aimee connects with clients effectively, fostering growth and change.

Gregory is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with the state of Florida. Gregory has completed the DBT and EMDR basic trainings in order to practice DBT/EMDR with clients who have experienced trauma. Gregory has been contributing to the well being of others since 2008 when he started Applied Behavior Analysis with children, adolescents, and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectually Disabled and other co-occurring disorders. Gregory graduated from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL in January 2012 with his Master’s of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling. Gregory currently is a LMHC working in substance abuse field to effectively treat the disease of addiction, mental health and trauma symptoms. His aspirations include studying to receive his certified addictions professional (CAP) and pursuing his PhD in Neuropsychology.

Paula is a registered mental health counselor intern (RMHCI). Paula acquired a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at Florida International University and has been working in the mental health and substance abuse field since 2018. Paula has experience working with the homeless population in an outpatient setting and since then has developed a passion for working in the mental health field. She continued her education at Barry University and earned a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Paula is currently working as an RMHCI to effectively treat mental health symptoms as well as the disease of addiction. Paula uses an integrative approach which includes interventions from solution-focused, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to fit the needs of her clients.

Shauna is a primary therapist at Compassion Behavioral Health. She takes a person-centered approach to therapy and has experience supporting individuals facing substance use and a wide range of mental health challenges. Shauna believes that every person has the innate ability to look within, uncover their strengths, and find what they need inside themselves, they sometimes just need guidance along the way. Her goal is to provide a compassionate, supportive space where clients can reconnect with their inner resilience and move toward meaningful, lasting change.

Brianna L. Mendoza is a trauma-certified therapist specializing in deep trauma recovery and nervous system regulation. She is certified in RTM (Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories) and has advanced training in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), providing targeted interventions that support rapid healing of traumatic memory networks. Brianna integrates CBT, DBT, IFS, and spiritually integrated approaches to help clients break through emotional barriers, restore internal safety, and build a grounded sense of self. Her therapeutic style is warm, intuitive, direct, and empowering, creating an environment where clients feel safe, supported, and capable of real transformation.

Tharlene is the neurofeedback technician at Compassion Behavioral Health. She has performed, generated, and assessed an extensive amount of neurofeedback sessions. By providing neurofeedback services, she has noninvasively helped clients deal with their anxiety, depression, PTSD, and ADHD symptoms. Tharlene has a very bubbly, and inviting personality. She takes her time to explain the process and benefits of neurofeedback. She is trustworthy, a great listener, and is easy to talk to. She has a strong passion for helping others, which is one of the many reasons that she enjoys working in the healthcare field. She loves being a part of the growth and change that is seen in each client that comes into CBH! Along with her neurofeedback certification, she has also obtained her degree in Associate of arts and remains in school to continue her pursuit in the healthcare field.

Michelle Blair is a highly skilled and double board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner specializing in Family Medicine and Psychiatry. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Florida Atlantic University, graduating Cum Laude and as a distinguished member of the Nursing Honor Society. Committed to advancing her expertise, she pursued a Post-Master’s degree in Psychiatry from the University of Cincinnati. With over 17 years of experience across multiple specialties, Michelle has cultivated a diverse clinical background in cardiology, critical care, addiction medicine, and psychiatry. Her comprehensive approach to patient care is rooted in evidence-based practice, critical thinking, and a deep commitment to improving mental health outcomes. A seasoned healthcare provider, Michelle integrates her extensive medical knowledge with a compassionate, patient-centered approach, ensuring the highest standard of care for those she serves.

Heather Brathwaite has been a distinguished Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse in Florida since 1991 and holds a board certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Her educational journey includes a BSN from Florida International University in 1991, an MSN/APRN from the same university in 1996, and a doctorate in nursing from Barry University in 2016. With extensive expertise in treating psychiatric disorders across various settings and age groups, Brathwaite adopts a holistic approach to care, emphasizing the importance of tailored, comprehensive patient care. Her clinical focus lies in consultation, treatment planning, and care coordination for outpatients with psychiatric conditions and co-occurring disorders.Beyond her clinical endeavors, Brathwaite contributes to nursing education as a full-time faculty member at Miami Dade College and has led the psychiatric mental health course. With 24 years in academia, she has also taught at several other universities and is involved in multiple professional organizations. Her dedication to nursing extends globally, as evidenced by her efforts to support nursing education in Ghana by distributing textbooks and supplies to various institutions.

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