Motivational Interviewing
in South Florida

Psychiatrist

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.

Lisa is a licensed mental health counselor with nearly 15 years of experience in the behavioral health field in various roles such as Case Management, Therapist, Clinical Director, and Executive Director. She has a diverse background working in various settings, such as in communities, schools, hospitals, substance abuse, and mental health treatment, as well as with various populations, ranging from children to adults.  Lisa’s extensive experience and passion in working with individuals struggling with severe and persistent mental illness has solidified the foundation to effectively treat various diagnoses. She possesses exemplary conceptualization skills to individualize client experience and takes pride in working amongst an interdisciplinary team and leading the clinical department in delivering quality care while meeting the unique needs of each client.

As Director of Nursing, Alejandro Jimenez brings an abundance of supervisory and managerial experience to Compassion Behavioral Health. Alejandro is a Registered Nurse who has worked in various medical areas and focused on mental health and addiction treatment from early in his career. Alejandro is a member of the Florida Nurses Association and has a degree in Business Administration as well as Nursing. Alejandro’s achievements span across the medical and mental health field and into other industries. Prior to becoming a nurse, he worked in the fashion and textiles industries, film & video production, and in the retail sector.

Alejandro takes great pride in being a part of a profession that allows him to help people overcome difficult challenges and be a member of one of the world’s most trusted professions.

Matthew comes to Compassion Behavioral Health with experience as a director of operations, program director, director of compliance, therapist, case management, as well as starting off in this field as a behavioral health technician. Working in this field since 2015, Matthew has been a part of creating and implementing new programs and facilities across the country, as well as overseeing and ensuring the utmost client care. Matthew received his degree in psychology and sociology from FAU and is also a Certified Addictions Counselor.

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.

Primary Therapist

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.

Primary Therapist

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nurse Practitioner