Counseling and consulting services for you, your child, your marriage, or your business. Let me help you make your "home" a happy one.
Servicios de terapia y consulta para usted, sus hijos, su matrimonio y/o sus negocios. Déjeme ayudarle a hacer de su hogar un lugar feliz.
My name is Graciela Pulliam. I am a bi-lingual Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Florida. I was born in La Paz Bolivia, and I have lived in seven countries throughout Europe, the Caribbean, and South America, settling in the Central Florida area for the past eighteen years. I speak native Spanish (Vea traduccion) due to my family background and travel experience, and I am fascinated by psychology across cultures.
My career began in the University of Central Florida in Orlando, where I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. I went on to graduate studies at Rollins College in Winter Park obtaining a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling with a certification in Marriage and Family Therapy.
My counseling experiences have ranged from sexual trauma groups for parents of victims, dual diagnosis teen in-patient treatment programs, low functioning partial hospitalization groups, play and behavior therapy with children, and couple and individual counseling in private practice. I am also a certified Hypnotherapist.
I am a member of several counseling organizations, including American Counseling Association, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and the Association for Specialists in Group Work, as well as the local versions of these. I have even had the opportunity to present at their national conferences on several occasions as part of the committee for Best Practices in Group Work and on the topic of Sexual Counseling Theory. I have also put my experience into practice while teaching university Behavioral Science classes for the past 6 years.
Let me put my years of experience, as well as empathic listening skills to work for you. So, take a look around the site. Here you will have the opportunity to get to know about my experience, services, and how to get started.
Shelby Miller, MS LMHC
Shelby Miller is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Stetson University. She is an aspiring Play Therapist who believes children communicate on a much deeper level than speech.
Shelby has worked with kids, teens, and adults from a variety of backgrounds over the past 8 years. She has experience working with bipolar teens and adults on an inpatient unit, kids and teens on the Autism spectrum, children who have experienced trauma, and with parents on psychoeducation parenting skills (such as Child Parent Relationship Therapy). Her specialties include Play Therapy, EMDR, and trauma work.
Jonathan Berlin, MS LMHC
Jonathan Berlin is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of Florida. He has a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Stetson University and an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Stetson University.
He has worked with children, adults, families, and couples in various settings throughout Volusia County for over 10 years. Jonathan’s experience has included substance abuse treatment, child/adolescent therapy in the school system, inpatient psychiatric services, in-home assessments, family therapy, group therapy, psychoeducational groups, discharge planning and case management. He is currently working with adults who have been diagnosed with a mental illness and intellectual disability or spectrum disorders. His specialty populations include substance abuse, severe/persistent mental illness, mood disorders, relationship counseling, geriatric services, intellectual disability/spectrum disorders and helping clients navigate community resources.
Jonathan utilizes several modalities but believes cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavioral therapy provide the most comprehensive way to assist individuals looking to grow and change. Jonathan firmly believes in a strength-based approach and helping individuals utilize what they do well to help them get where they would like to go. He believes in creating an empathetic, judgment free environment that clients can feel safe to grow in. He is looking forward to using his extensive experience providing individual, couples, family and group therapy to help individuals of our community achieve their best lives during these challenging times.
Nici Haerter, MA LMHC
Nici Haerter is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Florida. She has a graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Rollins College and an undergraduate degree in social work from the University of Central Florida. Nici enjoys incorporating EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), which has been proven beneficial in reducing symptoms related to PTSD, anxiety, and depression just to name a few. She is also a Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider, which she utilizes to help find the most appropriate treatments (conventional and complementary) that safely and effectively address the symptoms of mental and emotional health, with both adults and children.
She has over twenty years of case management experience, specializing in the field of geriatrics. “I enjoy my work with older adults and am able to assist with a multitude of obstacles related to transitions and losses that may be experienced during this stage of life as well as with their caregivers and loved ones. With a background in social work, I often view my clients through a cultural and environmental lens, thus respecting and celebrating our unique values and differences.”
Nici has successfully found tools to continue all this work virtually and is offering online sessions only at this time.
Ana Bustamante, MA
Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
Ana is our most recent graduate from the University of Central Florida, where she obtained her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Ana is experienced in utilizing play therapy. She has attended the UCF play therapy conference annually since she started UCF’s master’s program. She is bi-lingual in English and Spanish and has a passion for working with children and teens. Ana believes in creating a safe pace where her clients are able to express themselves freely.
Ruth Caldwell, MA
Registered Marriage & Family Therapist Intern
Ruth Caldwell is a graduate from The University of Central Florida. She is a Registered Marriage and Family therapist Intern. She works with a range of populations and concerns. Such as couples, adults, teens, eating disorders, anxiety and depression.
Ruth has a passion for helping individuals take control back from their anxiety or depression. Ruth believes that courage and confidence can be built and is not fixed. She also enjoys helping others to be successful in establishing and maintaining loving relationships. She believes that the more positive connections we have in life the happier we become.
Ruth would love to work with you and help you achieve the life or partnership you are desiring.
Lela Geist, MA LMHC
Lela obtained her BA in Music Therapy from Florida State University and her MA in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Central Florida. She specializes in working with young adults and adults experiencing life transitions, anxiety, depression, overwhelming and difficulty regulating emotions, relational concerns, and helping build confidence and self-esteem. She also enjoys working with those who identify as HSPs (or Highly Sensitive People).
Life can feel overwhelming and keeping up with demands can feel like a constant uphill trek. Lela aims to help clients feel excited and passionate about life & to face challenges with confidence. She helps clients identify unhelpful patterns & bring out their strengths that will guide them towards a more holistic and fulfilling life.
She enjoys using a combination of expressive arts, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy. She strives to provide a safe, nonjudgmental, and comfortable atmosphere for clients by using empathy, validation, and compassion. She believes her clients are in the driver's seat and she is in the passenger seat. We are all the masters of our lives. Her job is to provide clients with tools while guiding and supporting them throughout the process.
Mashal Dhanani, MA
Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
Mashal is a recent Barry University graduate, where she obtained her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. During her program, Mashal was an active member of her chapter’s Chi Sigma Iota Honor Society where she was the editor-in-chief of the chapter’s newsletter.
Mashal is interested in working with a diverse population including but not limited to children of all ages, adolescents, and adults. She is particularly interested in working with neurodiverse children and is currently gaining experience in play therapy and art therapy. Mashal believes that expressive arts can help to process one’s thoughts and feelings more in-depth, this is especially true for children. Mashal is also particularly interested in working with individuals who have experienced trauma, she incorporates elements of Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Narrative Therapy into sessions. Mashal wants to create a safe space for her clients where they feel accepted and have the ability to express themselves openly through various outlets.
Jessica Chavis Stetson University, Student Intern
Jessica is a current graduate student at Stetson University. She is currently working towards her MA in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling. Jessica has completed her universities’ play therapy/expressive arts program, and certifications in Gottman Level 1 and Prepare/Enrich (Programs that focus on couples, premarital or those facing struggles)
Jessica is interested in working with a diverse population including but not limited to children of all ages, adolescents, and adults. She is particularly interested in working with many communities, including polyamorous, LGBTQIA+, BDSM, furry, and kink. Jessica is creative in her approaches to the varied concerns brought to her and strives to find what works best for each individual. Before counseling, Jessica worked in the education field with children and their parents to find solutions to help them succeed. She has taken those skills and transferred them to helping people strive for their best life.
Jessica believes that everyone has a unique story, and they deserve a chance to express themselves and work on new skills in a safe place; specifically a place without fear of failure or judgment.
Mahtaab Manekia Stetson University, Student Intern
Mahtaab is a current graduate student at Stetson University, pursuing her MS in Marriage and Family Therapy with an Advanced Studies focus in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Alongside her academic journey, she is a dedicated yoga instructor, passionate about integrating yoga and mindful breathing techniques into her therapeutic practice.
With a keen interest in working with children, adolescents, couples, and families, Mahtaab is particularly drawn to exploring family systems. She is committed to supporting pre-marital couples and parents, firmly believing in the importance of establishing a strong foundation and fostering a positive, empowering home environment to nurture thriving children.
As a yoga instructor, Mahtaab seeks to seamlessly incorporate the principles of yoga and intentional breathing into her work, contributing to a holistic approach to mental health. Her goal is to assist couples and parents in addressing childhood trauma and building a resilient foundation while promoting overall well-being through the integration of yoga practices.
David Divirgilio,
University of Central Florida
Student Intern
David is a current graduate student at the University of Central Florida, pursuing his MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. He is interested in working with adults and children as well as couples, having recently completed his level 1 Gottman certification. Additionally, David enjoys being active and outside in nature and desires to incorporate holistic well-being into the counseling experience.
David counsels from a person-centered framework, aiming to create a non-judgmental and empathic environment that empowers clients to reflect, feel, grow and heal.
Erica Ramirez-Roque,
University of Central Florida
Student Intern
Erika is a current graduate student at the University of Central Florida, pursuing her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She actively participates in the Upsilon Chi chapter of the Chi Sigma Iota Honor Society.
Erika is passionate about working with children, caregivers, and adolescents, and is eager to engage with various communities. She speaks both Spanish and English fluently. Erika has worked individually and in groups with children in classroom settings, traumatized children and adolescents, and teens and adults in residential treatment programs addressing a variety of concerns.
Erika has experience in using play therapy (CCPT), DBT skills, attachment-based therapy, and more. Erika strives to create a safe and empowering therapeutic space where her clients can express themselves freely, grow, and heal. She is dedicated to meeting clients where they are and valuing their unique experiences and perspectives. Erika would love to work with you and help you achieve your goals!