Dr Kathy Lacina

First, I have an intake form to fill out (we all love those), before we talk or meet. Then we decide if we will meet by phone, zoom, or in person if you live close by. The first session is free to get acquainted, ask any questions you might have, and discuss the current problem. I will make an assessment as to whether or not I feel confident to help you in the area of concern and then you decide if I am a good fit or not for you. I try to keep it casual and comfortable. I am pretty easy to talk to and I don't bite.

I have a doctorate in Christian Counseling but am more spiritual than fundamental. God is my source over other psychotherapy modalities. There is no judgment or shame here nor will I preach at you. 

I have a certification in Addiction counseling from UN of Tampa.

I have taken over 100 CEU credits in mental health, sexual abuse recovery and psychology.

I am continually updating and growing in knowledge to stay up with current modalities. I may not use them but I at least know about them.

Dream therapy is my gift and I have found it to be very effective in my practice and working with clients.

I charge $50.00 a session which can be an hour or more. I don't stop in the middle of a session when a timer goes off. I do offer a sliding fee for those who need it. I do not offer insurance billing as most will not pay for my services and I don't have the staff to do the billing. I try to keep my price fair for all to afford. 

My need for recovery led me to self-discovery after a suicide attempt at age 17. I got psychotherapy which helped some. It showed me what was wrong but didn't help me in learning what was right and how to stop the cycle of dysfunction and spiritual emptiness. I accepted Christ and the sanctification of his blood sacrifice on the cross when healing actually began. Not a church or a religion, but a relationship with the creator made the difference for me. Mental illness and emotional dysfunction are spiritual problems, not physical ones. It is the soul that is in need of repair. This is what I discovered through my own recovery journey.

From the depressed, addictions, confused, abused, and neglected. MPD has been my greatest challenge but what an awesome group they are. 

As a foster care parent, I am faced with the child's Traumas and the damage done because of it. It is both a challenge and a reward. I have 2 grown foster children who are doing wonderfully as independent adults. I am proud of them and the work they put forth to achieve their goals.

Seek until you find the right fit. If you are unhappy with the counselor you have, move on to another. Your relationship with your counselor or mentor is important and it needs to be one you feel that you can trust.

Make sure they have some experience under their belt. Don't be afraid to ask questions. A healthy counselor has nothing to hide and should be as authentic as possible. 

If they can relate to your problem, then they could be the right counselor for you.

Credentials mean nothing. Just because you have a diploma on the wall doesn't mean you are any good. 

Personally, I would choose someone with a spiritual background who has admitted to working through their own issues before trying to fix mine. Too many young adults just getting out of school with no experience are counseling others by the book. They are missing the spiritual aspects of their client.