Meet our Partners and Mental Health Professionals

Alesia is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and founding partner of Santa Rosa Counseling Center.  She has a passion to help families become healthier, happier, and more compatible. She has been happily married to her husband, Dean, for over 38 years. She has three adult children who live with their families in Santa Rosa County and six beautiful grandchildren. The rich personal experience of her own successful marriage and family, twenty-plus years within the transient military life, and an extensive educational and clinical background equips her to help families in many of life's challenges. Alesia has practiced psychotherapy in a variety of pastoral and clinical settings. She enjoys writing and has authored numerous articles, including the book, "The Godly Woman: A Walk into Wisdom." Others have said of her counseling approach that she provides a friendly, supportive, and non-judgmental atmosphere for people to experience growth and healing. Through the experience of unconditional acceptance, she seeks to empower others to live with happiness and hope in life's journey as they explore options for answers.

Master of Science, Psychology and Counseling, Troy State University

Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy and Religious Studies, University of West Florida

Theological Studies, Asbury Theological and North Central University

Mr. Willis is a compassionate helper to individuals and couples seeking hope and solutions. He specializes in working with relationship problems, conflict resolution, communication skills, parenting skills, and mood disorders. His experiences and development as a devoted husband and father of sixteen years have equipped him to help families improve parenting and marital functioning.  His counseling approach is solution-focused, concentrating on practical and realistic goals. His approach is empowering and hopeful.

Mr. Willis is recognized by the 1st District Court of Florida as Subject Matter Expert Witness for Infant Mental Health and Mental and Behavioral Health for children and families. He is trained as a collaborative family law mental health professional. He is regularly engaged in profiled cases involving child dependency, child custody, parenting plans, and social investigations. 

Mr. Willis has served proudly in the military and public service for over eighteen years. He serves voluntarily as a member of the Northwest Florida Crisis Intervention Team, a team that uses understanding and skills gained through specialized training to identify and provide the most effective and compassionate response possible involving persons in a mental health crisis.

Master of Science, Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Psychology, Troy University

Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies and Pre-Law, University of West Florida

Stephanie provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management services for pediatric, adult, and geriatric populations.  Stephanie specializes in treating psychiatric disorders and symptoms including anxiety, depression, bipolar, impulse control disorders, ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, trauma/stress, dissociative symptoms, somatic concerns, schizophrenia, feeding and eating disorders, elimination disorders, sleep-wake difficulties, substance use/dependency disorders, gender dysphoria, behavioral issues associated with cognitive and developmental delays, and more.  Patients can expect a confidential, non-judgmental, and safe environment for treatment.

Master of Science in Nursing,  University of South Alabama

Bachelor of Science in Nursing , Oklahoma Christian University

Bachelor of Science, Oklahoma Christian University

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - Board Certified, American Nurses Credentialing Center

Grace provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management services for pediatric, adult, and geriatric populations.  Grace offers expertise in medication management according to each individual's needs, medical concerns, and preferences.  Patients can expect a confidential, non-judgmental, and safe environment for treatment.

Master of Science, Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Master of Science in Nursing, University of South Carolina

Bachelor of Arts in Nursing, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - Board Certified, American Nurses Credentialing Center

Megan provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management services for pediatric, adult, and geriatric populations. Megan specializes in treating psychiatric conditions including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, ADHD, trauma/stress disorders, and various other psychiatric conditions. Megan offers expertise in medication management according to each individual's needs, medical concerns, and preferences.  Patients can expect a confidential, non-judgmental, and safe environment for treatment. 

Master of Science in Nursing, Walden University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Pennsylvania State University

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - Board Certified, American Nurses Credentialing Center

Brittany specializes in addictive behaviors including self-harm, anger management, food addictions, and substance abuse. She uses a cognitive-behavioral and whole-person approach to helping people adjust behaviors that have led to unwanted consequences such as DUI, weight issues, or legal problems.   Brittany's compassion for helping others has led to careers in activity therapy, case management in community counseling agencies, and juvenile justice counseling and management. She has also enjoyed volunteering as an autism teacher and a counselor for sexual abuse/trauma. Her background as a treatment director and counselor in juvenile justice programs has allowed her to specialize in needs that challenge children, teens, and families including spiritual needs, ethical dilemmas, suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, anger management. Counseling with Brittany is a safely guided journey led with honesty, humor, empathy, and patience. She seeks to counsel clients with a spirit of gentleness and discretion.

Master of Science, Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Psychology, Troy University

Bachelor of Science, Psychology, University of Alaska Anchorage

Jake is effective in helping others sort out some of life’s most difficult issues. He works well with those who have problems with anxiety, depression, anger, and relational issues. He is exceptionally helpful in aiding teens and young adults to work through educational and vocational goals and determine their life’s direction. He specializes in gaming addiction and enjoys helping youth balance their time with family, outdoor activities, and friends. He offers support, hope, empathy, understanding, and a safe environment for healing and growth.

Master of Science, Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Psychology, Troy University
Bachelor of Science, Health Care Management, Pensacola State College

Hannah provides important individual and family services for children and adults.  Her areas of specialty include ADHD, trauma, oppositional behavior, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.  She has experience working with survivors of domestic violence, and people struggling with eating disorders, and addiction. Christian counseling can be integrated at the request of the individual.  Considering the connectedness of the mind and body, Hannah uses modalities such as mindfulness, yoga, physical activity, and nutrition education to be able to heal the body from the inside out.

Master of Arts, Clinical Psychology, Saint Michael's College

Bachelor of Arts, Sociology and Cultural Anthropology, Saint Michael’s College

Jenna Stewart Vaughn is a Clinical Traumatologist uniquely qualified in helping people understand and recover from upsetting life experiences that have a negative impact on how they feel about themselves, how they relate to others, and how they behave. She views her clients as mentally healthy individuals having understandable reactions to upsetting, disappointing or difficult aspects of life.  As a trained Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapist, she has extensive training and experience in trauma and grief work. EMDR is a whole-brain approach to therapy that facilitates the brain's natural process for reprocessing and resolving memories of upsetting events that affect our behaviors and how we feel about ourselves.  She loves working as a therapist and is grateful for the privilege of hearing clients' stories and witnessing people grow, heal, and find more joy in life.

Master of Science, Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Psychology, Troy University

Erin is a licensed clinical social worker.  She specializes in treating trauma, mood disorders including depression, anxiety, and psychosis.  Erin has a very important skill set as an EMDR and DBT practitioner.  Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a psychotherapy treatment that is designed to help alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories.  Additionally, Dialectal Behavior Therapy is a type of therapy designed to help individuals develop healthy ways to cope with stress, regulate their emotions, and improve their relationships with others.

Erin is a preferred Medicaid and Medicare provider.  She is also networked with most major commercial and EAP plans.

Master of Social Work, Social Work, University of West Florida

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Westminster College

Rachael provides specialized treatment for individuals experiencing problems with depression, anxiety, behavior disorders, personality disorder, substance abuse, and severe mental illness including Schizophrenia.

Master of Social Work, Walden University
Bachelor of Psychology and Criminal Justice, University of West Florida

Sandie provides compassionate counseling for children, teens, families, and adults. She specializes in helping with difficult life transitions, depression, parenting, anger management, ADHD, and anxiety.  She also has experience helping student develop daily executive function and regulation skills so that they can more easily achieve their goals in the classroom and home.  Her important work and life experiences include expertise in K-12 education and counseling, parenting, military service including deployment, and first responder.

Continued graduate education, Liberty University

Master of Arts, School Counselor, Northeastern Illinois University
Bachelor of Arts, Certified Teacher Social Studies, Illinois State University