The Kissimmee Compassion Team
The Kissimmee Compassion Team is made up of a group of amazingly talented and compassionate individuals that serve the Kissimmee community and its surrounding areas. They practice as Licensed Mental Health Counselors, Licensed Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Registered State Interns, and Professional Life Coaches. Our Team Core Beliefs are grounded in prioritizing God, Family, and Self-Care before service to ensure that our professionals are at their best emotionally and spiritually within their personal lives so that they can provide the highest quality of care for our clients. Our Kissimmee Compassion team engages in continued professional development throughout the year to stay up to date on effective intervention strategies for improving the mental health of our clients.
Marta Rivera, R-CSWI
Kissimmee Site Supervisor. Telehealth Only.
Marta has served in the field of mental health for 20 years in a variety of settings ranging from community agency work to private clinical and in-home therapy, to school-based services. Her primary role has been in serving children, youth, and families through counseling, crisis intervention, case-management, educational advocacy, and mental health training & leadership. Marta has a passion for helping individuals and families to reach mental health wellness through the work of trauma healing, cognitive reframing, healthy emotional regulation, and effective communication. She utilizes therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Christian Counseling.
Marta is highly skills in working with clients who have experienced crisis, trauma, struggle with intense anxiety and depression, and/or grief/loss. Her skills extend to training schools, churches, organizations and businesses on Youth Mental Health First Aid, Suicide Awareness, and Crisis Management, as well as mentoring clinical student interns.
Marta serves as a Site Lead Clinician for Renewed Integrative Counseling's Kissimmee Office.
Lyanne Soto-Ramos, LCSW
Licensed Therapist. In-Office & Telehealth.
Lyanne is a Licensed Clinical Social worker whose desire to help others feel heard and conquer life, has been with her from early on in her career. Lyanne has been working in the mental health field for the past 5 years including working with those going through crisis, life transitions, anxiety, depression, and grief. She provides mental health care in both English and Spanish speaking individuals and families. Through Lyanne's work, she is able to successfully support clients who want to rationalize and organize their thoughts and learn to regulate their emotions in effective and healthy ways. Lyanne utilizes therapeutics techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Positive psychotherapy, mindfulness, solution focused and emotional regulation skills to aid client's in achieving mental health wellness and live more fulfilling lives.
Lyanne additionally supports and motivates clients by providing psycho-education to help them build a toolbox they can carry with them through life. Lyanne believes that life can be a beautiful opportunity to learn, grow and process.
Gina Gallo, R-MFTI
Licensed Therapist Intern. In-Office & Telehealth.
Gina is a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern with a Masters of Divinity in Clinical Counseling. She is dedicated to supporting clients on their journey toward wholeness and healing. With seven years of experience, Gina has counseled individuals, couples, and families facing diverse issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief/loss, marital conflict, infidelity, separation and divorce, family strain, parenting, and life changes. She utilizes therapeutic modalities and interventions such as CBT, SFBT, EFT, Bowen Family Systems, Structural Therapy, Christian Therapy, emotion regulation, and psychoeducation.
Gina provides counseling services tailored to address individuals' distinct needs and goals, ensuring a personalized and effective therapeutic experience. Her commitment and compassion shine through as she guides clients in processing emotions, addressing unhelpful thinking styles, rebuilding self-identity, and developing resilience. Encouragement is found in learning to foster healthy relationships, improve communication, and confidently manage challenges. Clients are equipped with the skills, tools, and perspective for a hope-filled future.
Valerie Perkins, R-MHCI
Licensed Therapist Intern. In-Office & Telehealth.
Valerie is a dedicated mental health therapist with a specialization in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She is deeply committed to providing personalized guidance to individuals as they embark on unique journeys of growth and self-discovery. Valerie's therapeutic approach is firmly rooted in empathy, creating a nurturing and secure space for exploration, healing, and transformation.
Collaborating closely with Valerie, clients engage in a shared exploration of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors within a collaborative and supportive environment. Valerie places a strong emphasis on a client-centered focus, ensuring that each individual's distinct needs are prioritized, resulting in a tailored therapeutic experience.
In the collaborative journey, Valerie and her clients work hand in hand to develop practical coping strategies, reshape negative thought patterns, and embark on transformative paths towards resilience. Throughout this process, Valerie maintains a steadfast commitment to the well-being of her clients, offering unwavering support at every step of their therapeutic journey.
Tameka Howell, B.S.
Student Therapist Intern. In-Office & Telehealth.
“The pain you’ve been feeling cannot compare to the joy that is coming.”
- Romans 8:18
Tameka is a Supervised Student Intern expected to complete her Dual Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling by Spring 2025 from Walden University. Tameka’s desire for helping others from all walks of life fuels her passion to be the voice of the voiceless, transform a victim mindset into a victor mindset, and empower marginalized populations. She strives to facilitate a welcoming, safe, and non-judgmental environment where the client's feelings are validated.
She has a heart for working with women to pursue self-care and self-love, couples developing healthy-positive relationships, and adolescents building or rebuilding their self-identity. She sees the therapeutic process as a team effort in which she works with her clients to explore problems, set and achieve goals, heal from past traumas, develop coping mechanisms, and build upon their strengths.
Sandy Michael, R-MHCI
Licensed Therapist Intern. In-Office & Telehealth.
“Doing the will of God from the heart, serve wholeheartedly as if you were serving the will of God from your heart”
- Ephesians 6: 6-7
Sandy is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern and a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern in the state of Florida. Her experience includes working with a variety of clients from different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds including individuals and couples. She has also worked with clients struggling with substance use, codependency, grief/loss, depression, anxiety, and relational difficulties.
Sandy utilizes techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and a Person-Centered approach; however, she believes that the approach should be individualized based on your unique needs and goals. By fostering a trusting therapeutic relationship, she aims to create a safe, comfortable, and non-judgmental environment that allows for emotional healing and personal growth.
Latasha Cherry, R-MFT/R-MHCI
Licensed Therapist Intern. In-Office & Telehealth.
“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
-Philippians 4:7
Latasha is a Registered Marriage & Family Therapist and Mental Health Counseling Intern. She has a sincere heart to serve and a passion to help adults, teens, couples, and families overcome challenges, learn coping skills, gain healing, and peace. Latasha has experience counseling in community mental health, residential and private practice. She believes that wholeness of the mind, body and spirit can improve quality of life and is effective in reaching God given potential.
Latasha takes pride in creating a safe, confidential, healing space while building genuine rapport to increase therapeutic relationships. She customizes treatment based on the clients individual needs. Latasha brings a diverse blend of evidenced-based, integrative therapeutic modalities, psychoeducation, and interventions with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Christian Counseling being her main theoretical approaches.
Latasha knows considering counseling is not always easy but if you have a willing heart and are ready for a change. She is open to listen, encourage and support you in this season of your life journey.
