Ever since I was young, I knew I wanted to get into a career path that would make a difference in people’s lives. People are my passion! I'm fascinated by how our brains work, the way we think and how we interact with one another. I'm so passionate about human beings and relationships that I have made it my life's work. 

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I have experience providing a variety of therapeutic services to the Tampa Bay area. I am board licensed with the state of Florida and am also a National Certified Counselor. My career has ranged from contract counselor within a private practice, in-home court mandated therapy and TBOS,  pediatric and adult inpatient hospital settings, and social services advocacy within crisis stabilization units. What does all that mean? Well, in short, I have worked with many backgrounds, populations, and mental health related issues. 

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I work with individuals and couples. My treatment specialization includes depression, anxiety, infertility, grief and loss,  relationship concerns, life transitions, stress-management, and trauma. 

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I truly care for all of my clients, and work diligently to help find them the answers they seek. I get it... If you're going to do therapy, you want somebody you feel completely comfortable with. I offer a truly relaxed environment where you're free to be your true authentic self. There's no shame in wanting to be a better version of yourself. It's brave and awesome! I'm already proud of you for taking the first step in seeking a therapist to work with!

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Therapy is an investment of your time, finances, and energy, so you want to make sure you find the therapist who is right for you. Don't be afraid to call around and ask questions to see who you feel most connected with before starting the process.

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CHRISTINE

Christine Yerrakadu, LMHC

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I entered the counseling profession as a result of my time volunteering at the Moffitt Cancer Center Arts in Medicine Studio. I had taught art and music for many years, and set out to explore the different ways they could be used to help people. While volunteering as an artist and musician in the Arts in Medicine Studio, I was encouraged by the staff to pursue mental health counseling via expressive arts therapy.

Although, the staff around me brought up pursing this career, as soon as I heard it, everything made sense about what I wanted to do, what I needed to do. I had been (still am) a teacher but I took my time to really get to know my students, to form a relationship with each of them. I believed at the time this was to help me tailor their lesson plans but it was so much more than that! By sharing, their art came more alive and by expressing themselves through art, their stories were truer and no longer caged.

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I hold master’s degrees in both Art History and Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Expressive Arts Therapy. Expressive Arts Therapy is the use of the creative arts, such as visual arts, music, dance movement, creative writing, and other creative modalities, as a form of therapy. They can enhance talk therapy, and help facilitate growth, development, and healing, without the client having any prior creative experience.

 

I am currently a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Registered Expressive Art Therapist (REAT). I have experience working with individuals and groups both in inpatient and outpatient hospital settings with ages ranging from children to adults.

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I am currently accepting clients through telehealth appointments only. These sessions will take place over a HIPPA compliant platform. Look forward to “seeing” you soon!

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CJ

CJ Schurman, LMHC, LPC

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Becoming a counselor was not on my list of “things I want to be when I grow up” but it’s funny how sometimes life leads you down a path you were destined for. After getting my bachelors in psychology, I started working at a local community mental health center on an acute inpatient unit and loved working with the SPMI population. It inspired me to go back to grad school and get my masters in rehabilitation and mental health counseling from the University of South Florida. Since then, I have obtained my LMHC and LPC in both Florida and Georgia. I have over 15 years of experience working with a range of patients including children, adolescents, adults, and geriatrics in both an inpatient and outpatient setting. I dabbled into inpatient insurance authorizations for a little while to see what it’s like on the other side. I can say that I definitely enjoy working closely with people more!

I strive to inspire others to help themselves in order to meet their goals, heal, and find peace. I believe everyone has the potential for personal growth and healing and can take an active role in making that happen. I know that no single approach is right for everyone. Therefore, I focus on meeting my patients where they are at and work with them from there. My goal is to work with you and build rapport so you feel comfortable and safe while walking this journey. I work with an array of mood disorders, anxiety, grief, parenting issues, relational problems, adjustment disorders, as well as other mental health concerns.

I'm currently offering services for minors and adults. The therapeutic alliance is very important to me so making solid connections with my patients based on respect, trust, empathy, and aligning our treatment goals is fundamental for your success on this journey. I am looking forward to working with you!

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