We're in this together.

In just a few weeks our lifestyles have changed. Truth be told, it will probably continue to change as we get used to what we will now call normalcy. 

Here at Love Speaks, we encourage you to continue to take care of yourself. Please do not let fear overwhelm you! Remember to meditate, pray, and find ways that you can encourage yourself and others around you. 

In Honor of Women’s History Month, we are highlighting a few heroes that can assist you with the emotions and stressors during this time. It is my hope that you will read their stories, understand their passion, and follow up with these professionals to help you become the best version of yourself.

Meet Raven

I’m a 28 year old mom of two beautiful, bouncy daughters! I am engaged to my high school sweetheart and we are in the wedding planning stages! I’m in my third and final year in the doctorate of marriage and family therapy program at Nova Southeastern University.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GO INTO THIS PROFESSION?

I believe my passion for helping people inspired me to become a therapist. 

WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR CLIENTS WILL GAIN FROM COUNSELING? 

I hope my clients will gain a sense of self through attending counseling. Oftentimes, people feel as though they have to stay in certain stuck situations throughout life because those are patterns they witnessed growing up, so when clients come to me, I hope to help them gain a sense of self through it all.

HOW CAN SOMEONE SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOU?

They can email directly at yourtherapistraven@gmail.com

SOCIAL MEDIA?

IG: @truefrequencyts

Meet Lourdes Canova

I am originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico. I completed my undergraduate and graduate studies in Clinical Psychology in Boston, Massachusetts at Northeastern University. I am very family oriented. I love and embrace my culture in everything I do. I am an animal lover and I love being out in contact with nature. I grew up in the Caribbean, so the ocean is where I feel most at home and at peace. I enjoy water sports and love traveling, photography and learning about new cultures.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GO INTO THIS PROFESSION?

My interest in the field began by growing up close to someone diagnosed with mild Bipolar Disorder. However, human behavior and the complexity of the human brain always intrigued me. As a child, I was always  interested in Science and the mix of Natural and Social sciences that the Psychology field provided captivated my attention during my High-school and College years.

At that time, my focus was to become a child psychologist and I  later found myself enjoying working with all age ranges including children, adolescents, adults and elders. During  my 12 years of career, I have developed a passion for helping individuals of all ages in recovering from Trauma and built a specialty on the treatment of Mood Disorders and Trauma.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR CLIENTS WILL GAIN FROM COUNSELING? 

I am passionate about helping individuals live a balanced, healthy, and fulfilling life, helping them navigate challenging life events. Through cultivating higher levels of self-awareness, clients not only identify and achieve their goals but also reach self-acceptance, self love and self- compassion and as a result, become the best version of themselves and live their best life! 

HOW CAN SOMEONE SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOU?

You can book an appointment online or via phone at 407 453-3305.

SOCIAL MEDIA?

You can follow me on Facebook: Lourdes Canovas, LMHC

Meet Sierra Hillsman

My name is Sierra Hillsman and I am a National Certified Counselor credentialed through NBCC and operate as a licensed Associate Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia. I have experience in individual and group counseling in the areas of anger management, assertiveness training, challenging irrational beliefs, substance abuse, and emotional and psychological trauma. I’m a world changer. My number one goal in life is to create a lasting legacy that inspires growth and development. One person at a time – that’s how I’m changing the world. I want to influence the culture by empowering others to live their lives with passion and purpose. This is not just a goal, this is how I live my life.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GO INTO THIS PROFESSION?

I came from a home where living from paycheck to paycheck was the norm. One’s physical health was not always at the forefront of our minds, let alone being concerned with one’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions. If a life crisis ensued, there was little to no time for bringing everything to a screeching halt because bills still needed to get paid regardless of the circumstances.

My story is similar to so many others throughout the world and I find that we are highly misinformed regarding mental health and wellness because of the pervasive stigmas. As someone who is a person of color, I recognize that vulnerability is perceived to be a weakness in our communities. So this often results in the reluctance towards asking for help when it is needed or the unwillingness to admit that we truly aren’t ok. 

For this reason, I initially pursued a career in the mental health field to become an advocate within communities of color. I wanted to acquire the knowledge to help dispel the same myths that keep us from taking advantage of so many free resources that are made readily available to us. The reality is, we live in a society where there is a mother experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia and is told that she simply needs to “pray it away”.

There is a brother who is experiencing depression and his irritability and isolating behaviors subject him to being deemed as just another "angry black man". There is a child who experiences reoccurring bouts of paralyzing panic attacks but their teacher automatically assumes that it is disruptive, attention-seeking behavior. And although we have progressed over the last 10 years, we still struggle with the belief that if you seek help from a mental health professional then you are “crazy”, “bougie”, or “lazy”.

My goal is to use my level of expertise to change the way we view counseling in relation to marginalized and disenfranchised communities. I entered the profession to create healthy conversations while creating solutions in all spaces – churches, schools, workplaces, community centers, kickbacks, and coffee shops.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR CLIENTS WILL GAIN FROM COUNSELING?

In this current season of my career, I operate within the substance abuse/addiction sector of mental health. I have the opportunity to work with individuals from various backgrounds however, the bulk of my clientele has experienced some degree of trauma, which subsequently contributes to their addictive behavior. My average caseload is comprised of individuals who have a history of physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse; those who have matriculated throughout the criminal justice system; or have been homeless for a number of years. I am working with men and women who can’t afford another relapse, let alone the caliber of mental health treatment that we provide at our facility. It’s literally life or death for the population that I currently serve. 

So my greatest hope is to work with them for the entire 6 months that they are enrolled in our intensive outpatient program so that they can learn how to effectively process their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in relation to their addiction and life experiences. I also aim to help my clients with dual diagnoses (mental illness and substance abuse disorders) gain the necessary skills to manage their disorders without self-medicating. This includes forming a relapse prevention plan with coping skills, mindfulness techniques, solution-focused methods, and dialectical-behavioral strategies. 

The beautiful thing about this process is seeing lives restored as each of my clients begin to realize that they do not need the illusion of drugs in order to survive their daily life stressors. I find joy in knowing that the benefits of counseling don’t just stop with them. A client who willfully engages in the therapeutic process creates a healthy version of themselves and then they go on to create healthy families, who then go on to develop healthy workplaces and communities. It’s a ripple effect that is generationally rewarding.

HOW CAN SOMEONE SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOU?

I am currently not taking private practice clients because I operate in an agency however, stay tuned for what’s in store in 2021.

SOCIAL MEDIA?

Of course! You can find me via YouTube or via Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Please visit my website and connect! Join my mailing list where I send weekly mental health resources and tips for free.