Extensive internships were accomplished by Mrs. LaVigna in Volusia County—some of which included the Department of Children & Families—Alcohol, Drugs & Mental Health, Family Safety Office, Investigations/Foster Care & Adoptions; The Council on Aging; Strategies, Inc. (Behavior Mentoring), HospiceCare, the Mental Health Association, Serenity House, ACT Corporation; and a one year Clinical practicum with Halifax Hospital Psychiatric Department.

​Mrs. LaVigna has worked with adults and adolescents with intellectual/ developmental disabilities, grief/losses, phase of life changes, seniors, family crises, addictions, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety and spiritual rebuilding.  A physician has been available to oversee medication management.

If you are a LGBT individual or couple seeking to build confidence or a better relationship, Mrs. LaVigna founded MAGIC, Mothers Assists gays in Closets in the early 90s.  She is here to provide support with the stigma and discrimination that takes place with hurtful behaviors, bullying in schools and family dysfunctions.

A professional Clinical Social Worker, like Mrs. LaVigna, is concerned about organizations, groups, disabilities, health, psychological, substance abuse, domestic conflicts, financials, homelessness and various social and behavioral mental health problems.  She is available to assess and improve your situation whatever it may

 Mr. Remmert joined Counseling & Disability Services in November 2014.  He studied Spanish in college and considers himself “functionally bilingual.”  His Clinical internship was completed in the Stewart-Marchman ACT Mental Health Jail Diversion Program which provided him with intensive experience in one-to-one and group counseling.  Tim was self-employed as a case manager in the Medicaid Waiver program from 2011 to 2015 assisting individuals with developmental disabilities.  He is experienced working with this population and an extensive range of mental health issues including psychological disorders, dual- diagnosed, vocational rehabilitation, substance abuse, group therapy, and behavior plans.

HYPNOTHERAPY

Timothy is a graduate of the Wellness Institute Heart Centered Hypnotherapy and is accepting new patients.  Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy is a way to access then heal the source of our traumas, beliefs and dysfunctional patterns. When something “triggers” us, it is usually an unhealed trauma or belief.  Hypnotherapy accesses the subconscious to access and heal the source trauma.For over 35 years, Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy has proven effective for almost all psychological issues ranging from anxiety and depression to addictions and behavioral issues.

Ms. Ferguson began working with at risk children and their families 30 years ago in Chicago. During this experience she became comfortable with working with families from very diverse nationalities and ethnic backgrounds.  She came to the Volusia County Schools 18 years ago and has served as a Case Worker, School Guidance Counselor, Teacher, Parent Advocate and Group Facilitator.  She has served in the Student Services Department of Volusia County Schools for over 10 years and currently works in the VCS Alternative Education Department.  She implements a rigorous behavioral modification plans for ESE and at-risk teens.  She runs motivational groups.  She has worked as a child and family advocate through the BRIDGES program.  Although, she is very gifted and insightful when working with youth, she has also broadened her practice over the past dozen or so years to include adults and seniors.
Her work with adults has included various positions at Stewart-Marchman Act in Volusia and Flagler Counties and the Crises Center, which are the Baker Act and Marchman Act receiving point for both counties. She has been a Substance Abuse Counselor at a residential program and detoxification center.  She has provided intake, screening, assessment and diagnosis for mental health and substance abuse services. She has facilitated out-patient substance abuse treatment groups and family groups for Drug Court.  She has provided individual and group counseling for diverse dually diagnosed clients at Project WARM.
Ms. Ferguson asserts, “It is never too late to have a happy childhood!”  She advises practical strategies to nurture your inner child and set yourself free from anxiety, depression, negative thinking patterns, self-destructive behaviors and dysfunctional relationships. She admonishes her clients, “Don’t give your power away!” by learning to set healthy boundaries with families and co-workers. “Claim your life of happiness joy and freedom,” which is your birthright. She has specialized in addiction, codependency, trauma, anxiety and depression among other maladies. She blends medical, psychological, mental health, and spiritual principles in her practice.
She credits Charles L. Whitfield for providing the most clear cut model of the effect of alcoholic and dysfunctional families on the development of the Inner Child.  His book, Healing the Child Within clearly explains how these three areas of child research; psychoanalytical therapy,  social work and the recovery movement are coming together to provide new breakthroughs in the conception, understanding and eventual treatment methods that heal the inner child. 
This eclectic therapeutic approach is completely practical and achievable.  It is based on the concept of the “Inner Child” coined by Dr. Charles Whitfield. This approach is completely practical and brings results. The concept of the child within was first identified by Sigmund Freud and began with his discovery of the human unconsciousness. His follower, Carl Yung called it the “Divine Child”. It has been called the “Wonderchild,” by Emmett Fox.  Donald Winnicott described the specifics of the “Real, True Self.” As far back as 1979, Alice Miller a noted psychoanalyst began integrating the effects of child abuse and neglect into her work but the effects of substance abuse in families was not mentioned. 
Most of the helping professions, until very recently, have not received training in the interaction of childhood trauma or substance abuse and the impact that it can have on the process of personality development.  Another breakthrough occurred when visualization exercises that sought to heal the Child Within were part of successful cancer treatments.  The development of a working spirituality is also crucial to the healing of the inner child.  The recovery movement has used a spiritual component successfully to aid recovery from substance abuse.  This is one reason why a social framework is more appealing to me than a psychological one.  The field of social work seems to be more accepting of the role in spirituality in personal healing.

Since 1991, I have  significant experience working with individuals starting at age 3 to adulthood. My training in graduate school, advanced instruction, and working in a variety of clinical settings, has allowed both flexibility and versatility in the approach of clinical services delivered to individuals. my specialties include grief, trauma, children and adolescents, and parenting and divorce support. I have advanced training in grief related services, including certification in Thanatology and Critical Incident Stress Management and domestic violence. Individuals who require therapeutic services, find themselves supported in a relaxed environment with flexible appointment hours, including weekends, and telehealth services. Through long term experience in residential treatment, Partial Hospitalization/Intensive Outpatient, Outpatient services, in-home services, and crisis response consulting, the diverse exposure to numerous clinical settings,  have cumulated in a solid clinical foundation.As a panel expert for Hospice and a lecturer for a variety of healthcare and school environments, in addition to eight years as a mobile crisis responder, the experience received from working in a variety of settings, has been invaluable. Additionally, holding a 3-year position on the Board for The National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) and directing family grief programs for seven years, has allowed further appreciation for the challenges individuals face on a daily basis. Growing up overseas in both Europe and Asia exposed me to diverse cultures and people, allowing for deeper insight into values and persons with varied experiences. The comprehensive services I offer in outpatient are an accumulation of my clinical years in the field as a clinical contractor, and significant, diverse educational and life experiences. I am a passionate clinician who believes in the power of change and individuals ability to manage life transitions in a safe and supportive clinical setting.

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