Rachel Blackston
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Rachel considers the counseling room a sacred space where deep heart change occurs. She specializes in working with women with a history of trauma and abuse as well as those struggling with infertility and sexual betrayal. Rachel is trained in EMDR, an evidenced-based therapy in the treatment of trauma. She is also a Florida Qualified Supervisor for registered mental health counseling interns.
Outside of the counseling room, Rachel serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at Reformed Theological Seminary and writes regularly for the blog Red Tent Living. She speaks frequently on topics around story, attachment styles in marriage, and the Enneagram. Rachel’s deepest joy is being with her husband and their three daughters, who are priceless gifts after several years of infertility. Rachel loves connecting with friends over a cup of dark roast, beating her husband in miniature golf, and exploring the beauty of the North Carolina mountains.
Gaye Butler
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Gaye understands that we are all confronted with life transitions, relational struggles, and personal suffering at some time in our lives. She is deeply committed to helping people address relationship problems, make sense of difficult moments and events, and gain a greater sense of peace and hope. Gaye enjoys working with individuals of all ages, couples, and families. Couples therapy is her specialty and she has completed Gottman Level 1, 2, and 3 training and uses the Gottman method in her practice. Additionally, Gaye has trained in EMDR and works with individuals who have experienced trauma. Her desire is to provide a respectful, safe, and compassionate environment for her clients.
Gaye graduated with her Master’s Degree in Counseling from Reformed Theological having returned to school after many years dedicated to raising her five daughters and two sons with her husband of 35 years and participating in ministry in her local church. She enjoys speaking in the community on topics related to parenting, marriage, and personal development. Gaye loves any activity that includes friends, but is particularly fond of travel, shows about zombies, quilting, and a good glass of wine.
Heather Vaughn
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Heather believes that healing starts with establishing a safe place to explore buried emotions and hidden thoughts where honesty and vulnerability open the door to growth and change. Heather helps her clients discover and name their dignity as they excavate the true self behind their defenses and coping styles. She is motivated by the concept of neuroplasticity, the belief that our brains can actually change and grow through the therapeutic process. Heather is trained in EMDR, an evidence-based therapy used to treat trauma. Heather enjoys working with couples and has completed the Level 3 Practicum Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy. She also enjoys working with adoptive families as a TBRI Practitioner. She specializes in working with clients who struggle with trauma, abuse, depression, anxiety, ministry burnout, transition and parenting. She enjoys working with couples, individuals, families, and children. Heather is also available for individual or couple intensives.
Heather brings 20 years of experience in overseas missions and church ministry to the counseling room. She earned her Master’s degree in Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary. Heather understands the joys and struggles of marriage and parenting. She delights in her husband of over 25 years and together they have four amazing children. She loves playing games with her family, walking her dogs, admiring spectacular Florida sunsets, and feeling the sand beneath her feet.
Lauren Dyches
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Lauren comes alive when she helps her clients discover their God-given worth and identity. She creates a safe space where each client feels accepted while pursuing emotional, physical, and spiritual wholeness. Lauren experienced significant childhood trauma and is familiar with the way trauma impacts our hearts, bodies, minds and intimate relationships. She has also experienced meaningful healing through counseling and believes freedom comes through being known, loved and accepted within a healthy relationship. Lauren is called to work with clients struggling through hopelessness, shame, abuse, anxiety, burnout, trauma, depression, and family and relational issues. Lauren is also trained in EMDR.
Originally from the Chicago area, Lauren received her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa. After graduation, she moved to Miami and worked for a campus ministry with Hispanic and Latino students for ten years. Lauren feels a sense of home within Hispanic and Latino culture and has a deep love for working cross-culturally. Lauren met her husband in Miami before moving to Orlando to obtain a Masters of Arts in Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary. She misses Chicago style pizza and still cheers for the Iowa Hawkeyes. She enjoys lifting weights, watching 90’s movies, and spending time with her husband and son.
Shannon Witt
Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
Shannon has a passion to walk with her clients in places where suffering and brokenness have left their mark, leaving them isolated, ashamed, and without hope. Her deepest desire is to create a safe space where her clients will be welcomed and wanted. Through her own counseling journey, Shannon knows it takes a lot of courage to trust a therapist and explore one’s own story. She has experienced deep healing and restoration through the counseling process herself. Shannon is committed to creating a trusting therapeutic relationship where anxiety, depression, shame, relational problems, struggles with spirituality, life transition, ministry burnout, loss, body image issues, and the impact of trauma can be brought into the light and explored.
Shannon brings 10 years of experience to Redeemer where she mentored college women through a campus ministry. She has a unique calling to meet with women recovering from body image issues, trauma, and ministry burnout. She is also dedicated to working with couples seeking a deeper connection. Shannon graduated with a B.S. in Psychology from Michigan State University and an M.A. in Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary. Shannon is originally from Detroit, MI and has lived in Orlando for the past 8 years. She enjoys spending time with her adventurous hubby Logan and her daughter Noelle. When she’s not in the counseling room, you can find her running, hiking, knee deep in a DIY project, or singing her heart to Jesus.
Dav Bergmark
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Dav is interested in helping clients heal from past heart wounds and develop skills to live well. He believes that by discovering the truth about the past and by giving attention to ourselves as relational beings we take steps toward a flourishing life. In his mind a well lived life is not only about surviving but about thriving through developing healthy routines with habits that foster strong character. Dav enjoys working with couples and adults and has special interests in helping parents of special needs children. In addition to adults and families, he also enjoys coming alongside teenagers who are dealing with broken relationships, unfulfilling lives, burnout, anxiety, and depression.
Dav has a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a Master of Divinity. Most recently he received a Master’s degree in Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary. For 20 years, Dav served as a church planter and pastor in his home country of Sweden. Since moving to Florida he has replaced his snowboard with a Onewheel and also enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.
Terri Fitts
Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
Terri values building close relationships with her clients and believes that collaborative relationships are the key source for transformation. She views counseling as an intentional process of personal and spiritual development, and comes alongside clients by creating safety and space for process and lasting healing. Terri reinforces culturally responsive treatment that includes tailoring her skill set to meet client’s unique needs.
Terri offers individuals and couples counseling services to compassionately navigate emotions, thoughts, behaviors, difficult relationships, family needs and transitional phases of life. She joins her clients in exploring what is below the surface of depression, anxiety, relational issues, faith conflicts, body image, grief and trauma. She views the counseling journey from a developmental lens rooted in attachment theory, separation-individuation theory and research in neurobiology. Terri gained competency and fulfilled accreditation in the Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling program at the Townsend Institute, Concordia University Irvine.
Terri’s commitment to marriage and family is a passion which provides insight and strength to her professional life. She is married and has launched three young adults to college and beyond. To rest and restore, she enjoys walking with friends, reading, making holidays festive, fitness and morning coffee with her husband.
Dustin Kegeris
Registered Mental Health Counseling Intern
Dustin believes that every person can experience healing and hope. He creates a non-judgmental, safe environment where his clients feel welcomed, seen, and heard. Dustin enjoys working with individuals in all seasons of life from adolescence to the empty nest. Dustin has helped individuals walk through grief, trauma, major life transitions, spiritual issues, and those struggling in vocational ministry. Dustin’s collaborative and client-centered approach ensures that sessions are tailored to meet each individual’s unique needs and goals.
Dustin holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, and completed both his Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. Before starting a career in counseling, Dustin worked for 15 years in vocational ministry in various locations around the world.
When not in the counseling room, Dustin enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, watching (and playing) sports, running, reading, and drinking coffee. He is a foodie who loves exploring local restaurants for hidden gems.
Ivan Kaufman
Registered Mental Health Counseling Intern
Ivan believes that no human is a stranger to pain. Suffering is often an unwanted companion on our journey through life that can bind us to our past, keep us from the present, and darken the future. But in order to find the light, we must first touch the darkness. It is in this space that Ivan is committed to walking with clients through their trials that they are experiencing.
Ivan works from a relational counseling modality because he believes that it is through interpersonal connection that we can experience our greatest healing. Ivan loves working with people of all backgrounds in any stage of life. He is particularly passionate about helping clients navigate issues surrounding sexuality, complex PTSD, and survivors of sexual abuse.
Ivan has degrees in Religion, Behavioral Sciences, and a MA in Clinical Counseling. Outside of the office, Ivan is always trying to learn something new and share a meal or beverage with the people he cares about most. He spends most of his free time reading, watching movies, dancing, playing table-top role-play and board games.
