Madeline Allen
Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
Madeline believes that the counseling room is a holy space that holds the capacity for transformation and healing. She believes the healing journey is the process of becoming more alive and living out of your inherent dignity. She considers it a great privilege to be invited into these spaces of others' lives. In light of this, she strives to create a space of safety, comfort, and collaboration where clients can experience transformation, growth, and freedom to explore.
Madeline enjoys working with individuals, couples, and groups. She has special interests in working with anxiety, depression, attachment issues, relational struggles, minority stress and trauma, spiritual burnout, struggle and abuse, family-of-origin issues, and complex trauma.
Originally from Texas, Madeline holds a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary. Before moving to Florida, Madeline worked on staff with Campus Outreach for three years. Outside of the counseling room, she enjoys quality time with friends and her husband. She loves a good cup of coffee, playing with her two dogs, Ondra and Huck, and kayaking with Manatees.
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.
Meli Smith
Registered Mental Health Counseling Intern
Meli is deeply passionate about the work of counseling because she herself has experienced transformative change through the counseling process. She sees bravery in each client who steps into her office and desires to create a safe space for a person to be known. Meli believes change is possible for every client who has the desire, hope, and determination to take steps towards growth and healing. Meli has a particular passion for working with children and families. Meli lived overseas and grew up in a family where she was both a missionary kid (MK) third culture kid (TCK). In addition to children and families, Meli enjoys working with adults and couples. She considers it a privilege to walk alongside any person whether they are dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, marital issues, family conflict or a variety of other hardships.
Prior to pursuing her degree in counseling Meli was a teacher at several local elementary schools, and also worked alongside Christian ministries in the area by supporting, preparing, and debriefing children and families for their life overseas. Meli graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and from Reformed Theological Seminary with her M.A in Counseling. Outside of the counseling room Meli enjoys adventuring around Orlando with her husband and toddler, attending UCF football games (Go Knights!) and reading a good book with a cozy blanket.
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.
