About Thrive Counseling | Lake Nona Counseling Center

A.J. Garcia

Marriage and Family Therapist

Qualified Supervisor for MFT and MHC Interns

A.J. Garcia is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Qualified Supervisor in the state of Florida, and holds a certificate in Play Therapy. She earned her degree from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. She began Thrive Counseling in 2012 with the goal of creating a space for clients of all ages and walks of life to find opportunity for positive growth in their lives. Integrity and professionalism are at the top of A.J.’s core values, and they serve as the foundation of her work with clients.

Support and encouragement are essential to the counseling process, and are vital in the promotion of wellness. A.J. approaches clients from a strengths-based perspective. She chooses to foster positive change by focusing on individual talents, aptitudes, values, hopes, and potential. A.J. incorporates a broad range of therapeutic modalities into her sessions, with each client receiving an individualized approach based on their needs.

Examples of the counseling models A.J. uses include Solution-Focused Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Gottman’s therapeutic approaches, and Family Systems techniques. She works with individuals, couples, families, and offers group counseling.

A.J. has worked in a variety of settings throughout her career, which has given her the opportunity to work with a wide range of client populations and presenting concerns. These experiences have included private practice, school-based mental health programs, jails, and both inpatient and outpatient substance use facilities. A.J. has had the opportunity to serve United States veterans and their families by providing counseling and caregiver support groups. She is highly experienced in working with the adolescent population. She has consulted with at-risk teens as a high school mental health counselor as well as in her private practice. A.J. has worked with clients navigating a multitude of challenges including:

Relationship Concerns
Conflict Resolution
Family Concerns
Self-Care
Coping Skills
Substance Use
Grief
Behavioral Concerns

Abuse
Stress
Socialization
Self-Esteem
Depression
Self-Injury
Leadership Skills
Anger Management

A.J. primarily specializes in helping clients work on their relationships. Sessions may include counseling on communication, building healthy relationships, and setting appropriate boundaries.

As a supervisor, A.J. places the utmost importance on counselor development. As new counselors work to sharpen your skills, you can feel confident that A.J. will be providing consistent, constructive feedback to guide you along the way. A.J. recognizes the value of self-care, and will work alongside you as you build your own techniques to balance client care and professional boundaries, all while maintaining a comfortable and positive supervising environment.

Whether you are seeking to improve your relationship with yourself, your family, a spouse, or others, A.J. will meet you where you are and help you grow. It’s your time to Thrive.

A.J. Garcia

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