Meet Our Staff

 
 

Leadership

 
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Tova Kreps, President & Co-Founder

Licenses/Certifications: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Qualified Counseling Supervisor in the state of Florida
Area(s) of expertise: Trauma recovery work, children and parents in school, orphan-care and foster-care settings
Education: Masters of Social Work (MSW) from Florida International University, BA in Literature and Secondary Education from Wheaton College
Currently: Hosts a weekly radio/podcast program and has spoken at universities, conferences, workshops, retreats, churches, schools and small groups both domestically and internationally.
Personal:
- Married for 30 years
- Mother of three adult children and grandmother of two

 
 
 
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Christine Schlottman, Co-Founder

Licenses/Certifications: Licensed Mental Health Counselor, EMDR Certified, Qualified Counseling Supervisor in the state of Florida
Area(s) of expertise: Grief and loss as well as abuse and trauma
Education: Masters of Social Work (MSW) from Florida International University, BA in Literature and Secondary Education from Wheaton College
Currently: Accepting new clients
Personal:
- Served as a missionary for over 35 years
- Mother of three adult children and a grandmother.

 
 
 
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Dr. Leigh Byers, Executive Director

Area(s) of expertise: Programs for women, children, and families
Education: Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) in Leadership from Walden University, a Master of Arts in Management & Leadership (MAML) from Liberty University and a B.A. in Public Affairs from Rollins College
Currently: Managing the day-to-day operations including organizational partnerships, human resources, finances, and communications
Personal:
- Previously served as Wellspring Board Member
- Married and mother of two

 
 
 
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Monica Snyder, Clinical Director

Licenses/Certifications: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Area(s) of expertise: Depression, anxiety, ADHD, grief and loss, social skills, and parent child relationships
Education: MA in Marriage and Family Counseling from Richmont University and BA from Covenant College in Psychology
Currently: Accepting new clients
Personal:
- Married
- Mother of three children

 
 

Clinical Team

 
 
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Lyle Green

Licenses/Certifications: Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Area(s) of expertise: Personal and marital counseling through times of crisis or distress
Education: M.A. in Theological Studies from Wheaton Graduate School, Duel Ed.S. in Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy from Barry University
Currently: Accepting new clients
Personal:
- Ordained Pastor and Chaplin/Counselor at Westminster Christian School
- Married over 40 years
- Father to one adult child

 
 
 
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Elizabeth Taquechel

Licenses/Certifications: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, EMDR
Area(s) of expertise: Adults and children in trauma and recovery work, as well as grief and loss. She also treats anxiety, social phobia, specific phobia and separation anxiety
Education:
Currently: Accepting new clients, offers her services in English and Spanish
Personal:
- Worked at the Center for Children and Families at Florida International University
- Married
- Mother of two children

 
 
 
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Carmine Vidaña

Licenses/Certifications: Licensed Mental Health Counselor, EMDR, Gottman method for couples, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Prolonged Exposure Therapy (a specialized treatment for adults suffering from trauma), Qualified Counseling Supervisor in the state of Florida
Area(s) of expertise: Couples who are struggling with their marriages, individuals dealing with relational conflicts and mood disorders, as well as adults and children who are suffering with unresolved trauma
Education: B.A. degree in Christian Ministry, and an M.A. degree in Counseling Psychology, both from Trinity International University
Currently: Accepting new clients
Personal:
- Has offered pre-marital counseling at her local church for over 25 years with her husband
- Mother of one adult child
- Fluent in English and Spanish

 
 
 
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Nicole Velez Alfonso, Bounce Program Director

Licenses/Certifications: Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy), Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
Area(s) of expertise: Severe trauma, mood disorders, interpersonal conflict, loss, and grief
Education: MS. in Psychology from Carlos Albizu University and BS from the University of Miami with a double major in Sociology and Communications
Currently: Accepting new clients, assisting youth in our BOUNCE! Program
Personal:
- Involved in a nonprofit organization bringing hope to families who have been displaced from their homes in Colombia
- Married since 2007
- Mother to two children

 
 
 
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Patricia Salow

Licenses/Certifications: Licensed Mental Health Counselor, EMDR trained, Qualified Counseling Supervisor in the state of Florida, HeartMath Certified Practitioner (Biofeedback), Certified Trauma Professional (CTP)
Area(s) of expertise: Recovery process of trauma, depression and anxiety, loss and grief, separation and divorce, family conflict, life transitions, and low self-esteem. She also assists individuals and families who are working through gender or sexual issues.
Education: Masters in Practical Theology, Masters in Mental Health Counseling, and Certified Spiritual Director, all from St. Thomas University
Currently: Accepting new clients, offers her services in English and Spanish
Personal:
- Over 20 years experience in church ministry
- Mother of 3 adult children

 
 
 
 
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Lindsey Steffen

Licenses/Certifications: Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Qualified Supervisor (FL), EMDR therapy, member of Focus on the Family's Christian Counselors Network, member of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation
Area(s) of expertise: Complex trauma and abuse, PTSD/dissociation, survivors of sexual exploitation/human trafficking, anxiety, depression, self-harm behaviors, addictions, eating disorders
Education: MA in Professional Counseling from Richmont Graduate University, Specialization in Trauma Counseling 
Currently: Accepting new clients (kids/teens/adults), co-host for radio show/podcast “Wellspring on the Air”

 
 
 
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Beth Assis

Licenses/Certifications: Registered Mental Health Counselor, EMDR, Gottman method for couples' therapy
Area(s) of expertise: Trauma, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, low self-esteem, couples' therapy, parenting, spiritual confusion, and leading support groups for women
Education: Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, a Masters in International Education, and a Masters in Mental Health Counseling
Currently: Accepting new clients, offers therapy in English and Portuguese
Personal:
- Married since 2000
- Mom to 4 beautiful daughters
- Has a heart for providing counseling services to ministry families

 
 
 
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Goumah (Gaw-Ma) Conde

Licenses/Certifications: Registered Marriage & Family Therapist Counselor and author, Trauma-Focused CBT (Level-2) and has extensive experience in Sue Johnson’s Emotionally Focused Couple & Family Therapy (EFT), Certified Trauma Professional (CTP)
Area(s) of expertise: Couples and young women, particularly with trauma-related issues, as Goumah herself survived a 9-year civil war
Education: Master of Arts Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Florida Memorial University
Currently: Accepting new clients, Facilitating Grief & Loss online therapy group
Personal:
- Desires to combine theology with counseling theories, in order to offer her clients a balanced, Christ-centered perspective on marriage
- Candidate for ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church
- Married for 17 years and has 3 children (16, 12, & 4 yrs old).
- Goumah is fluent in English, Liberian Colloquial, and a little conversational French.

 
 
 
 
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Angela Gonzalez, BOUNCE! Program Co-Director

Licenses/Certifications: Registered Mental Health Counselor intern, Integrative Behavioral Health, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy), CBT, DBT, ACT and mindfulness-based interventions
Area(s) of expertise: Adults, adolescents and children and has experience working with a wide variety of mental health concerns, including: anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, anger management and emotion regulation
Education: Master of Arts in Counseling and Psychology, and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Trinity International University
Currently: Accepting new clients
Personal:
- Married for 14 years
- Mother to two daughters

 
 
 
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Mark Macgowan, PhD

Licenses/Certifications: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Qualified Counseling Supervisor in the state of Florida
Area(s) of expertise: Helping people affected by disasters and other traumatic events. He serves nationally as a mental health specialist with a federal disaster medical assistance team (DMAT)
Education: Tenured professor and associate dean at Florida International University
Currently: Accepting new clients
Personal:
- Over sixty publications, most in rigorous peer-reviewed journals and several books with scholarly publishers, including Oxford University Press
- Serves on the editorial boards of a number of journals
- Serves on the executive committee of the International Association of Social Work with Groups. 

 
 
 
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Erik Williams

Licenses/Certifications: Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, EMDR
Area(s) of expertise: Mentoring college students and helping students with career counseling, depression, grief, and family issues. Additionally, he has worked with students and adults on issues such as divorce, relationships, depression, PTSD, parenting children with special needs, men's issues and addiction, among other things. 
Education: Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Trinity International University and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech
Currently: Accepting new clients, Facilitating Healthcare Worker online therapy group
Personal:
- His father is a Vietnam Veteran and his brother is in the Air Force
- Married since 2001
- Father of 3 children, ages 16, 13 and 11

 
 
 
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Yasamin Nosrati-Shamloo, BOUNCE! Coordinator

Licenses/Certifications: Registered Mental Health Counselor, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy
Area(s) of expertise: Assisting survivors of trauma find healing and restoration, she is also trained in addressing a wide variety of concerns including: PTSD, anxiety, depression, ADHD, severe mental diagnoses, and lack of emotion regulation
Education: MS in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Miami, and a BA in Psychology from the University of Florida
Currently: Accepting new clients, Facilitating Coping with COVID online therapy group

 
 
 
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Christopher Cheung, PhD

Licenses/Certifications: Registered Marriage and Family Therapist
Area(s) of expertise: Multi-generational issues, such as acculturation, communication, and cultural identity
Education: MD from the University of Miami and his PhD from the University of Florida
Currently: Accepting new clients
Personal:
- Christopher was born and raised in Suriname
- Married since 2016 to his wife, Dr. Debbie Choi
- They love traveling, exploring different food, and their two dogs

 
 
 
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Dawn Plummer

Licenses/Certifications: Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, Gottman Couples Therapy (Levels 1, 2, and Affairs & Trauma Recovery), EMDR Trained, and CPR Trained
Area(s) of expertise: Adults and adolescents. Individual, couple, and group therapy.  Has experience working with various mental health concerns, specifically, but not limited to: anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and trauma.
Education
- Moody Theological Seminary, Michigan, MA in Counseling Psychology
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, MFA in Theatre 
- Florida International University, Florida, BFA in Theatre 
Currently: Currently accepting new clients
Personal:
- Proud aunt of two gorgeous nieces and three handsome nephews.
- Born in Pittsburgh, PA, but a Floridian since age 2.

 
 
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Alicia Foss

Licenses/Certifications: Marriage and Family Therapist Intern, Gottman 1 and 2 for marriage counseling, EMDR certified
Area(s) of expertise: Couples who need to experience healing to their marriages and families, High risk teens who need healing and transformation in their lives
Education
Currently: Accepting new clients
Personal:
- Her husband is a pastor
- Worked as a missionary with Youth for Christ

 
 
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Mario de Armas

Licenses/Certifications: Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
Area(s) of expertise: Individual and group counseling with adolescents and young adults in the areas of anxiety, anger management, relationships and vocational aspirations
Education: M.S. in Mental Health Counseling from Barry University and an M.A. in Theology from St. Vincent de Paul Regional seminary
Currently: Accepting new clients, Offers services in English and Spanish
Personal:
- Proud son of Cuban immigrants and describes his family dynamic, comprised of 7 children, as loving, genuine, conducive to faith, and replete with an abundance of Cuban food and vocal siblings!

 
 
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Gabriella Zelaya

Licenses/Certifications: Student Intern
Area(s) of expertise: Children and adolescents as well as for adults, couples, and families
Education: BS in Criminal Justice from Florida International University, currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling at Trinity International University
Currently: Accepting new clients, Offers services in English and Spanish
Personal:
- Married since 2018
- Expecting her first child in the fall of 2020

 
 
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Arleen Brahm

Licenses/Certifications: Registered Mental Health Counselor, EMDR, Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Area(s) of expertise: Psychological trauma; Children, adolescents and adults with trauma-related concerns, anxiety and depression
Education: Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Keiser University
Currently: Accepting new clients, Offers services in English and Spanish
Personal:
- Engaged to be married
- Fur baby parent to her shih-tzu named Gino.

 
 
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Salima Harris

Licenses/Certifications: Student Intern, Certified SYMBIS Assessment Facilitator, Completed Level 1 Training in Gottman Methods Couples Therapy
Area(s) of expertise: Trauma, anxiety, depression, communication, and parenting challenges
Education: B.A. in Psychology from Cleveland State University and obtaining a Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Liberty University
Currently: Leading our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color) Group and accepting new clients
Personal:
- Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio
- Proud military wife of an active-duty Army service member
- Three children, ages 17, 13, and 6.

 
 
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Judith Lemus

Licenses/Certifications: Student Intern
Area (s) of expertise: Anxiety, Depression, Adults, Individuals with developmental disabilities
Education:  B.A. in Psychology from Florida International University with a focus on Behavior Analysis, and obtaining a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University
Currently: Leading Depression Group, offering services in English and Spanish, accepting new clients
Personal:
- Born and raised in Miami
- Serves faithfully at her church in children’s ministry and the worship team
- Enjoys music, art, reading

 
 

Administration

 
 
 
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Reta Singh, MBA

Position: Office Manager
Duties: Managing the operations of all eight locations and also providing excellent customer service to clients as well as staff
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel Management from the University of West Indies in her native Jamaica. She also has an MBA from Florida International University
Currently: She faithfully serves in her church and has a passion for the ministry of Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, where she serves as the Area Coordinator for the local Miami Team of volunteers. 

 
 
 
 
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Gaby Velasco

Position: Office Assistant
Duties: Helping our clients to find the right therapist for their counseling needs, scheduling appointments, and supporting the business office
Education: Working towards her undergraduate degree in Psychology
Currently: Very active in her church and feels fortunate to be working and learning from her colleagues at Wellspring.

 
 
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Audrey Alves

Position: Assistant Office Manager & Billing Coordinator
Duties:
Coordinate billing for all clients and provides customer service to clients and therapists
Education: Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and minor in Africana Studies
Personal:
- Married since 2011 with two young boys
- Originally from Tennessee but has lived in several states as well as Brazil for 4 years
- Enjoys traveling, reading, and baking