Our Clinicians
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Sara Abbott, MSW, LCSW
Independent Contracted Clinician
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who joined A Healing Intention in August of 2021 who offers individual therapy. I hold a Master of Social Work degree, Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and a Health and Wellness Coaching certificate. I am passionate about care that serves the whole individual and am especially interested in skills-based work. This means that I work with individuals to identify strategies for reducing the distress associated with whatever is making life hard. I work best with individuals who are wanting tools to learn to better regulate their emotions, have more effective communication practices in relationships, and reduce self-shame through challenging negative thinking patterns and promoting self-compassion. My work includes trauma-informed care and some processing therapy, however I largely focus on having outcomes that will make your life easier to live with more joy to experience. I utilize the following models most often in the mental health services that I provide: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy with a strong focus on mindfulness practices, and Attachment Therapy. I focus on supporting the eight dimensions of wellness and ensuring that individuals create lives that make them excited to wake up everyday. I am a proud neurodivergent, queer millennial who has a strong investment in supporting the mental health of all people, but especially queer youth.
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Destiny Bankhead, LPC
Independent Contracted Clinician
I am Destiny Bankhead, licensed therapist. I have a MA in Counselor Education and I provide trauma informed and diverse therapy. The primary focus in my therapy is to provide skills for healing through diverse therapeutic practices. I strive to provide a therapeutic environment that is individually tailored to each person’s emotional, social, and psychological capabilities. I am a multi-cultural therapist with extensive experience working with diverse populations. My approach is a trauma-informed approach understanding how past trauma can have effects on current functioning and overall well-being. I strive to provide a trauma informed environment ensuring a person’s comfort and safety at all times through connection and understanding. This non-bias, non-objective experience allows people to comfortably heal and be in the present.
Elizabeth La Torella, LMFT
Independent Contracted Clinician
I have a compassionate and honest approach to therapy. I am willing to have difficult conversations in a meaningful way. I will gently help you be accountable to yourself and your goals. We will work to identify your emotions and integrate your experiences so that you can move forward on your life path. For over a decade, I have provided mental health services to children, families and individuals from an inclusive, trauma-informed, systemic lens. As a licensed Marriage, Couples and Family Therapist, I am interested in the constellation of your life- all the people, relationships, systems and experiences that have shaped your identity and the story that you tell about your life. I like to examine that story with you, and together explore the parts that resonate while shifting those parts that don’t, so that you can increase fulfillment, healing and satisfaction in your life. My practice is largely Mindfulness-based with elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, Nonviolent Communication and a variety of modalities to fit your style and needs. My hope is that you can have a positive experience in therapy, become comfortable with self-reflection and build your own internal resources to cope with life’s challenges.
I have a holistic practice that uses an anti-oppression and trauma focused lens within systems theory. I work with clients to help find answers to their questions through healing interventions, primarily Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectal Behavior Therapy (DBT). I utilize a strengths-based approach where we build resiliency through learning new tools and skills for coping with stressors. I am proud to be an ally with the LGBTQ community and people from diverse backgrounds.
Jean Phare, LCSW, QMHP
Independent Contracted Clinician
Since joining A Healing Intention in June 2024, I bring a culturally focused approach to my practice, inspired by my upbringing in Hawai'i. I firmly believe in honoring each client as the expert of their own life journey. My professional foundation includes a BSW from the University of Hawai'i and an MSW from Fordham University where I gained diverse perspectives and skills in social work. I am dedicated to a collaborative and personalized therapeutic approach, striving to create a supportive environment where clients can explore their strengths, navigate challenges, and achieve meaningful growth and healing.
Emily Ritz, MSW, CSWA
Supervised Contracted Clinician
Jenna Urban, LPC
Independent Contracted Clinician
Appointments: Wednesday - Saturday
My approach to mental health is to treat therapy as an action to help address wellness goals through cognitive behavioral therapy. Therapy at times can be intense, freeing, heart breaking, healing, uncomfortable, empowering, and oddly funny. I work to create an environment that helps this process feel safe. Mental health is not bound by an office, so I believe in developing coping skills, thoughts processes, and communication techniques to utilize in everyday ways.
I support my clients’ in exploring their experiences, family dynamics, and culture to identify sources of unhealthy thoughts, so new ones can be created that feel authentic with their own values and needs. I put my own twist on evidence base interventions and research to better help them fit with my clients’ needs. I am not a traditional learner myself, so I approach sessions with different learning styles by using visuals such as collaborative drawings and tactile props. Pop culture and personal interests are often used to help create meaningful metaphors and understanding of psychological theories and research.
My experience includes treating adults struggling with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, adult attention deficit disorder, bipolar disorder, adjustment disorder, and relationship issues. I have experience in supporting transgender and gender queer clients complete the WPATH process to access medical care and facilitate their action plans.
Regina Vander, LCSW
Clinical Consultant and Emergency Support Specialist
I joined A Healing Intention LLC. In September 2020. I am the Clinical Consultant and Emergency Support Specialist as well as a practitioner. I graduated from Barry University School of Social Work with a focus in health in 2001. I have devoted my career to assisting vulnerable populations navigate the complex medical and social service systems.
As a practitioner, I have a Strengths-Based, Solution-Focused approach. I use a holistic approach to therapy with a combination of cognitive -behavioral therapies (CBT, DBT, REBT), Visualization, Coaching, Psychodynamic and Humanistic approaches.
I am bi-lingual in Spanish and English. I have a passion for working with individuals navigating chronic illness, grief/bereavement, addictions, gender dysphoria/transgender care and major life changes across the lifespan. I genuinely believe that change and growth is possible and that there is no situation too great to be bettered and no unhappiness too great to be lessened.
Andy Vogler, LCSW, CADCI
Clinical Consultant
I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and a certified alcohol and drug counselor (CADC). My approach is eclectic, and I would say that I am inspired by several modalities, including cognitive-behavioral, dialectical behavior therapy skills, mindfulness-based therapy, acceptance and commitment, psychodynamic, motivational interviewing, and attachment theory. Above all I value our working relationship and I believe it is paramount that we agree on what we are pursuing and how. I strive to be open to feedback, tailoring my work to your needs. I can be direct or hands off, talkative or not. I can be authoritative, sharing my expertise and teaching coping skills, or I can simply listen and support you as you come to your own conclusions. I recognize how difficult it is to measure well-being, but I am passionate about measuring results and ensuring that you get what you need from therapy.