Today we’d like to introduce you to Lillianis Cruz.
Hi Lillianis, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Florida and obtained my Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University. I am also trained in EMDR and am equipped to assist individuals with dealing with trauma, abuse and any other disturbances that may affect their functioning. My experience ranges from working with adolescents, adults, facilitating group therapy, individual therapy and family therapy.
I am currently the Executive Director at Hope Counseling of Central FL LLC, which was founded on October 2016. I started my practice on a part-time basis in a 10×10 office space but currently have the honor of leading a staff of five additional therapists who provide excellent care to our clients.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some of the obstacles I have experienced as a young entrepreneur is managing the uncertainty of being a business owner and the fear of failure. I was near the top of my career at age 25 and had to make the decision to pursue my business full time due to the demands of it; this led me to leave behind my stable income and pursue a new and unknown endeavor. Not having a degree in business, I had to learn the ins and outs of business by trial and error and seeking mentorship from others who had more time in the journey of entrepreneurship. Another obstacle was finding the balance between being a business owner, full-time employee, wife and then becoming a mother.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Hope Counseling provides individual, family, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and trauma counseling to adolescents (13+) and adults in Kissimmee and adjacent areas. Our mission is to Heal, help Overcome, Propel and Equip individuals in Central Florida by providing counseling services and promote their emotional well-being. Our vision is to help individuals heal, overcome present obstacles and help them in find purpose once we equip them to manage life’s future challenges through counseling and guidance.
At Hope Counseling, our therapists provide a non-judgmental and safe space for our clients to be themselves. We provide services both in English and Spanish. We are set apart as we provide EMDR therapy, which is an evidence-based practice to treat PTSD. Hope Counseling provides telehealth services to clients who are not in adjacent areas, making services accessible all throughout Florida. At Hope, we understand that often finances make therapy services inaccessible. For this reason, we provide sliding fee scale for individuals who do not have insurance. We also provide faith-based counseling services to those who wish to implement their spirituality into their counseling experience.
What are your plans for the future?
I am planning to purchase an office suite to expand our current location. This will allow us to hire more therapists, which increases our availability to help our community through our counseling services.
Pricing:
- Therapy Services $65-$135 per session
- Workshops/Speaking Engagements-$50 and up per session
- Intern Supervision $60 per hour
Contact Info:
- Email: hopecounselingfl@gmail.com
- Website: www.hopecounselingfl.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopecounselingfl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopecounselingfl
Image Credits:
Edgar Junior Media
