We Are OPEN!
We Are Providing Virtual Counseling And In Office Counseling!
Click here to read how we are keeping you and your kids safe during Covid -19
Our Counseling Purpose
Creating experiences where gifted and high-performing kids can feel the self acceptance they need to become the next generation of innovators and thought leaders.
About Our Clients Who Receive Counseling
We define gifted and high-performing children as children who enjoy expressing themselves through the arts, academics or in other ways. We believe that every child has unique talents, skills or other characteristics that they may choose to share with the world!
The Creatives
Creatives are kids and teens who are skilled in expressing themselves through the arts. They can be self critical at times and have difficulty verbalizing their thoughts and feelings to others.
Click here to learn more about Creatives
The Academically Talented
Academically Talented kids and teens express themselves through their intellect. They exceed academically but can struggle with new challenges and have difficulty asking for help.
Click here to learn more about the Academically Talented
The Free-Spirited
Free-Spirited kids and teens knowingly (or unknowingly) follow their intuition. They may seem unmotivated or unfocused to others but can access the skills they need to be successful by further developing their confidence and self value.
Click here to learn more about the Free-Spirited
Our Counseling Value
Intuition
We believe in valuing a child's natural ability to know how to heal themselves with therapeutic guidance. We listen to our kids, meet them where they are and allow them to show us the best ways to structure our sessions to encourage their growth.
Healing
We encourage changes that can be made to support the mental, physical, environmental and emotional needs of kids. We do not believe that medication should be the first line of treatment for children.
Abundance
We encourage our kids to tap into the creative power that exists within them. We believe that kids already possess their own unique strategies and skills that they need to be happy and fulfilled. There is nothing that we need to teach. Our role is to help kids tap into to what they already have inside!
Take The Office Tour
The Therapist
ERICA WHITFIELD, MACP, LMHC, BC-TMH
email:[email protected]ositive-development.org
Click here to watch Ms Erica's welcome video.
Erica has over 10 years of experience working with children and adolescents and is the Founder of Positive Development.
"When kids feel accepted for who they already are, it is then that they can grow. I started Positive Development to create a space where all kids feel like they can be accepted but most importantly, a place where kids can learn to accept themselves.”
As a past high-performing student throughout her academic career in private school and public magnet school settings, Erica is uniquely positioned to understand and address the challenges faced by gifted and high-performing kids.
Erica combines expressive therapies such as art and writing with evidenced based therapeutic modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy, solution focused therapy and positive psychology to help children and adolescents transition during difficult life adjustments, form healthier relationships, manage stress, perform better in school and find internal motivation to pursue their talents. She specializes in providing strengths based counseling and has helped hundreds of youth unleash their capabilities, transform obstacles into opportunities and find healthy ways to express their energy and creativity.
Erica graduated from the University of North Florida with a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology. She has served on the boards of the Northeast Florida Mental Health Counselors Association and the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association and is an active board member Family Foundations. She has experience providing therapy with local community organizations that have helped over 150,000 families through mental health counseling. Erica also has extensive experience working within the Full Service Schools Program, a United Way initiative, that has connected thousands of students to a critical range of therapeutic, health and social services. She has a great deal of enthusiasm when it comes to inspiring others to realize their potential. Erica believes in the importance of self acceptance and the role this plays in positive change.
MEET OUR COUNSELING INTERN TEAM!
MATTHEW HOOD, B.S.
Pursuing Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
University of North Florida
Click here to watch Matthew's welcome video!
Pursuing Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology
Capella University
Click here to watch Desiree's welcome video!
SYDNEY WEINREB, B.S.
Pursuing Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
University of North Florida
Click here to watch Sydney's welcome video!