Christine Garnett
LMHC, QS, NCC, CCATP
About Me
I’ve attempted to keep an orchid alive throughout my life and fell short quite a bit. My like for them did not coincide with my ability to take care of them which would probably make my grandfather’s head shake in embarrassment. Which is fine, because we’re all trying to make up for something, right? That’s where Orchid House Counseling comes from: my love for orchids, eventually learning how to care for them, and keeping his memory alive. A seasoned botanist, my grandfather would take care of his own orchid house as well as the ones that were dropped off from friends for care. They’d stay with him until they rebloomed and he would give them back for them to enjoy. Orchids are a lot like people: under the right conditions, they are quite resilient and can thrive on their own with little attention. If these conditions fall out of alignment, the orchid begins to decompensate and needs a lot of TLC and time to rebound back to a healthy state. As you enter this working relationship, you’ll figure out what conditions impacted your ability to thrive and how you can build your life based on living what you truly value out of it. As my grandfather returned blooming orchids back to his friends, your work will be returning you to yourself.
Spring 2020
I have a collection of 99 orchids from Phalaenopsis, cattleya, dendrobiums, oncidiums, vandas, and more. A quarter of them are gifts and the others are rescues. Rescues come from clearance shelf racks, from places like Lowe’s, where the orchid is close to death but also $5 and worth it to restore back to health.
Outside of rescuing orchids, you will find me in front of another laptop working on my book about trauma recovery, getting lost in Procreate or painting, sewing, or planning the next Halloween theme for trick-or-treaters. I spend the remainder of my time hiking, working on my DnD character, and trying to repair friendships with people I play Catan with, or as it is affectionately called in my household, “Bloodsport.” While I specialize in treating anxiety and have the skills to ground myself, I have no idea what happens to me or who I am when I play that game (or Scrabble).
artwork by @art_by_drea11
With my experience and training specializing in anxiety, trauma, and recovery, my clients may come to therapy with:
- Uncontrollable worry and racing thoughts
- Feeling high anxiety and/or panic and unsure why
- Feeling disconnected from themselves, loved ones, and the world
- Fearful of leaving the house because you’re not sure how anxious you’ll get
- Feeling powerless over food: eating too little, eating too much, or controlling food intake
- Unexpected life changes: job loss, divorce, job-related trauma (first responders, medical professionals)
- Feeling the throws of narcissistic partners or parents (emotional/psychological abuse)
- Having difficulty working their recovery from chemical or process addictions.
- Struggling with an unloving mother, father, or both (parental deprivation)
- Clients who identify as an Adult Child of an Alcoholic (ACOA)
- Unresolved abuse or trauma from childhood
- Difficulty setting healthy boundaries
- The exhausted perfectionist
I have worked previously as a research assistant in an anxiety disorders clinic, been a full-time counselor in private practice, in the Department of Children and Families, and in an adult inpatient facility treating substance use and eating disorders. As I continued to refine my expertise and leadership skills, I was promoted to the clinical director of the adult inpatient facility. I was not able to excel as much as I have without having supportive people to guide me – if you’re reading this, it may be time for you to have that same support as well. I can help you make your goals achievable, fulfilling, and give you tools to effectively manage whatever life may bring you – the first step knowing you’re not alone in doing this.
Qualifications
I received my Master’s in Counselor Education and certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Central Florida (one of America’s top 10 Master’s programs in counseling) in 2013. I am a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in the state of Florida, and I am also trained in EMDR, ART, CPT, and EFT, specializing in trauma, addiction (both chemical and process), self-harm, anxiety, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and depression. I am also a qualified supervisor (QS) for mental health and marriage and family interns seeking licensure in the state of Florida and I am a National Certified Counselor (NCC). I am passionate about using inner child therapy, art therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and cognitive processing therapy (CPT for PTSD) to promote self-growth, healing, and action-oriented problem solving in individual and group therapy settings.
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
(LMHC)
Qualified Supervisor
(QS)
Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional
(CCATP)
National Certified Counselor
(NCC)
Training
Finding the right therapist is one thing and ensuring they have proper training to guide you back to your true self is another. Click here for more information about the specific training I have and how I utilize it with clients.
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT for PTSD)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
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