Winter Park, FL | About White Picket Fence Counseling Center

About Us
White Picket Fence Counseling Center, LLC

Sandee Nebel, MS, LMHC - I am a licensed mental health counselor in the state of Florida, and the founder of the White Picket Fence Counseling Center, LLC. My private practice is devoted to clients and families who are dealing with eating disorders, food addiction, compulsive overeating and issues related to these disorders. I am a frequent guest lecturer in local schools and colleges.

Although counseling is an interactive process, the counseling hour is yours. It is about your personal growth and improved emotional health. I counsel according to your personal goals as we identify them together.

I offer an eclectic approach to therapy with my clients. I see each client as an individual with specific needs, and so I choose the therapeutic theory and approach that will best serve them and guide them in their recovery process. My strength is listening to what the client is saying (and not saying), offering counsel and helping the client to devise a plan for change or view things in a new light.

I am available to present the following topics to your group:

Mindful Eating: A fresh and simple approach to a healthier eating experience
Food Addiction, Compulsive Overeating, and Emotional Eating: When food behavior becomes a problem
What can I do? How to cope and help when your loved one has food addiction or an eating disorder
Think Your Way Thin: How cognitive behavior therapy can help you lose weight
Girl Talk -- Teen Esteem: A girls-only chat session about social pressures and body image issues.

In January 2009 I began my term as President of The Eating Disorder Network of Central Florida. The EDNCF is a non-profit, multi-disciplinary group of health and mental health professionals dedicated to providing quality treatment to individuals and families suffering from eating disorders. I am also a member of the American Counseling Association, the National Eating Disorders Association, the Central Florida Marriage and Family Therapists, the Mental Health Counselors Association of Central Florida and the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals. I received my M.S. in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University.

Tara Harvill, MA, LMHC, LMFT - I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I graduated with honors from Rollins College. My clinical experience includes a practicum at Rollins College Counseling and Psychological Services and an internship at The House Next Door in DeLand, where I received the Intern of the Year Award. I have been a therapist with White Picket Fence Counseling Center since 2009.

My theoretical approach to counseling involves working collaboratively with my clients to realize undiscovered and undeveloped resources within. Through a systemic counseling perspective, I focus on insight, with a strengths-based goal of fortifying resilience, illuminating strengths, and facilitating growth and development. I believe that every individual possesses significant and unique value and potential.

As a trained EMDR practitioner, I have a special interest in working with clients to integrate past experiences with their current level of self-knowledge. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a method of assimilating past traumatic experiences into a coherent narrative of strength and resilience.

Alessandra (Ali) DeMaria, MA I am a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern. I am a graduate with a Master of Arts Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Rollins College with a certificate in marriage and family therapy. My clinical experience includes a practicum at PACE Center for Girls working with at-risk middle and high school age girls. I completed my internship working at The House Next Door in Deltona as a community counseling therapist working with individuals, families, children, adolescents and couples.

Therapeutically I utilize a strengths based approach to assist clients in finding ways to achieve what is desired out of life in a safe and healthy manner. I also integrate various other theoretical frameworks when appropriate, as determined by each client and the goals for therapy. As a therapist I take the role of listener, supporter, and facilitator of the counseling session as the client works to attain awareness and motivation for change. Ultimately, I strive to help the client deepen awareness of experiences and life circumstances.

Janet McCurdy, M.Ed., M.S. - I am a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern with a Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Masters degree in Education. My clinical experience includes working with adults and adolescents addressing issues such as sexual trauma and abuse, self harm, eating disorders, substance abuse, anxiety, mood disorders, loss and grief, relationship issues, issues related to personal growth, and communication issues.

I am committed to creating a supportive environment that allows my clients to feel safe in exploring and working towards resolving current and past issues. I support both adult and adolescent clients in their efforts to increase self-knowledge and to develop skills needed to repair, rebuild and strengthen relationships, heal emotional wounds, and work towards the life they envision for themselves.

I am a member of the American Counseling Association, the Association for Specialists in Group Work, the Florida Counseling Association, and the Florida Association for Marriage and Family Counseling.

Diosa Moran, MA - I am a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern. I graduated with a Master of Arts Degree from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Counseling Psychology, with an emphasis in Depth Psychotherapy, in California. My clinical experience includes a practicum at The Grove Counseling Center, a residential drug and alcohol treatment center in Seminole County. I provided counseling to teens, adults, parents, and families focusing on substance abuse treatment with diverse mental health disorders. The counseling included individual, group, family, and parent support group therapy.

My internship continued at The Grove Counseling Center, as one of the lead therapists working at the residential treatment center and several Seminole County Public High Schools.

My theoretical orientation stems from a depth psychotherapy approach inviting a curiosity about the psyche, respect for the full range of human experience, and tending to the soul. As a therapist, I serve as a facilitator mirroring my clients in topics of self-awareness, reflection, empowerment, and life experiences, to name a few. I have written and researched topics including individuation, transitions, transformations, and trauma with published work “The universality of individuation in the modern world,” examining essential steps for a transition into adulthood as part of the individuation process.

My experience in treating addictions has been an excellent training for treating eating and weight disorders as well as related and co-occurring mental health disorders.

Jaki Hitzelberger, M.A. - Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern - After earning a B.A. in psychology at Rollins College, I continued on to earn my Masters in Mental Health Counseling to further my life goal of helping others manage and overcome their personal challenges. I am currently a Registered Mental Health Counselor and my clinical experience includes counseling at the House Next Door in Volusia County and the UCF Counseling Center. I have had the opportunity to work with a wide range of clients with diverse needs. I have a special interest in working with concerns related to self-esteem, body image, eating disorders, sports, depression and anxiety.

I utilize a creative, positive and strength-based approach that focuses on personal empowerment. I am inspired and energized by the opportunity to be part of people's journey towards their unique goals. I have a strong passion and interest in the important connection between physical health and mental health and therefore greatly enjoy my work at White Picket Fence Counseling Center.

Erika Bent, B.A. - I am a graduate student intern, earning a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Central Florida. My clinical experience includes a practicum experience at the Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Program at the University of Central Florida working with students who experienced difficulties with addiction - substance abuse and dependence.

My approach to counseling integrates varying theoretical frameworks based on the therapeutic goals and the individual client’s best interest. To better assist my clients throughout therapy and ensure they receive the best care, I maintain a unique and collaborative relationship. I work exclusively with each client to broaden understanding of self and enrich overall quality of life.

My interest in working with clients with eating and weight issues has brought me to my internship here. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to blend my education and my experience in treating addictions in a clinical setting where my colleagues and supervisor share their specialized knowledge and expertise.

Joe Bruner, B.S. - Joe Bruner, B.S. - I am a graduate of Florida State University with a major in business. I recently joined the White Picket Fence counseling Center, LLC, staff as the Director of Business Development. Currently I’m studying for my GRE and plan to return to graduate school to further my education and receive my master’s degree in counseling.

Journal Writing: Your Therapist at Home
Download this free workbook
and begin the healing.
Find out moreWe will never rent, sell or share your
email address or personal information.