Our Counselors
BA, MSW, LCSW
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Angela Damianakis
Counselor Angela has spent her twenty-two year career helping those who need assistance. After graduating from Hoftstra University’s New College with honors, Angela entered the prestigious Adelphi University School of Social Work. Angela’s clinical skills are highly distinguished, having been cultivated through her varied work history to include: Licensed Psychotherapist in private clinical practice, Primary Therapist and Group Facilitator for a partial hospitalization program, Out Reach Counselor, Consumer Direct Care Provider, Senior Mental Health Practitioner for intensive on-site therapeutic services, and Independent Contract Therapist for group practice. Angela has worked as an activist for human rights internationally and has served on the Board of Directors for the Pasco Mental Health Foundation. She is a Sho Don (black belt) in Issinryu Karate and a three time marathon runner.
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Angela’s skill set is not quantifiable by a resume. Angela's no non-sense and good humor respects the catalyst for all change the psychotherapeutic relationship. Only when one is willing to observe things as they are, is one equipped to creatively make things better.
From early childhood Angela found herself interested in and questioning primary things: the purpose of life, her relationship to God, with others and living authentically. Angela concluded through her early thinking and later experience and education that there exists concretely the opportunity for optimism, for grasping reality and acceptance of "things as they are" without becoming a slave to circumstances. She concluded that these things are tied together.
Angela discovered by experience that dramatic change is doable when you turn away from cultural folklore, which tells you that what is better is not possible. She teaches that although one is to learn "the reality of the thing" that is "things as they are" one is never to assume that the status quo is the only possibility. She isn't shy about setting what some might call "super goals"; how else is real change ever possible? Leading by example Angela has completed several full marathons (26.2 miles) and has a black belt in Isshinryu Karate. In her psychotherapeutic paradigm, unwarranted self doubt and defeatist ideologies hold no place. You are by nature creative, resourceful and capable of finding the answers that break old habits of behavior and patterns of thinking that have not worked. You are your best resource. It is Angela's role to encourage and guide; to both point to your path and help you walk it. Her professional goal is to empower by supporting every good habit and pattern of thought and behavior to identify the things that harm and to augment your own skill set.
Without challenge there can be little meaningful and intelligent change. Angela will lovingly challenge you to embark on a journey to a more creative life, to a personhood that is centered, introspective and strength-based (truth based). She believes and has seen demonstrated in the lives of those she helps, the curative nature of faith and the healing path of commitment. All journeys begin with a single step; the ancient sage knew full well. So Angela's therapeutic methodology if first, common sense, that is, knowing the healing power of taking the first simple and practical steps to appreciate and understand ones own humanity, ones own personhood, ones place and possibilities in the living of this life.
From early childhood Angela found herself interested in and questioning primary things: the purpose of life, her relationship to God, with others and living authentically. Angela concluded through her early thinking and later experience and education that there exists concretely the opportunity for optimism, for grasping reality and acceptance of "things as they are" without becoming a slave to circumstances. She concluded that these things are tied together.
Angela discovered by experience that dramatic change is doable when you turn away from cultural folklore, which tells you that what is better is not possible. She teaches that although one is to learn "the reality of the thing" that is "things as they are" one is never to assume that the status quo is the only possibility. She isn't shy about setting what some might call "super goals"; how else is real change ever possible? Leading by example Angela has completed several full marathons (26.2 miles) and has a black belt in Isshinryu Karate. In her psychotherapeutic paradigm, unwarranted self doubt and defeatist ideologies hold no place. You are by nature creative, resourceful and capable of finding the answers that break old habits of behavior and patterns of thinking that have not worked. You are your best resource. It is Angela's role to encourage and guide; to both point to your path and help you walk it. Her professional goal is to empower by supporting every good habit and pattern of thought and behavior to identify the things that harm and to augment your own skill set.
Without challenge there can be little meaningful and intelligent change. Angela will lovingly challenge you to embark on a journey to a more creative life, to a personhood that is centered, introspective and strength-based (truth based). She believes and has seen demonstrated in the lives of those she helps, the curative nature of faith and the healing path of commitment. All journeys begin with a single step; the ancient sage knew full well. So Angela's therapeutic methodology if first, common sense, that is, knowing the healing power of taking the first simple and practical steps to appreciate and understand ones own humanity, ones own personhood, ones place and possibilities in the living of this life.
Contemporary humanity, tired and discouraged by the various problems is looking for rest and refreshment. Basically they are seeking a cure for their soul, as it is mainly there that they feel the problem when going through a `mental depression |
