COALITION OF COUNSELORS
Andy Blanchard MA, LMHC, NCC
Andy supports conflicted couples and individuals in their desire to preserve and strengthen their relationships. He provides an undying hope that your relationships can undergo restoration, because you are uniquely valuable.
As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over thirteen years of professional counseling experience, Andy works with individuals, couples, and groups. Andy works with adults in every stage of life and specializes in marriage and intimacy issues with couples in all seasons of their relationship. He is trained in several trauma resolution therapies including EMDR and takes an integrative approach to addressing both healing and restoration.
Andy has earned a Masters in Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL. He is a National Certified Counselor and a Qualified Supervisor in the state of Florida. Prior to a career in counseling, Andy earned a BA in Mathematics and Religious Studies from St. Olaf College.
Andy and his wife have lived in Central Florida for over 15 years. Together with their family, they are actively involved in their local church. You might also find Andy enjoying sailing, playing in a band, or creating something in his workshop.
Contact Information:
North Office:
1180 Spring Centre South Boulevard
Suite #212
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
Appointments: 407-376-3773
Email: andy@discoveryorlando.org
West Orlando Office:
14175 West Colonial Drive
Winter Garden, FL 34787
Appointments: 407-376-3773
www.discoveryorlando.org
Dorcas Maria Cepeda, MA, MA. LMHC
Dorcas is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She earned two Master’s degrees from Reformed Theological Seminary, in Oviedo, FL Her Master’s degrees are in Counseling and in Biblical Studies. Dorcas’ Bachelor of Science degree is in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources from St. John University in Queens, NY. Dorcas comes to the counseling profession with experiences in the Mortgage Finance field, the Business Accounting field and Administration in the Mental Health field (Office Manager, Practice Administrator and Clinical Supervisor). She also comes to the counseling profession with Church Ministry experience both domestic and overseas.
Dorcas believes that in life’s journey we experience personal and relational challenges that steal our hope and peace. Her counseling philosophy is to help restore hope by creating a safe and compassionate place to discover pathways to freedom and growth. She does this by identifying and affirming existing strengths and clarifying areas for personal growth. She also believes that her greatest contribution and accomplishment is walking alongside her clients in their journey to rediscovering hope again and witnessing the transformation of her clients. She is also able to incorporate a Christian worldview and Christian Spirituality into counseling sessions, upon the client’s request.
Dorcas brings over 16 years of experience in the counseling field and enjoys working with families, individuals (Men and Women), children, teenagers and couples. (For a list of diagnosis she works with please email her at dorcas.cepeda@gmail.com)
Dorcas is bilingual and able to conduct sessions both in English and Spanish. She is also a Florida Qualified Supervisor for Registered Mental Health Counselor Interns who are pursuing their Florida licensure.
Contact Information:
1600 Robinson Street, Suite 250
Orlando, FL 32803
Appointments: 407-257-3063
Email: dorcas.cepeda@gmail.com
Sarah Milam, LMHC, ATR
Sarah is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, as well as a Registered Art Therapist. After earning her Master's Degree in Art Therapy at Florida State University, she continued to pursue and obtain the credential of Registered Art Therapist through the Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc., in addition to her License of Mental Health Counseling in Florida. She is also a Qualified Supervisor in Florida for registered mental health counseling interns seeking licensure from the state.
After graduating from FSU, Sarah and her husband lived and worked in Tallahassee for many years before relocating to Orlando. Sarah has experience with various ages, and settings, including work with children, teens, adults with issues related to anxiety, depression/mood issues, oppositional defiance, and other behavioral issues. Sarah currently works with children, teens, and adults using both counseling strategies as well as art therapy techniques to provide multiple avenues of communication, expression, and growth.
Contact Information:
500 N. Maitland Ave #110
Maitland, FL 32751
850-843-0774
Assistant: 407-797-4111
www.smarttherapy.co
Email: sarah.milam2004@gmail.com
Dan Miller, LMHC
Dan Miller is a native Floridian from the west coast of Florida and has lived in the Orlando area for 14 years. He was a classroom teacher for eight years. Three of those eight years he taught in Mexico City, Mexico while assisting in starting a church there. He loves spending time with his family and friends, and being outdoors. Dan holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary. He is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with the state of Florida.
Dan works with individuals, couples, and groups on the issues of relational struggles, fear, repressed anger, depression, addiction, shame, grief, divorce, and abuse recovery, and helps his clients discover how these issues relate to one’s growth into mature men and women.
Contact Information:
Florida Counseling Foundation
258 Wilshire Blvd.
Casselberry, FL
407-831-2991
Email: dwmmhc@gmail.com
Rachel Blackston, M.A., M.Ed.
Rachel is passionate about building meaningful relationships with her clients and believes counseling can be a life-changing experience where deep heart change occurs. She specializes in working with women dealing with relationship issues, depression, and anxiety, with a special interest in sexual abuse recovery, codependency, infertility, and gender identity. Rachel has developed an expertise in working with women who have been sexually betrayed by their husbands and serves as a therapist at the Women in the Battle weekend through New Life Ministries. In addition, she is trained in EMDR, an evidenced-based therapy that helps clients recover from past disturbing events that continue to impact their mind and body.
Rachel is a Qualified Supervisor for those seeking licensure as mental health counselors in the state of Florida. Beyond the counseling room, she serves as Adjunct Faculty at her alma mater, Reformed Theological Seminary and enjoys speaking in the community on topics such as gender, personality type, career development, and other counseling related issues. When she’s not counseling, Rachel enjoys spending time with her husband Michael and daughter Hannah, who was a priceless gift after several years of struggling with infertility.
Contact Information:
Redeemer Counseling
2562 Rouse Rd
Orlando FL 32817
407-405-7677
rachel@redeemercounselingcenter.com
J. Michael Blackston, M.A.
Michael has a passion to help others find wholeness in all aspects of life. Through his relational, yet practical approach, Michael enjoys working with a range of issues including trauma and abuse recovery, relationship issues, gender identity, masculinity and femininity, depression, and anxiety. Michael also works with men dealing with sexual integrity issues and travels the country with New Life Ministries where he leads men’s groups and has served as a facilitator for the Every Man's Battle workshops. In addition, he has been trained in EMDR, which treats past disturbing events or hurts that continue to impact a person’s functioning. Michael is a Qualified Supervisor for those seeking licensure as mental health counselors in the state of Florida.
Michael graduated with his Master’s degree in Counseling at Reformed Theological Seminary. He and his wife Rachel feel honored to work alongside each other in helping others clients find freedom in their lives. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends and unwinds by running marathons and half-marathons.
Contact Information:
Redeemer Counseling
2562 Rouse Rd
Orlando FL 32817
407-405-7677
michael@redeemercounselingcenter.com
COUNSELING SCHOLARSHIP
The Counseling Scholarship of the Good Samaritan Fund at First Presbyterian Church of Orlando exists to lower or remove the financial burden that prohibits people from seeking counseling, which is often a necessary part of discipleship as it tends especially to identity, relationships, and understanding our stories in light of truth. Who is eligible for the scholarship? Covenant partners of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando are given priority to available funding. Non-covenant partners may be considered at the discretion of the committee, and those involved in the life of our church family or receiving pastoral care are encouraged to apply.