Ivette Guillermo- McGahee

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, licensed by the States of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I am also an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). I was born in Mexico, my parents were deaf along with two siblings. Growing up we faced many challenges and people frequently dismissed me and my family before getting to know us. Since an early age, I was able to see beyond disabilities or diagnoses and find the real person. My curiosity has always confirmed that everyone has something valuable to offer. One early experience occurred at age 19 when I led a youth group involved with teaching, counseling and volunteering. The learning opportunities I engaged in clarified the contribution that I wanted to make in my life; helping individuals to restore their sense of dignity and to fulfill their longing to become valued, contributing members of our community. As an immigrant, I’ve helped individuals work through cultural differences and assimilation. There are challenges but also a richness in being a part of multiple cultures. The work I do involves partnering with a commitment from both client and professional to cultivate self-awareness in an atmosphere of non-judgment and honesty. Together we identify current obstacles and the potential available to reach for our goals. I am fluent in English, Spanish, American Sign Language and Mexican Sign Language. I have engaged in extensive training in Multicultural Therapy and Systems Centered Therapy (SCT), as well as training in CBT, ACT, and Motivational Interviewing. My counseling experience includes more than ten years working with multicultural children and adults struggling with mood disorders, trauma, personality disorders, challenges with acculturation, inter-generational and interracial relationship issues, etc. I have a special interest in integrated healthcare and stay informed on current research in the areas of alternative and evidence-based treatments for mental health issues such as mindfulness-based interventions.