Caring, Professional Christian Counselors

Our team of experienced, independent, private practitioners includes men and women who are Licensed Therapists, Registered Interns, and Graduate Students. Each Licensed Therapist and Registered Intern holds at least one Master's-level degree or higher in counseling from an accredited university or seminary. Grace Clinic therapists are available for both day and evening appointments and are committed to offering affordable counseling services. Please select a city from the list below:

Orlando, Florida Therapists

Please select a counselor's name from the list below:

Monica Taffinder, M.A., M.A.

Monica Taffinder is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and co-founder of Grace Clinic. Monica has been counseling since 1999, after earning her Master's degrees from Reformed Theological Seminary in Counseling and Biblical Studies. She enjoys working with people on issues of depression, anxiety, sexual abuse recovery, trauma, femininity and gender identity, dissociative disorders, and strengthening core relationships. Originally from Texas, Monica came to Orlando after working for several years with a Christian organization in Texas and in Russia. Monica enjoys traveling, gardening, writing, and being with her friends and family.

Dawna Prostak, M.A., N.C.C.

Dawna Prostak is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who has worked with people for over ten years in both inpatient and outpatient settings. A graduate of the University of Central Florida, Dawna received her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling and enjoys working with couples in marriage counseling, and adoption and infertility issues. Dawna also specializes in issues surrounding femininity, sexual abuse recovery, and anxiety disorders. Married with two daughters, Dawna enjoys spending time with family and friends, camping, traveling, and scrap booking.

J.J. West, M.Ed./Ed.S.

J.J. West is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who joined Grace Clinic after years of working with children and adolescents in outpatient settings. Originally from Central Florida, J.J. received his Master's and Specialist degrees in Counselor Education from The University of Florida. Before his training as a therapist, J.J. worked for several years with college students both with a Christian organization and on church staffs in the area. J.J.’s specialties include working with teen substance abuse, adolescent concerns, couples, parenting, and family therapy. Married with two children, J.J. enjoys outdoor adventures with his family, traveling to other cultures, good movies, and FSU sports.

Sharonda W. Engram, M.S.

Sharonda Engram, a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern, obtained her Master’s Degree from Stetson University and her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Florida A & M University. Her experience includes linking, monitoring, and advocating for families that have abused, neglected, or abandoned their children. She has also worked in assisting families and individuals with mental and behavioral dilemmas. Sharonda completed her internship at Arnold Palmer Hospital, providing crisis intervention counseling. Her specialties include working with sexually abused children and adults, grief therapy, couples and family therapy, parenting, pre-marital counseling, and depression. Sharonda is proud to be a wife and a mother of one son. She enjoys reading, dancing, spending time with her family, and traveling. She has served in the diaconate of her church for the past 4 years.

D.J. Snell, M.A., M.A.

D.J. Snell is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern who joined Grace Clinic in Winter Park after graduating from Reformed Theological Seminary with a dual Masters in Counseling and Biblical Studies. He enjoys working with a variety of issues including gender identity, relationship issues, anxiety, depression, trauma, masculinity, and sexual addiction.

Originally from Georgia, D.J. graduated from Davidson College and Harvard Law School. Since graduating from law school in 1994, D.J. has served as manager and representative for professional athletes and coaches, as well as literary agent for both celebrity clients and new writers. In addition to continuing his agency practice, he has enjoyed working with international missionaries via short term trips, primarily to Africa, over the past ten years. D.J. enjoys traveling, reading, movies, working out, tennis, spending time with his friends, and playing with his pup, Gracie.

Nicole Lively, M.S.W.

Nicole Lively, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Master’s degree in Social Work. A native of Central Florida, Nicole joined Grace Clinic while concurrently providing care to patients and families with a hospice company in Central Florida. While working with hospice she developed her abilities to relate and show compassion for individuals and families experiencing grief and loss. Nicole has also enjoyed the privilege of serving as a youth pastor’s wife at a local church where she began developing her skills in relating with teenagers. As Nicole has grown over the years at Grace Clinic, she has established a specialty in dealing with a variety of teenage issues including; self-mutilation, family struggles, acting-out behaviors, and self-esteem. Nicole has been married for over 5 years and enjoys spending time outdoors, scrapbooking, and sharing quality time with friends and family.

Julia Sterne, M.A.

Julia Sterne returns to our practice after completing her student internship with us. Julia received her Master's degree in Counseling from Asbury Theological Seminary, and is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern. Julia appreciates a holistic and community-oriented approach to counseling, and recognizes the need for the mind, body, and soul to be healed in the context of relationships. Julia has a heart for those struggling with body issues and eating disorders ranging from anorexia to overeating. She is a member of the Eating Disorder Network of Central Florida and is developing a specialization in this area. Along with eating disorders, Julia enjoys working with adolescents and people struggling with addictions, difficult life transitions, spiritual issues and anxiety. She enjoys focusing on topics such as relationships, discipleship, self-care, and wellness.

In her spare time, Julia loves to be with her husband and her community sharing meals, watching movies, or discussing theological issues while relaxing in the backyard. She likes to be in nature, whether riding her bike, running, or gardening.

Tisha Gentry, M.A.

Tisha Gentry is a Provisional Mental Health Counselor Licensee with over eight years of experience in psychotherapy. After earning her Master’s degree from Reformed Theological Seminary, Tisha moved to Maryland to join a private practice near Baltimore. It was there she learned to integrate her contemplative nature with her ability to really listen.

Tisha approaches therapy with a warm style that is easy going and truthful. With humor, wisdom and mercy she helps people discover the issues that are disrupting their lives, while giving them the tools for change. A learner at heart, she reads copiously, always adding to her eclectic gathering of skills and knowledge. She enjoys working with adults who struggle with depression, anxiety, gender identity, sexual abuse, marital issues, communication and relational difficulties.

A writer and poet, Tisha, also, loves golfing, riding her bike and hanging out with friends.

Kristi N. Alday, B.S.

Originally from Dalton, Georgia, Kristi obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Economics with a concentration in Accounting from Rollins College in 1985. In 2004, she was ordained as a Deacon in the Episcopal Church and is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Counseling at Asbury Theological Seminary in Orlando. PREPARE/ENRICH certified in Pre-Marital and Marital Counseling, Kristi also does pastoral counseling in areas such as marriage, grief, daily life issues, and suicide intervention. As the former COO of Walking the Mourner’s Path,® an 8-week Christ-based grief support program, Kristy was called to work in New York City in response to the 9-11 crisis.

Kristi continues to conduct workshops, lead days of prayer, present seminars, and provide pastoral care to local parishes, Christian organizations, and other community groups. Kristi and her husband Tom have been married over 26 years and they reside in Winter Park. Together, they enjoy spending time with family and friends. Kristy’s other hobbies include fishing, cooking, needlepoint, college football, rollerblading and days at the beach. Kristi’s greatest passion is to extend God’s love and facilitate true healing that can only be found in Christ.

Ocala, Florida Therapists

Please select a counselor's name from the list below:

J.J. West, M.Ed./Ed.S.

J.J. West is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who joined Grace Clinic after years of working with children and adolescents in outpatient settings. Originally from Central Florida, J.J. received his Master's and Specialist degrees in Counselor Education from The University of Florida. Before his training as a therapist, J.J. worked for several years with college students both with a Christian organization and on church staffs in the area. J.J.’s specialties include working with teen substance abuse, adolescent concerns, couples, parenting, and family therapy. Married with two children, J.J. enjoys outdoor adventures with his family, traveling to other cultures, good movies, and FSU sports.

Portland, Oregon Therapists

Please select a counselor's name from the list below:

Brad Young, M.A., M.Div.

Brad Young is a Licensed Professional Counselor and co-founder of Grace Clinic. After graduating from Reformed Theological Seminary with Master's degrees in Counseling and Divinity, Brad served for several years on a church staff as a pastor and a counselor. Brad’s specialties include working with masculinity and gender identity issues, abuse recovery, restoring broken relationships, and couples in crisis. Married and a father of three, Brad enjoys home improvement projects, hiking with his family, and traveling.

Becky Young, M.A.

Becky Young is a Licensed Professional Counselor and co-founder of Grace Clinic. A graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary, Becky enjoys working with issues regarding parenting, attachment and attachment disorder, marriage therapy, grief therapy, and women’s issues surrounding past trauma, abuse, and neglect. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Becky was an elementary school teacher in Seattle and Orlando before beginning her career as a therapist. Becky is married with three children. Becky enjoys cooking, doing projects with her husband and children, entertaining, and gardening.