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A Psychotherapy Private Practice in Florida

Call Us today (954) 370 8081

Meet the Team

Karina Cuentro Chernacov,

LMHC, M.S.

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Luciene Ehlert

LMHC, CAP, CADC

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Eleanor Weekes,

LMFT, MS

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Vanessa Mota Silva

LMFT, MS

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Sandra Veiga

LMFT

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South Florida Counseling offers a wide variety of mental health services, to accommodate the needs of families and individuals, who are struggling with day to day problems and challenges, as well as with unexpected and unpredictable life events. The multilingual and culturally sensitive therapists and staff are skillfully trained in a variety of mental health issues, and on mediation techniques.

SOUTH FLORIDA COUNSELING AGENCY ©2022

Desenvolvido por: Christian Venancio ❤ Artezendesign.com.br

Karina Cuentro Chernacov, LMHC, M.S.

Karina Chernacov is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Florida Supreme Court Family Mediator. Originally from Brazil, she graduated from college in clinical psychology and had the opportunity to work in private and public psychiatric hospitals, where she helped patients and their families struggling with mental health disorders.


When she moved to South Florida in 1993, she completed her Master’s of Science in Mental Health Counselor at Nova Southeastern University and started her journey studying and specializing in trauma.

She worked for Broward County at the Nancy Cotterman’s Sexual Assault Treatment Center, as well as she also became the Director of a Broward County Program called “Friends of Our House”, where she provided services, including therapeutically supervised visitations for parents who lost custody of their children due to having a history of crime, kidnapping, abduction, mental health issues, or divorce disputes.

As she continued specializing in treating people who were victims of trauma, she became a Florida Victim Advocate and worked closely with State and Local agencies in assisting victims and their families.

She is the founder and treatment director of South Florida Counseling Agency. A very reputable agency, where she not only provides counseling for individuals and families but specializes in assisting several organs and local and state agencies in dealing with Hague Abduction Convention cases. She has experience and assists many families, attorneys, judges and social workers in dealing with the trauma of those affected by abduction and kidnapping.

She is also a provider for NCMEC (The National Center For Missing and Exploited Children) and works in rescuing and removing the abducted children, and in providing them with the tools necessary for reunification with their original family and in the process of moving back to their country of original residence.

Karina also has expertise in helping clients who are in the process of becoming legal in the United States, and who are undergoing immigration proceedings through VAWA and Waivers of Removal from this country.

She speaks fluently several languages, including English, Portuguese, Spanish, and is in the process of becoming fluent in Italian.

Helping individuals, couples and families is her passion, and she believes in the powerful relationship between client and therapist; one which promotes growth, insight, and ultimately freedom.

Give her a call and Ishe will do her best to help and assist you and your family.

Luciene Ehlert, LMHC, CAP, CADC

Luciene Ehlert is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, holding credentials as a Certified Addictions Professional and as an Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She has experience and training in behavior issues, family/parenting issues, relationships, addiction, and mental illness. She is trilingual and can provide therapy in Portuguese, Spanish, and English.


Luciene has experience working with individuals, children and families with mental health and substance use disorders, helping them overcome stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, relationship difficulties, trauma, self-esteem, adjustment challenges and loss or grief. Her passion is to guide clients to become aware of the self-limiting belief systems that prevent them from living happy, healthy and balanced lives and to inspire them to make positive changes.


 Luciene’s approach is strength-based, aimed on amplifying the natural resiliencies in the people she serves. She works in collaboration with her clients to explore their strengths, which in turn will give them empowerment to embrace their journey in recovery.  She focus on assisting the clients to identify the underlying issues that cause them to struggle with addiction and helping them to overcome these issues, while acquiring purposeful direction, motivation and the development of independence. Luciene recognizes that each person is unique and therefore needs individualized counseling strategies that will provide the best outcome for their own needs.

Eleanor Weekes, LMHC, M.S.

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 14 years of experience working as a counselor.   I am an experienced Forensic Interviewer and a Qualified Mental Health Counselor Supervisor fluent in English and Spanish.  I grew up in between Honduras and New Orleans and have traveled extensively around the world, which has given me a broad perspective about life. 


I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Loma Linda University in California and worked as a Women’s Dean at a private college for a few years before pursuing my Master’s Degree in Counseling at Nova Southeastern University.  For 12 years I worked for the Broward County Nancy J. Cotterman Center (formerly the Sexual Assault Treatment Center) as a senior therapist providing individual, group, and family counseling to victims of sexual abuse and rape of all ages. I conducted Forensic Interviews for children with special needs and children suspected of child on child sexual abuse and I was a Therapeutic Visitation Monitor at OUR House, a Supervised Visitation Program that used to be operated by Broward County Government.


I have a wealth of experience treating victims of violent crimes, rape, sexual abuse and incest.  I am also experienced in working with individuals suffering from depression, anxiety, sexual identity issues, health problems, and relationship issues, as well as other problems.  I am particularly passionate about working with teens and their families and have expertise providing parent-child psychotherapy services garnered from my two years working at the University of Miami, Linda Ray Intervention Center.  


I am dedicated to providing quality service and believe that client’s benefit the most from treatment when they are actively involved and when treatment is tailored to meet their specific needs.  I look forward to working with you and your loved ones.

Vanessa Mota Silva, LMFT, M.S.

I graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Psychology and a minor in Applied Developmental Psychology. I graduated with honors from the Marriage and Family Therapy graduate program at Chapman University in California. I am a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. I am trilingual in English, Portuguese and Spanish.


I have over 10 years of experience working with children, adolescents and families addressing issues such as depression, anxiety, anger management, low self-esteem, trauma related symptoms, parenting, conflict resolution and stress management to name a few. My approach to therapy is eclectic as I tailor it to the specific needs of the client and maintain a solid therapeutic relationship as a constant.


As we know, there are many elements that we are unaware of, which reflect on how we respond to circumstances and block the natural flow of balance. Through therapy, clients have the ability to explore and learn about themselves. I believe that clients are the experts of their own lives and that they have the power within themselves to unlock and fulfill their potential through therapy. I am dedicated to fostering a safe environment and working with individuals, couples and families collaboratively to reach their therapeutic goals and to improve their quality of life.


I am looking forward to working with you in this journey of healing and growth.

Trisha Modzelewski, LMHC

I was born and raised in South Florida and attended Florida State University for my undergraduate studies. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. Moving back to the south part of the State, I went to graduate school at Nova Southeastern University in Davie. I graduated with a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling, going on to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Currently, I am a Qualified Supervisor for registered interns in the State of Florida and have 18 years of experience in the counseling profession.


My experiences have allowed me to work with people of all ages including children, teens, and adults who suffer from a variety of mental health, substance abuse, and trauma-related disorders. I have worked with victims of sexual violence and abuse, depression, substance use issues, PTSD, anxiety disorders, grief/loss issues and many others.


As a certified EMDR practitioner, I am integrating Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) techniques into my practice.


EMDR is a very effective method of treating PTSD and other trauma-related symptoms.
Psychotherapy is my passion! I love what I do and I enjoy supporting and helping others regain a sense of balance in their lives. I look forward to meeting with you and would be honored to help you navigate the road ahead as you travel toward health and harmony once