Clinical Team
Experience you can count on to guide and support you every step of the way.
Claudette Gonzalez
Licensed Marriage & Family
Therapist | Clinical Director
Languages: English & Spanish
Claudette Gonzalez
Licensed Marriage & Family
Therapist | Clinical Director
Claudette Gonzalez | Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist | Licensed Mental Health Counselor | Clinical Director
Sometimes life and relationships can leave you feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of what to do next. You may find yourself thinking, “I just want to be okay,” “I feel trapped,” or “What is happening to me—or to us?” Therapy can provide a place to slow down, better understand what is happening beneath the surface, and begin moving toward meaningful change.
I strive to create a warm, nonjudgmental, and collaborative environment where you feel heard, respected, and empowered. My approach is especially focused on helping individuals and couples better understand the emotional and relational patterns that keep them stuck while developing healthier ways of connecting, communicating, and responding to life’s challenges.
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, with advanced training in evidence-based approaches for couples and trauma, including the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I integrate these approaches based on each client’s unique needs, experiences, and goals.
In addition to my clinical work, I serve as Clinical Director at CityLight Counseling, where I help support the clinical development of our team and the delivery of thoughtful, compassionate, and high-quality care across the practice. I value creating an environment where both clients and clinicians are supported in meaningful growth.
Whether you are navigating relationship distress, trauma, emotional challenges, or a difficult season of life, my goal is to help you develop greater understanding, healthier coping strategies, and the confidence to move forward with greater clarity and connection.
Specialized Training & Credentials
- Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT)
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
- Qualified Supervisor (QS)
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy – Levels 1 & 2 Trained
- Externship in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT) through the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) Trained
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Faith-Integrated Counseling
Sandy Michael
Licensed Mental Health
Counselor
Languages: English & Arabic
Sandy Michael
Licensed Mental Health
Counselor
Sandy Michael | Licensed Mental Health Counselor & Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern
Have you ever felt like you’re carrying more than your share of emotional weight? Struggling to connect in your relationships, or wondering why certain patterns keep repeating in your life? What if healing wasn’t just possible—but already within reach, with the right support?
My passion for helping others and providing support during difficult times inspired me to become a therapist so that I could effectively help people just like you. I strive to create a warm, non-judgmental, and collaborative environment where you will feel heard, respected, and empowered to explore your emotions and challenges. Throughout my personal and professional journey, I’ve seen how healing and growth are possible when individuals are given the right tools and compassionate support.
My academic background—Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy—along with additional training in evidence-based therapies such as Gottman Method (couples), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), have helped me develop an integrative approach to treatment. I tailor my methods to meet the unique needs and goals of each client, ensuring a personalized approach that fosters real change.
In our work together, you can expect a supportive, empathetic environment where you’re treated with respect and understanding. I believe in building a strong rapport and fostering trust, which is essential for meaningful therapeutic work. Together, we will work towards achieving your goals and addressing the challenges that are impacting your life. My hope is that clients leave with a deeper understanding of themselves, equipped with healthier coping strategies and the tools they need to manage life’s challenges. Ultimately, I aim to empower clients to better navigate their emotions, relationships, and overall well-being.
Specialized Training & Credentials
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy – Level 1 Trained
- Externship in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT) through the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) Trained
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) Trained
- Motivational Interviewing
- Faith-Integrated Counseling
Alexis Marquez
Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
Languages: English & Spanish
Alexis Marquez
Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
Alexis Marquez | Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
You’ve spent so much time trying to keep things together showing up for work, family, and responsibilities but inside, you’re running on empty. The anxiety, the exhaustion, the constant push to stay strong… it’s catching up with you. Maybe it’s trauma that keeps resurfacing, ADHD that makes life feel unmanageable, or the quiet struggle of addiction and recovery. You might not know where to start, only that something has to change.
Therapy is that place where you can finally stop pretending and start rebuilding. My role is to create a safe, grounded space where you can slow down, unpack what’s been weighing you down, and learn to reconnect with yourself. I bring honesty, compassion, and structure into every session we move at your pace, not by a script. My approach is trauma-informed, person-centered, and rooted in authentic connection, helping you understand what’s happening beneath the surface and empowering you to take back control of your life.
Having worked in law enforcement, I understand the silent pressure of being the strong one especially for first responders and veterans who often carry invisible wounds. You don’t have to do this alone anymore. Together, we’ll work toward balance, clarity, and the peace you’ve been missing.
I earned my master’s in clinical Mental Health Counseling and bring experience from both law enforcement and higher education. My background has given me a strong foundation in crisis intervention, trauma response, and professional development allowing me to support clients through both personal and occupational stress.
In higher education, I served in career counseling and coaching, helping individuals navigate transitions, burnout, and rediscover purpose in their work. In the mental health field, I’ve worked with adults and adolescents facing trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, substance use, and addiction recovery.
I’m bilingual—English and Spanish—which allows me to provide accessible, culturally responsive care to diverse communities. My work is guided by empathy, authenticity, and collaboration creating an environment where clients can heal, grow, and regain a sense of control in their lives.
Specialized Training & Credentials
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy – Level 1 Trained
- Trauma-Informed Care & Trauma-Focused Interventions
- Specialized Clinical Experience with First Responders & Veterans
- Specialized Clinical Experience in Substance Use & Addiction Recovery
- ADHD-Informed Treatment for Adolescents & Adults
- Crisis Intervention & Trauma Response
- Career Counseling, Professional Development & Life Transitions
Mariely Fernandez
Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
Languages: English & Spanish
Mariely Fernandez
Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
Mariely Fernandez | Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
There’s a moment when you realize, “There has to be a better way to feel than this.” Maybe you’re overwhelmed, anxious, emotionally exhausted, or simply feeling disconnected from yourself. For parents, that moment may come when you realize your child is struggling and you’re no longer sure how to help. That quiet, honest recognition is often where healing begins.
I believe every person carries an inner capacity for healing and growth, even when life makes it difficult to access. My role as a therapist is not to see you, or your child, as a collection of problems that need to be fixed. I want to understand the whole person: your emotions, thoughts, relationships, body, experiences, and the environment in which you live.
My approach to therapy is integrative and informed by neuroscience, recognizing the important relationship between the brain, body, emotions, relationships, and everyday factors that influence our mental health. Depending on your needs, I may incorporate neuroscience-informed strategies, breathwork, mindfulness-based practices, mind-body interventions, emotional regulation skills, and other evidence-based therapeutic approaches. I also consider the ways movement, stress, rest, nutrition, and other aspects of daily life can affect how we feel and function.
I especially enjoy working with children, adolescents, and parents. Children do not always have the words to explain what they are experiencing, so therapy may need to look different for them. I incorporate developmentally appropriate, creative, and experiential strategies to help younger clients better understand and express their emotions, build coping skills, and feel more confident navigating challenges. I also believe parents are an important part of that process. When appropriate, I work alongside parents to help them better understand what may be happening beneath a child’s behavior, strengthen connection, and develop practical ways to support their child at home.
For adults, therapy may involve learning to regulate overwhelming emotions, working through anxiety or depression, navigating major life transitions, or understanding patterns that continue to leave you feeling stuck. Rather than simply talking about what is wrong, we will work together to develop greater awareness and practical tools that can help you respond differently to what life brings.
My work with couples is similarly focused on helping people understand the patterns beneath their interactions. Using relationship-focused approaches, including training in the Gottman Method, I help couples improve communication, strengthen emotional connection, navigate conflict, and develop healthier ways of responding to one another.
At the heart of my work is the belief that you are the expert on your own life. I am not here to tell you who you should be or what your life should look like. I am here to bring clinical knowledge, curiosity, compassion, and practical tools into a collaborative process that helps you better understand yourself and move toward the life and relationships you want.
Beginning therapy can feel vulnerable, whether you are seeking help for yourself or placing your trust in someone to work with your child. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe enough to be honest, curious, and gently challenged when needed. We will move at a pace that respects your experiences and strengths while still working toward meaningful change, one step at a time.
Specialized Training & Credentials
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy – Level 1 Trained
- Certified in Neuroscience-Informed Practices
- Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Facilitator (Yoga Sensible al Trauma)
- Integration of Breathwork, Mindfulness-Based & Trauma-Informed Mind-Body Practices
- Specialized training in the integration of neuroscience-informed approach to nutrition and mental health, mind-body wellness.
Jennell Elias
Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern
Languages: English & Spanish
Jennell Elias
Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern
Jennell Elias | Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern
Few things feel quite as lonely as having a distant or injured relationship with the people who are supposed to feel like “home”. We argue in circles until we reach a point of ‘nothing changes anyway’ so we just… stop. We pull away. We start to feel like strangers in our own home.
It’s even more challenging when children or teens are involved. It can be beyond frustrating to feel like we aren’t getting through to our kids, no matter how many different ways we try to explain. Add co-parents or step-parents to the mix? Now we’re weeding through layers of complexity that, frankly, feel too overwhelming to even know where to begin.
That’s where I come in. One of the first things people notice when working with me is that I have a deep respect for their unique stories. I don’t assume I’m the expert on their lives or try to judge anyone. I focus on understanding where you are coming from and where you want to go so I can help support the process to get there.
After that, we start rolling up our sleeves. We’re not just going to “talk about feelings”, we’re going to build skills and change patterns so you have the tools you need to keep up the momentum moving forward. For couples, that might mean healing through past wounds, learning to resolve conflict better, or life-proofing your relationship against future curveballs. For families, it might mean helping you learn ways to finally get through to each other, or doing a mix of sessions where it’s either just the adults in the room, or the kids have the spotlight. Ultimately, the best approach will depend on what we decide together based on your goals.
What I bring to my sessions comes from, both, a professional and personal place. I’m a wife of over ten years, a mom of three, a daughter of aging parents, a sister, and more — so the messy, complicated reality of navigating familial relationships is not just theory to me. I’ve worked in a range of clinical settings since 2015, when I earned a Master’s in Couples, Marriage and Family Therapy. I also gained a Master’s in Business Administration since then and have developed extensive knowledge on the unique challenges that high performing couples, or individuals, experience in their already-demanding lives. And, because traditional therapy sessions are sometimes not the best fit for everyone, I’ve also spent years providing relationship coaching, workshops, and education to couples and families in Central Florida. I have seen first hand the transformative power that healing, whether as individuals, as a couple, or as a family, can have, not just over our lives but also in generations to come. If you’re ready, I’m looking forward to helping you see for yourself.
Specialized Training & Credentials
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy – Level 1 Trained
- Gottman Method: Treating Affairs & Trauma in Couples
- PREPARE/ENRICH Trained
- Training in Play Therapy Techniques & Interventions
- Specialized Clinical Focus in Working with High-Achieving Professionals & Executive Couples
Adekeye Adebayo
Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
Languages: English & Yoruba
Adekeye Adebayo
Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
Adekeye Adebayo | Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
I believe that people can heal, grow, and rediscover hope even after seasons that have felt overwhelming or difficult to navigate. My goal is to create a warm, compassionate, and encouraging space where you can feel heard, supported, and comfortable being honest about what you are experiencing.
My background includes work in mental health, substance use treatment, inpatient behavioral health, and faith-based counseling. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with individuals from many different backgrounds who are navigating concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use and recovery, emotional regulation difficulties, relationship challenges, and major life transitions.
I understand that meaningful change often begins with feeling genuinely heard and understood. In therapy, I work collaboratively with my clients to better understand the patterns affecting their lives while developing healthier ways of coping, relating, and moving forward. My approach incorporates evidenced-based interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and other trauma-informed interventions.
One of my areas of particular interest is addiction and recovery. My training and experience in substance use treatment have allowed me to support individuals and families through the challenges of recovery with compassion and without judgment. I am also increasingly interested in attachment-informed work and in helping clients explore how early relationships, experiences of connection and disconnection, and patterns of attachment may influence the ways they cope with pain, seek comfort, and relate to others. In addiction work, this can mean looking beyond the behavior itself to better understand the emotional and relational needs that may be underneath it. I believe recovery is not simply about stopping a behavior, but also about developing healthier ways of connecting, rebuilding trust, strengthening relationships, and creating a life that feels more secure and meaningful.
Faith and spirituality can also be an important part of the healing process. For clients who would like to include their faith in counseling, I am comfortable integrating spiritual beliefs, values, and practices into our work together. My background in Christian counseling has given me many years of experience helping people explore the connection between their emotional well-being, relationships, identity, and spiritual life.
Above all, I want my clients to know that they do not have to navigate difficult seasons alone. I consider it a privilege to walk alongside people as they gain greater insight, build healthier patterns, strengthen their relationships, and move toward greater emotional health, resilience, and hope.
Specialized Training & Credentials
- Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (RMHCI)
- Master’s Level Certified Addiction Professional (MCAP)
- Internationally Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ICADC)
- Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) Trained
- Crisis Prevention and Intervention (CPI) Training
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy – Level 1 Trained
- Experienced in faith-integrated counseling
Leadership
Joshua Katib
Licensed Mental Health
Counselor | CEO
Joshua Katib
Licensed Mental Health
Counselor | CEO
Joshua Katib | Founder & CEO | Licensed Mental Health Counselor | LMHC | QS
I founded CityLight Counseling with a simple belief: meaningful change happens when people are given a space where they can be fully seen, challenged with compassion, and equipped to better understand themselves and the relationships that matter most.
Today, much of my work involves leading CityLight’s vision and continued development while remaining clinically active with a limited caseload. Staying connected to the therapy room is important to me. It keeps me close to the people we serve and reminds me why the work we do as an organization matters in the first place.
As a therapist, I specialize in relationship counseling, trauma therapy, attachment, and faith-integrated care. I work primarily with adults and couples who want to understand the patterns beneath their struggles rather than simply manage symptoms.
Whether I am helping a couple understand the cycle beneath recurring conflict, working with someone whose past experiences continue to shape how they see themselves and relate to others, or exploring questions of faith, identity, meaning, and belief, I am interested in what is happening beneath the surface.
My approach is attachment-informed, trauma-focused, and integrative. When appropriate, I incorporate EMDR and other evidence-informed approaches to help clients process difficult experiences, develop greater emotional flexibility, strengthen relationships, and become more intentional in how they live.
Faith and spirituality can also be an important part of that work. Before becoming a therapist, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies, followed by a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. That background allows me to comfortably work at the intersection of psychology, spirituality, meaning, and identity. My role is not to prescribe what someone should believe, but to create room for honest exploration of how beliefs shape the way we experience ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us.
That idea of integration is central to how I think about therapy and how I lead CityLight.
I do not believe people can be reduced to diagnoses, symptoms, or isolated problems. We are shaped by our bodies, minds, relationships, histories, cultures, beliefs, values, and experiences. Good therapy considers the whole person.
That philosophy also shapes my vision for CityLight. My goal is to build more than a collection of individual therapists. I want CityLight to be a practice where thoughtful clinicians can do meaningful work together, where clients receive care that is both deeply human and clinically sound, and where our team continues growing in its ability to serve individuals, couples, and families well.
When you work with me, you can expect therapy to be warm, conversational, collaborative, and direct. I will listen carefully, but I will also challenge you. We will talk about the past when the past matters, while continually asking how what you are learning can change the way you live today.
Therapy, in my view, is not ultimately about becoming a different person. It is about understanding yourself more honestly, healing what needs to be healed, developing the skills you need, and becoming increasingly intentional about the person you want to be and the relationships you want to build.
Sometimes we simply need the right space to begin.
Specialized Training & Credentials
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
- Qualified Supervisor (QS)
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy – Level 1 Trained
- Integrated Trauma Therapy Trained
- Certified Neuropsychotherapist (NPT-C)
- Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) Trained
- Specialized Training in Personality Disorders
- MATCH-ADTC Trained – Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, or Conduct Problems
- Specialized training in ADHD
- Faith-Integrated Counseling
Karla Katib
Executive Manager
Karla Katib
Executive Manager
Karla Katib | Executive Manager
Most people think about counseling in terms of what happens in the therapy room, but the experience starts much earlier than that. It starts with the first phone call, the first email, the first interaction with our team, and whether someone feels welcomed, heard, and confident that they are in the right place.
My role at CityLight Counseling is to help ensure that experience is consistent from beginning to end. As Director of Operations, I oversee client experience and hospitality, staff support, marketing, community outreach, and many of the day-to-day systems that keep the practice moving. I work closely with our executive and clinical leadership to ensure the business side of the practice supports the quality of care we want our clients and families to receive.
A large part of what I do is people-centered. I support our staff, help solve operational problems, communicate across different areas of the practice, and ensure our team has what they need to do their jobs well. I also serve as a liaison between leadership, employees, clients, families, and community partners. I care a lot about how people experience the workplace, because I believe the way we care for our team directly impacts how our team is able to care for others.
My background includes entrepreneurship, behavioral health operations, healthcare and insurance navigation, marketing, program development, and team leadership. I am also a Certified Mental Health Coach, which has given me additional training in mental health, emotional wellness, and understanding when someone may need a higher level of clinical support. Although my role at CityLight is not clinical, that background helps me approach people, systems, and leadership with a better understanding of the human side of mental health care.
I especially enjoy the community-facing part of my work. Whether I am building relationships with schools, local organizations, referral partners, or families, I always look for ways to make behavioral health services easier to understand and access. As a bilingual professional, I can communicate in both English and Spanish, which allows me to support more of the diverse individuals and families we serve throughout Central Florida.
For me, good operations are not just about keeping a business organized. They are about creating an environment where clients feel comfortable asking for help, staff feel supported in their work, and the organization can continue growing without losing the personal care that initially built trust.
Professional Highlights
- Certified Mental Health Coach
- Client experience and hospitality
- Marketing and community outreach
- Healthcare and insurance navigation
Claudette Gonzalez
Licensed Marriage & Family
Therapist | Clinical Director
Claudette Gonzalez
Licensed Marriage & Family
Therapist | Clinical Director
Administrative Staff
Maria Bonilla
Senior Administrative Assistant
Maria Bonilla
Senior Administrative Assistant
Maria Bonilla | Senior Administrative Assistant
As Senior Administrative Assistant, I am passionate about helping individuals take their first steps toward counseling with confidence and comfort. My goal is to ensure every client feels welcomed and connected with the counselor best suited to meet their unique needs. I understand that beginning therapy can feel overwhelming, and I strive to make the process smooth, compassionate, and personalized for every person and family we serve.
With a BA in Psychology and aspirations of becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I bring both academic knowledge and a genuine commitment to fostering growth and healing. Being bilingual in English and Spanish allows me to support a broader community, ensuring language is never a barrier to accessing care.
As a mom of three, I know firsthand the importance of balance, support, and connection. I cherish time with my children, enjoy the companionship of my pets, and find relaxation in watching true crime documentaries in my spare time. I am honored to play a role in CityLight’s mission of making a lasting impact on mental health and well-being in our community.
Professional Highlights
- Bilingual: English and Spanish
- BA in Psychology
- Patient Care Coordinator
Abigail Leek
Patient Care Coordinator
Abigail Leek
Patient Care Coordinator
Abigail Leek | Patient Care Coordinator
As Patient Care Coordinator, I am passionate about supporting the behind-the-scenes work that allows our clients and clinicians to have the best possible experience. I believe that excellence is found in the details, and I strive to approach every task with professionalism, efficiency, and a commitment to delivering high-quality work. Whether assisting our administrative team or contributing to special projects, I enjoy being part of a mission that helps people find hope, healing, and connection.
Currently pursuing my undergraduate degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Central Florida, I plan to continue my education by earning a Master’s degree in Clinical Marriage and Family Therapy. Growing up in a military family as the eldest of two daughters has given me a deep appreciation for resilience, service, and community, while also inspiring my passion for supporting veterans and their families. With family roots in Christian radio, I’ve developed a genuine love for hearing people’s stories and understanding the experiences that shape who they are.
Outside of work and school, you’ll often find me exploring the outdoors, seeking out my next adventure, or enjoying a great alternative rock concert. I am honored to be part of CityLight Counseling and excited to grow both personally and professionally while supporting our mission of bringing compassionate, quality mental health care to our community.
Professional Highlights
- Administrative Student Intern
- Pursuing a BS in Clinical Psychology – University of Central Florida
- Aspiring Marriage & Family Therapist
- Passionate about Veteran advocacy and mental health
