Angelique Parks, MA, LCMHC

Hello and welcome! My name is Angelique Parks is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in Bennington, VT *IS CURRENTLY ON MATERNITY LEAVE*. I began this practice in 2022, with the goal in mind of helping those who are already trying their hardest, wanting the best for their children and/or family, and who would benefit from something more. Today, our community struggles and I and those who have joined this practice, have become supports for it to lean on in times of stress or difficulty. There is an art to raising a child/family, each different and unique in their own way, and so I decided to educate myself on how best to support children and families, who are the experts themselves. With children, encouraging, attending, and engaging, can bring about change and growth. With parents/guardians and families, allowing time, space, and understanding, can breathe life and movement into feeling stuck or alone. My approach is client or family-centered and oriented in Adlerian Psychotherapy. I specialize in working with children ages 0-18 and their parents/guardians and families. I incorporate a variety of techniques toward meeting my clients, both verbal and nonverbal, with modalities such as play, art, movement, body-based, experiential, and narrative. I enjoy baking, being outdoors, sunrises and sunsets, animals, yoga, listening to music, and watching Netflix. Kiana Gates is a Licensed Social Worker in VT and MA who loves the outdoors and watching a good comedy show. She joined the practice on a part-time basis. Her counseling style is client-centered, strength-based, and trauma-informed. She specializes in perinatal mental health (PMH), and is certified in PMH through Postpartum Support International. She customizes treatment, approaching care by "meeting you where you are" using EMDR, interpersonal psychotherapy, and polyvagal theory. Finding the right therapist is a key piece of the healing puzzle. She strives to create a safe, nonjudgmental, and welcoming space where her clients can thrive and collaboration can happen. Her door is open to individual of all cultural backgrounds and gender identities. Denise Peterson is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in VT and holds a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license from TX. She joined the practice on a part-time basis. She moved to VT in 2019 to enjoy the Green Mountains and outdoor lifestyle. She has been providing counseling services to children and families since 1998 as a school counselor and private practitioner. She provides professional and confidential counseling for developmental, personal, social and/or emotional concerns using play therapy, cognitive-behavioral, expressive modalities, and mindfulness-based techniques. She specializes in working with children and parents/guardians. Primary interventions are targeted at facilitating communication, fostering emotional wellness, increasing personal strengths, and facilitating social relationships. She focuses on creating a therapeutic environment to encourage clients to gain insight and implement positive change for themselves. Leigh Ullman, LICSW, is a therapist in Bennington, VT. He joined the practice on a part-time basis. He is dedicated to helping adult clients navigate life's difficulties with enhanced resilience and clarity. He offers compassionate treatment to those experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and trauma. He is especially interested in working with adults coping with mid and late life challenges. With over 45 years of clinical experience, he uses a range of therapeutic approaches tailored to the needs of each client including; somatic experiencing, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and polyvagal-informed therapy. His therapeutic approach is trauma-informed and client-centered. He strives to create a warm and nurturing environment where his clients can experience growth and recovery. Emily Hakkinen is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in VT. She joined the practice on a limited, part-time basis. Her first and full-time career is helping school-aged children read, write, and learn important skills through teaching Special Education. After teaching for around 7 years. she went back to graduate school and graduated from Simmons University with her Masters in Social Work. She specializes in working with folks to combat anxiety and work towards goals in a personalized, solution-focused, client-centered way. Additionally, she has years of experience teaching mindfulness techniques and calming exercises. It can be difficult to focus on the path to success when anxiety, grief, or difficult life situations get in the way. Having a trained, empathetic professional to help reframe thinking and stay focused can make all the difference. She believes in therapy being a resource for folks that is judgment-free, compassionate, and honest. Andrea Mook, MA is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in VT. She joined the practice on a limited, part-time basis. She has been providing counseling services to children and families in the Bennington community since 2011. Her passion in practice is trauma-informed care and helping her clients along with their environment to implement trauma-informed strategies that help to promote regulation and safety. She embraces the ACT and ARC models as well as mindfulness-based techniques. She specializes in working with young children and teaching their supports the techniques, so that self-care is embraced by all. When she is not at work, you can find her with her 3 daughters and husband, with her friends and family, or watching baseball and listening to country music. Isaiah Rashad II is a Non licensed, Noncertified Psychotherapist, pursuing his LICSW in VT, joining the practice full-time. He has endured many trials in life, including gang membership in his youth, homelessness, and foster care. He taught himself many things over the years, from reading and typing early on, to confidence and a sense of self. He then proceeded to join the United States Army, serving for 4 years. Despite tribulations, he joined law enforcement in MN and then CO. After suffering injuries, Isaiah decided to pursue counseling, earning his Master of Divinity in Ecclesiastic Counseling, and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Ministry at Cornerstone Seminary. In recent years, he has worked with and enjoys meeting clients where they are, specializing in homelessness, families of all dynamics, couples, people experiencing incarceration, and those in the government, acknowledging his awareness and navigation of complex systems. In many ways, he has lived a life like those he serves. He values himself on approaching concerns with the client in mind, as a team, toward helping them create actionable solutions. As the practice grows, additional clinicians may join the team to assist in meeting greater need. Everyone's path to healing and growth is unique. Together, we can find a way forward, that works for you, your child, and your family. Please reach out, we welcome questions and look forward to meeting you and learning together.