Denise Levy, BSW specializes in the art and science of getting you out of your own way! Denise graduated from the University of West Florida with her degree in social work and considers herself to be "a social worker gone rogue!" Denise is a Florida Certified Mental Health Professional, Certified Life Coach, Mindfulness & Meditation Practitioner, Retired Professional MatchMaker & Relationship Expert. Denise holds certification as a Cognitive Behavioral Practitioner and is trained in Meditation for Stress & Anxiety Reduction. Denise has the perfect combination of education, professional and personal experience. She currently offers life coaching and mentoring based on mindfulness, positive psychology, acceptance, mental wellness and cognitive behavioral techniques as well as private medatation sessions.
Personally, Denise has struggled with Rheumatoid Arthritis since childhood. Chronic pain has been a lifetime challenge resulting in personal experiences with anxiety, PTSD, and some situational depression. Denise has used these challenges to learn all the tips, tricks, and techniques to keep mental wellness and self-care a priority in her life and enjoys empowering others with these same tools.
As a Relationship Expert, Denise is a Trained Gottman Leader and loves teaching The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work program. Additionally, via the National Resource Center for Healthy Marriage & Families, Denise has completed Conflict Management for Core Healthy Marriage & Relationship Skills. Denise works with couples nationally via HIPAA compliant live video platform.
In the social work arena, as a Florida Certified Mental Health Professional, Denise is also a proud member of the NASW, National Association of Social Workers and currently serves as Executive Director and Educational Program Coordinator for the Board of Directors with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) in Okaloosa & Walton Counties after serving as Vice President for 2 years. NAMI is a national non-profit mental health consumer advocacy organization. NAMI Okaloosa Walton is a local affiliate of National NAMI and NAMI Florida.
As a Certified Meditation Practitioner and Teacher, Denise has been facilitating a weekly Mindfulness & Meditation Group at a local in-patient facility for mental health and drug addiction for several years now. The group focuses on self-care, loving-kindness, emotion regulation, learning how to be present (even with negative emotions), forgiveness, acceptance, confidence building, relationship repair, and much more!
As a strong advocate for Mental Wellness, both Denise's professional and personal life experiences have led her to facilitate the NAMI Family Support Group and the NAMI Connection Support Group in her local community. She also teaches the NAMI Peer to Peer 8-week wellness class and the NAMI Family to Family 8-week class and is a NAMI Presenter for Friends & Family and the In Our Own Voice presentations. Denise is also a Family Support Group State Trainer for NAMI Florida. Additionally, Denise has completed Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) to prevent suicide by recognizing signs, providing a skilled intervention, and developing a safety plan to keep someone alive.
For more information on how to register for support groups please visit www.NAMIsupportgroups.org or to register for classes and/or presentations please visit www.NAMIOW.org. If your business or organization would be interested in hosting or scheduling a class or presentation please contact Denise directly at (850) 684-5393.
Denise's office is located in Destin, FL, and is the on-staff Life Coach for The Bindu Institute. Through Psychology Today's live video platform, Denise offers Psycho-Educational Life & Love Coaching for both singles and couples nationally.
Personally, Denise has struggled with Rheumatoid Arthritis since childhood. Chronic pain has been a lifetime challenge resulting in personal experiences with anxiety, PTSD, and some situational depression. Denise has used these challenges to learn all the tips, tricks, and techniques to keep mental wellness and self-care a priority in her life and enjoys empowering others with these same tools.
As a Relationship Expert, Denise is a Trained Gottman Leader and loves teaching The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work program. Additionally, via the National Resource Center for Healthy Marriage & Families, Denise has completed Conflict Management for Core Healthy Marriage & Relationship Skills. Denise works with couples nationally via HIPAA compliant live video platform.
In the social work arena, as a Florida Certified Mental Health Professional, Denise is also a proud member of the NASW, National Association of Social Workers and currently serves as Executive Director and Educational Program Coordinator for the Board of Directors with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) in Okaloosa & Walton Counties after serving as Vice President for 2 years. NAMI is a national non-profit mental health consumer advocacy organization. NAMI Okaloosa Walton is a local affiliate of National NAMI and NAMI Florida.
As a Certified Meditation Practitioner and Teacher, Denise has been facilitating a weekly Mindfulness & Meditation Group at a local in-patient facility for mental health and drug addiction for several years now. The group focuses on self-care, loving-kindness, emotion regulation, learning how to be present (even with negative emotions), forgiveness, acceptance, confidence building, relationship repair, and much more!
As a strong advocate for Mental Wellness, both Denise's professional and personal life experiences have led her to facilitate the NAMI Family Support Group and the NAMI Connection Support Group in her local community. She also teaches the NAMI Peer to Peer 8-week wellness class and the NAMI Family to Family 8-week class and is a NAMI Presenter for Friends & Family and the In Our Own Voice presentations. Denise is also a Family Support Group State Trainer for NAMI Florida. Additionally, Denise has completed Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) to prevent suicide by recognizing signs, providing a skilled intervention, and developing a safety plan to keep someone alive.
For more information on how to register for support groups please visit www.NAMIsupportgroups.org or to register for classes and/or presentations please visit www.NAMIOW.org. If your business or organization would be interested in hosting or scheduling a class or presentation please contact Denise directly at (850) 684-5393.
Denise's office is located in Destin, FL, and is the on-staff Life Coach for The Bindu Institute. Through Psychology Today's live video platform, Denise offers Psycho-Educational Life & Love Coaching for both singles and couples nationally.
Additional Volunteer Experience
- Homeward Bound Program - Internship/Caseworker: Provided counseling, crisis intervention, and case management services to clients.
- Tri-Generational Mentor Program - Worked as mentor to at-risk teenagers on issues of self-esteem, problem solving and social skills.
- Educational Research Center for Child Development – Worked with 3 year old students using positive reinforcement, behavior modification techniques and administration of reward systems.
- Crisis Intervention/Suicide Prevention Telephone Counselor - 200+ hours of volunteer experience as a telephone counselor; assisted staff with training program for new volunteers in crisis intervention techniques.
Philanthropic Events
In addition to her volunteer efforts with NAMI and The Bindu Institute Denise (also know as Miss MatchMaker) and her matchmaking business MatchMaker Gulf Coast, has hosted numerous events in efforts to raise money for local charities.
Speed Dating Event benefiting the National Alliance on Mental Illness
$867.07 Raised for NAMI Okaloosa Walton!
$867.07 Raised for NAMI Okaloosa Walton!
Valentines Day Event: The Dating Game & Cutest Couple Contest benefiting the National Alliance on Mental Illness
Raised $1502 for NAMI Okaloosa Walton
Raised $1502 for NAMI Okaloosa Walton
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Painting with a Twist benefiting the National Alliance on Mental Illness
Raised $313.37 for NAMI Okaloosa Walton
Raised $313.37 for NAMI Okaloosa Walton
Painting with a Twist benefiting Alaqua Animal Refuge!
Sponsored Alaqua Animal Refuge and hosted a Singles Event at Painting with a Twist! We had a Wine Tasting & Social Hour courtesy of Twisted Grape before we started the painting! Many thanks to David Presnell & Painting with a Twist for donating one half of the ticket sales $367 to Alaqua Animal Refuge!
Miss MatchMaker's Spring Love: Cutest Couple, The Most Eligible Bachelor & The Most Eligible Bachelorette Contest & Sunset Social benefiting Children in Crisis!
We raised $1449 and 2 carts of food for Children in Crisis!
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Miss MatchMaker's Share the Love Food Drive: Benefiting Harvest House! We raised both money and food for Harvest House in Destin. Harvest House just celebrated their 30th year of serving our community and helping the less fortunate! |
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A Charitable Gala Benefiting Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis!
Black Tie Event: Celebrating Miss MatchMaker's 20th year of Making Love Happen!
It was an amazing evening benefiting Camp M.A.S.H. and celebrating the 20th Anniversary! Featured in the Northwest Florida Daily News. We raised a little over $2500 for the children of Camp Mash suffering from JRA.
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Charitable Ugly Christmas Sweater Party benefiting Harvest House! We raised both money and food for Harvest House in Destin. Harvest House just celebrated their 30th year of serving our community and helping the less fortunate! |
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Many thanks and much gratitude going out to our volunteer Event Coordinators Jeremiah Brewer & Alicia Alexander and all of the local businesses that helped with donations and event prizes. It takes a village!
