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.
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, Denise is a Florida Certified Mental Health Professional, 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, bothDenise'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.