Lutz Counseling Services, LLC - About Melissa Bretz

MELISSA BRETZ, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Melissa Bretz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She obtained both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from The University of South Florida. A passion for caring and helping others has always been a priority for Melissa. Being a therapist is a life long dream come true and it shows in the work she achieves with her clients.

She enjoys working with children, adults, and adolescents conquering many of life challenges such as stress, low self esteem, family relational issues, loss, anxiety and depression. Therapy interventions mainly used are Cognitive Behavior Therapy CBT, Solution Focused, Mindfulness, Positive Psychology, Sand Play, Relaxation, Grounding techniques, and Play Therapy.

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Jane Fletcher. Walden University Masters of Social Work Intern

Jane received a bachelor's in psychology from Florida Atlantic University with minors in criminology and sociology and is now in process of completing her master's in social work at Walden University. She began her career working in child welfare and adoptions and continues to volunteer in this field. She has worked with individuals of all ages and backgrounds but is especially passionate about working with youth who have experienced trauma. She is eager to help navigate through life's challenges by creating a safe space and developing coping skills through different treatment modalities. She works under the supervision of Melissa Bretz, LCSW.

Madison Robinson, University of South Florida Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Intern

Madison obtained her bachelor's degree in Behavioral Healthcare with a Minor in Nutrition at the University of South Florida. She is currently a master's level student in the Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Program at USF working under the supervision of Melissa Bretz, LCSW.

Madison's experience in the field has been in residential treatment facilities as well as being a Registered Behavior Technician providing ABA services to children on the autism spectrum. Through these experiences, Madison has been able to hone in on her passion for working with both children and adults in a variety of populations.

Madison's goal is to provide clients with a safe, empowering space to assist clients in meeting their goals in counseling. Madison enjoys working in a way that is client focused and with techniques from acceptance commitment therapy as well as play therapy.

Alison Nocturne, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Alison Nocturne, LCSW is a Florida native and social worker with over a decade of experience in the medical and mental health field. She is a graduate of the University of South Florida.

She has worked with a wide variety of clients, and delights in working with people of all ages to help them explore and cope with the difficulties in their life. Alison hopes to continue deepening her clinical skills, and thanks you for your time and trust. Stay curious!

Roman Fox, University of South Florida Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Intern

Roman Fox completed his Bachelor's of Science in Recreational Therapy at Florida International University and is now pursuing a master's degree in the Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program at the University of South Florida. As a Navy Veteran, he currently works for the Department of Veterans' Affairs as a Recreation Therapist. Roman is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) and holds a graduate certificate in Addictions and Sunstance Abuse Counseling from the University of South Florida Roman works under the supervision of Melissa Bretz LCSW.

Roman enjoys working with clients to help them overcome stress, anxiety, and depression by helping them discover meaning and purpose. Some of his techniques include an existential framework, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindfulness, meditation and meaningful activities.

Maria Paula Gutierrez Lopez, University of South Florida Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Intern

Maria obtained her bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Tampa and is currently a graduate student for Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program at USF. She has worked with the Crisis Text Line as well as the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay to provide crisis intervention to those individuals that need someone to talk to, making her trauma informed. She has had the opportunity to be on the front line for the Suicide Hotline as well as dealing with a lot of sexual assault survivors, mental health illnesses, veterans, domestic violence situations, and substance abuse. In addition, Maria was previously a Registered Behavior Technician that provided ABA services. She has worked with children ages 3-15 which includes high and lower functioning children on the spectrum. She works under the supervision of Melissa Bretz LCSW.

Maria has a passion for building a professional relationship with her clients and developing this rapport to provide the best services possible to them. She wants to remind everyone that they are not alone and is able to empathize with their struggles. Her approach is person centered and utilizes different components of CBT and ACT. She is able to provide these services in both Spanish and English to ensure nothing is lost in translation.

Hannah Schlichte, University of South Florida Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Intern

“Hannah Schlichte completed her Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology with a minor in Family and Child Sciences at Florida State University and is now pursuing a master’s degree in the Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program at the University of South Florida. She currently volunteers with USF’s I-HOPE laboratory as a research facilitator, conducting nutritional interventions with the parents of pediatric cancer survivors. She works under the supervision of Melissa Bretz LCSW.

Hannah’s believes the key to successful counseling requires empathy, genuineness, and unconditional support. In order to assist individuals, Hannah utilizes various approaches that include person-centered, solution-focused and cognitive behavioral therapy. She hopes to create a safe and welcoming environment for clients, so that they may know they are not alone.”

Katrina Paschke, University of South Florida Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Intern

Katrina graduated from the University of South Florida with her bachelor's degree in behavioral healthcare. She is pursuing her master's degree at USF in clinical rehabilitation and mental health counseling and a certification in marriage and family therapy. Katrina operates from a person-centered approach in which she sees clients as whole and complete individuals and helps them to utilize their unique strengths. She also works from a systemic perspective aware of the impact of interpersonal relationships on one's inner world. She understands the impact of trauma and grief and works with clients at their own pace on their personal journey of healing and growth. She believes in the healing power of mindfulness as a strategy for positive inner change. She is honored to provide a supportive and safe space for her clients as they navigate complex life factors and transitions. Katrina works under the supervision of Melissa Bretz.

Margaret Jones, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern

Margaret Jones has more than 23 years in Human Services career field. She has earned a Master's degree in Addiction Counseling as well as a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. She is currently registered as a Mental Health Counselor Intern with the State of Florida and has passed the National Counseling Exam. She works under the supervision of Melissa Bretz LCSW. Her specialty is working with the addicted population using Mindfulness application, Rational Emotive and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She has worked specifically with the veteran and adolescent population. Her belief is that the mind and body are connected and through evidenced based practices, wholeness can be achieved, She is currently a Doctoral student studying Community Care and Trauma Counseling. She is a member of NAADAC and FADAA and has served 8 years in the United States Air Force as a Security Specialist.

Brooke Lord, Lindsey Wilson College Mental Health Counseling Intern

Brooke Lord is a Mental Health Counseling Intern at Lindsey Wilson College. Her heart for helping people heal is driven by her belief that wrestling with life’s problems brings growth. Most of us yearn to be truly heard and understood. Successfully walking with another person through difficult times means having empathy for others’ pain and a true desire to listen to another during their time of suffering. She has learned through her own life struggles that a person’s value is in the simplicity of their existence, and their worth is not in what they do or have done, but just because they are. She sees clients as experts in their lives and feels blessed to be able to come alongside her clients to teach them new skills that will empower them to live the lives they want. She works under the supervision of Melissa Bretz LCSW.

Her background in teaching has given her many opportunities to see how children experience social, emotional, and learning issues. She is passionate about working with the next generation and their parents to deal with the myriad of emotional struggles that children experience in their everyday lives.

Brooke values the expression of authentic emotion and can support others with great care, respect, and sensitivity when they are experiencing painful emotions. She believes self-care is part of the answer to how we can all better cope with daily stressors. She sees self-care as a valuable asset to healing physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

In her free time, you might find her enjoying time outdoors, in the gym, attending Bible studies, reading, or volunteering through her church.