○ Individual Therapy (Adolescents & Adults)

○ Individual Play Therapy (Children ages 0 – 12)

○ Family Therapy

Find out more about our specialties here.

Parenting can be the most rewarding experience of our lives. But parenting can also be a challenge. Even when things are going well, it’s common to feel overwhelmed and discouraged. When our child experiences his or her own personal struggles, it’s even more difficult. And while a child can work through those struggles in therapy, sometimes parents still need a helping hand. Things like divorce, adolescence and transitions into elementary, middle or high school can throw family life off balance. Parent coaching provides a safe place for parents to express their concerns, worries, and questions, and receive fresh insights and practical tools from an experienced professional.

○ Each family is unique and has specific needs, but parent coaching sessions can help parents:
○ Learn skills and tools tailored to your family’s needs
○ Understand the behavior of their child or teen
○ Find increased connection with their child or teen
○ Understand how their parenting style and strategies affect their child or teen
○ Improve communication with their child or teen
○ Increase cooperation and responsiveness in their relationship with their child or teen
○ Deal with stressful family situations

​Who Can Benefit from Parent Coaching?

Since additional education is not a requirement for parenthood, it can be helpful to seek support. Parent coaching can be beneficial for any parent who:

​○ Feels like their child or teen doesn't listen
○ Feels like they struggle to understand their child or teen
○ Feels like they struggle to communicate effectively with their child or teen
○ Deals frequently with power struggles with their child or teen
○ Feels that they have lost connection with their child or teen
○ Feels unable to manage a developmental milestone or other shift in family dynamics

In addition to therapy and coaching services, the Rising Lotus is proud to offer individual Psychological Evaluations for children, teens and young adults. Psychological Evaluations can be the key to academic success, behavioral issues and emotional struggles since they can uncover underlying learning disorders, mental health conditions or developmental disabilities or giftedness. Having this information helps parents, educators and mental health professionals decide on the best path forward.

Please contact us for more information on the following evaluations:

○ Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
○ Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
○ Gifted Testing & School Placement
○ Psychoeducational: Learning disabilities such as dyslexia, math, writing, etc.

Rising Lotus offers Florida state-approved supervision services for: LCSW, LMHC, and Registered Play Therapist status.

We are now accepting supervisees seeking instruction and mentoring to support their professional growth and fulfill their clinical supervision requirements. We are Qualified Supervisors for all Chapter 491 licenses under the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling.

What is Supervision?

Clinical Supervision is a process whereby one clinician is responsible for facilitating the professional development and therapeutic competence of another clinician while they work toward licensure and/or Registered Play Therapist (RPT) status. We provide supervision in an open and relaxed environment where we can share our experiences with the goal of furthering our supervisees’ professional development. And supervisees are encouraged the explore their questions and concerns to become the most competent therapist possible.

This process may include case conceptualizations, notes reviews, role plays, research, presentations or other activities to bolster the learning environment. Supervision can be provided in person or virtually.

Supervisors on Staff

Tara McDonnell, LCSW, RPT-S​

Tara McDonnell is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S) who specializes in working with children under 6. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and Master’s Degree in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University. Tara is dedicated to providing early intervention to help families create a strong and healthy foundation for a lifetime of health and well-being, and has worked successfully with children who have experienced anxiety, attachment issues, depression, divorce, grief and loss, sensory processing challenges, sexual abuse, and trauma, as well as gifted children with social-emotional difficulties. Before opening a private practice, Tara began her career in mental health at the Center for Child Counseling, the leading social service agency in Palm Beach County serving children under 6 who have experienced trauma.

Tara has extensive experience and training in evidenced-based interventions such as Child-Centered Play Therapy, Brazelton Touchpoints, Infant Mental Health, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and utilizing art therapy techniques. Tara is also an HSP-Knowledgeable Professional, specializing in working with Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) and Children (HSCs). Tara has provided services in a variety of settings including schools and child-care centers and is certified in teaching yoga to children and families. Tara has also provided professional training in supporting the social-emotional wellness of children and families to police officers, first responders, teachers school counselors, and pediatricians. Prior to her work in the mental health field, Tara spent her career raising money for nonprofit organizations in the community.

Play Therapy Supervision

Tara provides both individual and group supervision for clinicians working toward their Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credential. As of January 2020, all supervision requirements for the Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credential must be met by meeting with a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S). You will need 350 face to face play therapy hours relative to 35 clinical supervision hours, completed in a tiered phasing system. Please visit the Association for Play Therapy for more information.

* Note: Tara is an LCSW. Please be aware of your own licensing body’s requirements for obtaining supervision.

Jillian Lepera, LMHC, C-DBT

Jillian is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) who specializes in working with children, adolescents and young adults in relationship building, communication strategies, and trauma resolution. She received her undergraduate degree from Emory University in Psychology and Dance and her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling & Behavioral Medicine from Boston University Medical School.

Jillian believes in working with the adolescent-parent dyad using empowering strategies that foster relationship building and communication. She has provided services in many arenas including: community mental health, inpatient residential, outpatient therapy, group therapy settings and pediatric primary care. Dedicated to considering the whole mind, body and spirit in therapeutic work, Jillian brings creativity, self-expression and positive psychology to help individuals create meaningful lives and relationships. Her approach encompasses behavioral, cognitive, dialectical-behavioral and person-centered treatment modalities. She is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a therapy effective for trauma resolution. Trained in art therapy techniques and play therapy strategies, Jillian provides creative interventions and modes of expression for her clients. She holds a background in the creative arts and dance, which brings an exciting and unique spin to her work with adolescents.

A Palm Beach County native, Jillian is always seeking an outdoor adventure and plans to build the outdoor therapy arena into the South Florida community. When not providing therapy services, you may find her paddle-boarding, fishing, exercising outside or working on her green thumb.

* Note: Jillian is an LMHC. Please be aware of your own licensing body’s requirements for obtaining supervision.

Fees for supervision

$150 hour for individual Supervisee

$75 per hour for 2 Supervisees

$50 per hour for Group Supervision