Stacey Brown, MA, LMHC, NCC, HS-BCP, CCBT, CART, ACS, RYT 500, AYS
Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Nationally Board Certified Counselor, Human Services Board Certified Practioner, Certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapist,Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress (Diplomat), Nationally Certified Brainspotting Practitioner, Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider, Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional, Certified Clinical Tele-mental Health Provider , Certified Mindfulness-Informed Clinician, Gottman Certified Therapist
State of Florida Qualified Clinical Supervisor, Nationally Approved Clinical Supervisor
Certified Meditation Teacher, Registered Yoga Teacher (500), Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist, Reiki Master Practitioner, Certified Three Wisdom Traditions Wellness Coach
Stacey Brown, the founder and Executive Director of Stacey Brown and Associates Counseling and Wellness, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with almost 30 years of experience providing assessment and counseling services specializing in individual, couples and family counseling. She opened her private practice in Fort Myers, Florida in 1999 and was a solo practitioner for more than twenty years. In September, 2018, Stacey expanded her practice to become a group counseling and wellness practice to provide more expansive services to address needs of the mind, body and spirit. Her personal journey of spiritual awakening, energy work and nutritional healing has complemented her extensive background in science, research, mindfulness and counseling philosophy to better address each individual with an integrative, intuitive holistic health model.
Stacey specializes in ADHD, anxiety/stress, depression, trauma, child and adolescent development, parenting, divorce and changing families , trauma, relationship issues, anger management, life transitions, maternal mental health, parenting, grief and loss, college aged and young adult issues, and women's issues.
Stacey Brown is a practical, interactive, intuitive, holistic, solution-focused therapist. Her treatment approach is to provide support and practical feedback to help clients resolve current problems and long-standing patterns. She incorporates a blend of conventional and alternatives approaches, drawing upon a variety of styles and techniques to incorporate what will be most helpful for each client such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Adlerian Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Developmental Psychology, Brainspotting, Yoga philosophy, Meditation and Mindfulness practice, Ayurvedic medicine, spirituality, energy work and general wellness strategies. Her passion for creativity, artwork and journaling is interwoven with her counseling techniques and through self growth and independent workshops online. With sensitivity, patience, compassion, humor and perspective, she works with each client to help them build on their strengths to identify and achieve life goals. Stacey has published, taught and presented on a variety of topics ranging from parenting, wellness, educational accommodations, teacher training, behavior management and mental health topics for local, state and national audiences.
Education
Stacey Brown holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Family and Child Development from Auburn University and a Master of Arts Degree in Counselor Education from the University of South Florida. She has had extensive postgraduate training in childhood behavioral, emotional and academic problems, mental health, domestic violence, women’s issues, and substance abuse.
Professional development and continuing education are important elements of Stacey's career. She has numerous hours of post-graduate training in the field of counseling theory, clinical assessment and techniques. She's had the honor of being a student of some extraordinary, renowned professionals in the field such as Albert Ellis, William Glasser, Claudia Black, David Burns, Michelle Weiner Davis, John and Julie Gottman, Ron Siegel , David Grand and others. Studying under these and many other professionals have shaped Stacey's style, personal philosophy and theoretical framework for her services.
Licenses, Certifications & Awards
Stacey Brown is a Nationally Certified Counselor, a Certified Cognitive-Behavioral Counselor with a Domestic Violence Endorsement ,a Human Services-Board Certified Practioner and is licensed and certified by the State of Florida as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Clinical Supervisor . She is a nationally Approved Clinical Supervisor as well. Stacey is a Certified Clinical Telemental Health Provider , a Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider, a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional and a Certified Mindfulness-Informed Clinician. Stacey is also a Certified Meditation Teacher.
Stacey is a Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress and is a Diplomat of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress and is a Nationally Certified Brainspotting Practitioner. She is listed in The National Registry of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress and is a a member of the Premier Speakers Bureau for the National Center for Crisis Management. Stacey is also a Certified Anger Resolution Therapist and is a member of the National Registry of Certified Anger Resolution Therapists. She has a Level 2 Clinical Training Certification as a Gottman Method Couples Therapist.
Stacey Brown is a National Trainer for the Cooperative Discipline program. This is an Adlerian based program that assists educators, parents and professions to foster cooperation and success among the children they serve within the classroom.
Stacey is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 500) through the Yoga Alliance and is a Certified Three Wisdom Traditions Wellness Coach and a Certified Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist through the Himalayan Institute. Stacey is a Reiki Master Practitioner trained in the White Light and Usui Traditions. She has been trained in the practice of Transcendental Meditation. Stacey is also an Ordained Minister. She has studied spirituality and energy work under many teachers and many traditions.
Stacey Brown was awarded for her excellence in teaching in 1999 by winning the the Lee County Golden Apple Teacher Award. Stacey is a member of the prestigious Academy of Teachers and is a formerly Certified School Counselor in the State of Florida.
In May 2003, Stacey Brown was awarded the “Raising a Ruckus Award” by “Raising a Ruckus Award” by Working Mother magazine magazine , a national publication, because of her philanthropic and advocacy work for children. She was honored for her contributions to the Lee County, Florida community by having a feature article written about her advocacy work and was one of three women featured on the cover of Working Mother Magazine .
Stacey was the winner of The American Counselors’ Association's first Counseling and Mental Health Awareness Campaign Contest in 2013. Her advocacy and public education efforts, including an article written for the Fort Myers News-Press were highlighted. Stacey was nominated for the David K. Brooks Distinguished Mentor Award through the American Counseling Association in 2018 and 2021.
In her role as a Professor in Higher Education, Stacey received recognition for the development and presentation of a professional training while at Florida Southwestern State College as the "Best Professional Development Workshop" from the Office of Academic Affairs and the Teaching and Learning Center. She was also awarded the Association of Florida Colleges' Learning Support Services award for Best Practices in staff development training in 2013. She was nominated for the Faculty Teaching and Instruction Excellence Award through the National Institute for Organization and Development (NISOD) three times during her time at Florida Southwestern State College and received consistently excellent ratings by her students.
Additional Professional Activities
Stacey provides Clinical Supervision to Mental Health Counselor Interns for the State of Florida.
Stacey served as the Clinical Director for AIM/Target Programs in Fort Myers, Florida for ten years and was a member of the Senior Clinical Staff of the Counseling and Psychological Services Department at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Stacey has served as the Director of the Human Services, Associate of Science Degree, Program at Florida SouthWestern State College where she created two Associate of Science Degree programs in Human Services and three Professional Certificate Programs for the college of Health and Human Services. While in this role at FSW, she served as a Professor within the program, created curriculum for and teaching both ground and online courses, served on numerous committees for student academic and behavioral success and served as advisor and coach for future counselors and human services practitioners.
She has served as an Adjunct Professor for Florida Gulf Coast University and Barry University, teaching and providing clinical supervision for graduating counselors and educators in both bachelor’s and master’s degrees programs.
Stacey has been a contributing monthly columnist for Southwest Florida Parent and Child Magazine for many years and was a weekly columnist for The News-Press in Fort Myers for two years, writing about issues concerning children and families. She was a weekly commentator on the local NBC affiliate’s “Parent-to-Parent” television news show for two years, providing education t o the Southwest Florida community on wellness and parenting. She appeared weekly as an expert on relationships, parenting, child development and wellness on the "Mom Squad", an educational segment of the Fox 4 Morning Blend show.
Stacey regularly contributes to public and professional counselor education on the topics of wellness and mental health by writing articles and editorials and being interviewed for local, regional, national and online magazines and news media. Stacey has been interviewed and quoted as an expert in several feature articles in Counseling Today magazine , an international publication of the American Counseling Association.
Stacey Brown served as a School Counselor, Behavior Specialist, Consultant and Staff Development Trainer for the Lee County School District for ten years. She has provided Intensive Therapeutic On-Site Services (ITOSS) for children in foster care and emotionally disturbed children, served as an Addictions Counselor for adolescents and their families through residential treatment programs and as a Parenting Coordinator through the Lee County divorce courts. Stacey served as a Clinical Supervisor to a team of ten therapists in a local nonprofit human services provider who offered home counseling to children and adults.
Stacey Brown was the founding Co-Executive Director of Children’s Mental Health Services of Southwest Florida, LLC, a nonprofit organization targeting therapeutic treatment and education for children and families. She also was the founding Executive Director of The Foundation for Professional Development, a training corporation that provides continuing education to licensed professionals in the education and health care fields. She served as the Clinical Director for a local drug and alcohol organization, AIM/Target Programs , for eight years where she provided clinical supervision to counselors and human services workers to assure ethical adherence for state licensure of the facility.
She has presented numerous professional development trainings related to clinical, ethical, self esteem, classroom management, parenting and wellness issues at professional conferences locally, regionally, state-wide and nationally to School Counselors, beginning counselors, advanced clinical mental health providers, college professors and school administrators.
Memberships
Stacey Brown has participated as a proud member and leader of several professional organizations, including: the American Counselors' Association , the American Mental Health Counselors' Association , the Gulf Coast Mental Health Counselors Association , the Florida Mental Health Counselor's Association , the Lee County Association of Family Law Professionals, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, The Academy of Teachers, The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress , The Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence , the Florida Counselors' Association , the Lee County School Counselors Association and CHADD, a support group for children and adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. She is a member of the Counselors for Social Justice and the Association for Creativity in Counseling , both are divisions of the American Counseling Association, and serves on the Anti-Bullying Committee. She is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society. Stacey is a member of the Yoga Alliance .
Stacey Brown has been an active member and leader of several Southwest Florida community and professional boards, including the CHADD Professional Advisory Board . She served on the CHADD Editorial Advisory Board of CHADD Editorial Advisory Board of Attention magazine magazine , a national publication. Stacey Brown is a former President of the Lee County Counselors' Association and a Regional Director for the Florida Counselors Association .
Volunteering
She has served as a member of the Fort Myers Women's Community Club and the Lee County Human Services Advisory Board. She served as an Advisory Board Member for Caloosahatchee Mindfulness , a SWFL based resource for mindfulness education and practice for several years. She is a current member of the Lee County Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni Club. She has served as a volunteer for the Lee County School Board , Habitat for Humanity's Women Build project , the Abuse, Counseling and Treatment Center , the Alliance for the Arts , the Lee County Democrats and Free Mom Hugs in Fort Myers, Florida. Stacey is a member of the Disaster Workforce Engagement Team as a Disaster Mental Health Responder for the Southern Gulf American Red Cross Chapter. And, during the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Stacey served as a member of the first ever (in the History of the United States) State Emergency Response Team for Mental Health and Wellness, serving resident survivors and First Responders on Sanibel Island, Fort Myers Beach and Pine Island. She offered trauma recovery and self care trainings to members of the community through collaboration with other entities such as the City of Fort Myers Government, the World Central Kitchen and the Alliance for the Arts.
Stacey volunteered as a consultant and teacher with Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority to deliver mental health and suicide prevention education to college women across the country through the "Behind Happy Faces" curriculum.
Stacey is passionate about issues surrounding social justice, women's rights, human rights, mental health and the arts. She regularly advocates and engages in marches, campaigns, rallies and advocacy events focused on equality and human rights. Stacey has participated in the Womens' March in Washington DC, the March for Our Lives in Washington DC and many local events to promote unity and tolerance for everyone and legislative growth to promote women's healthcare, LGBTQ rights, school safety and mental health awareness.
Artwork
An artist in her own right, Stacey was previously a full time artist for many years with her jewelry sold in galleries and fashion stores all over America, including 32 stores in Macy's South. She often engages in local gallery calls for artists and juried exhibitions.
Her paintings, jewelry and painted furniture have been on exhibit and for sale at the Alliance for the Arts , the Florida Gulf Coast University Gallery, Daas Gallery, The Arts and Eats Cafe and the ACT Gallery among others. She is a contributing artist and volunteer for the Abuse, Counseling and Treatment Center's Arts for ACT , an art auction event that raises money to support the local domestic violence services. Stacey is a Resident Artist with the Union Artists Studios in Fort Myers and is the "Counselor on Call" for artists who are in residence at the Robert Rauchenberg Artists in Residency Program on Captiva Island. Stacey was awarded the City of Fort Myers Individual Artist Grant in 2022 to honor and support her artwork. She offers creativity and art workshops to residents through in-person workshops, social media and online.
You may follow Stacey on Instagram to learn more about her artwork at @staceybrownarts.
Personal
Originally from Alabama, Stacey has lived in Florida since 1988. In her free time, Stacey spends time with her three adult children, friends, her spirited dog, Mercury and two cats, Rishi and Toulouse. She enjoys reading, engaging in the study of yoga through philosophy and asana practice, meditation, gardening, live music, spirituality, being in nature, advocating for equal rights and social justice and creative pursuits such as painting, photography and mixed media art.
