Counseling & Coaching

Know the Basics:

Sessions are mostly limited to children over 10 years of age, teens/adolescents, young adults up to 25, and Senior citizens... although everyone is welcome.
Sessions are provided only by Max Magnasco LMHC, our owner and founder, who is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, in private practice, with over 18 years of experience in the behavioral and mental health field. Max is also a Qualified Supervisor for Mental Health Counseling in the State of Florida (License MH#8841)
We provide regular sessions and/or psychosocial evaluations.
We visit YOU at your home; therefore there's no need and hassle to drive anywhere for your appointment.
All issues from Depression, Anxiety, Self-Esteem, Defiance, and many other issues, can be worked on during therapy.
All information is, of course, 100% private and confidential.
Regular sessions, those after the initial assessment, can last between 30 minutes and 90 minutes, depending on the circumstance, and usually held weekly.

The Details:

Whether you want to engage in counseling (therapy), or life coaching (advice and motivation), (or a combination) is up to you.

Decide What You Want

If you are interested in Counseling, I will first set up an assessment session, which can last between 1-3 hours (which can be spread over a few days if you want), where we get to know you, and your history, including social, mental health, behavioral, emotional, family, medical, and other factors that might influence your state of mind. A formal diagnosis is then established. I will provide you a copy of the complete psychosocial assessment for your records. Once a diagnosis is established, we will work on goals and objectives to alleviate the problem(s).

If you are interested in Coaching, this process regarding assessment/diagnosis, is skipped. We will then work on solutions for your problems and motivation to achieve what you want. Coaching is a more informal process, where I am there as your motivator and your advice coach, instead of your therapist.

I Travel to See You

Sessions are held at a quiet place in your home; therefore there is no need for you to drive-around town.

Areas that I serve are:

Windermere (34786)
Winter Garden & Oakland (34787)
West Orlando (32836; 32819)
Ocoee (34761)
Clermont (34711)
Montverde (34756)
Southern California & South Florida -- additional travel charges may apply.

Population Served

Sessions are mostly limited to children over 10 years of age, teens, young adults up to 25, and Senior citizens... although everyone is welcome. Although I do specialize in adolescents, I am also very experienced with the older adult population and with children.

Setting & Approach

Counseling and coaching sessions are all different. Sometimes we can sit down in a comfy chair and talk about problems, other times we can be playing a sport or doing an outdoor activity while brainstorming solutions to a problem (especially when children and teens need to be engaged). Every client is different, and every setting and technique utilized will be different. There is no one-size-fit-all approach when it comes to counseling and coaching.

Counseling for Teens & Young Adults

Therapy is a place for you to have fun, to learn, and to grow. You don’t have to worry about talking all the time. Play therapy, games, and art will be available to help you express yourself in a way that works for you.

Parents: You are the most influential person to help your child heal. As such, I value your voice and encourage your participation in therapy. The level of parent involvement usually depends on the age of your child. Younger children often benefit from more involvement to help reinforce therapy skills at home; whereas teens tend to get more out of counseling if they can feel some level of independence. Together, we will come up with a plan that takes your child’s individual needs and your family’s needs into consideration.

Adolescence is defined by transition in almost every area of life – physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. It is common for both teens and families to experience tension and frustration as they adapt to these changes. In therapy, I collaborate with teens, as well as their families, to navigate the many developmental adjustments and challenges of adolescence.

I have experience supporting teens in the following areas:

Trauma and abuse recovery
Depression
Anxiety
Defiance and Negative Feelings about Parents
Social difficulties
School avoidance
Relationship conflict
Anger management & emotion regulation
Self-worth and body image issues
Building assertiveness

You were born as a “bio computer” and were programmed (conditioned) by parents, family, environment, schools, friends, and your chosen perceptions of those experiences. Your ideas, behaviors, and motivations can be either positive or negative for you. This is called your culture or your value system and it is continuously active and influential on your sub-conscious level as your guidance system. I wish to guide you in reprogramming any negative factors, especially unhealthy childhood experiences that cause you dysfunction, self-destruction, or unhappiness. Unresolved childhood trauma (subconscious stress) haunts and disrupts your healthy thinking, feeling, motivation, and behavior in your present existence.

Counseling for Seniors

While some adults may approach their "Golden Years" eagerly, anticipating retirement, grandchildren, or simply a new phase of life, others may dread the physical and mental effects of aging. It may be difficult for some adults to face the transition to retirement, deal with new frailty or medical conditions, or find enjoyable, meaningful activities if they do experience physical challenges that limit their mobility. It may also be difficult for some older adults to face mortality, especially when friends, peers, or spouses and partners pass on, and they may come to experience isolation in the wake of many such deaths.

Therapy can help older adults who may have difficulty with the transitions of aging to manage their emotions, find new sources of enjoyment and meaning, and find new support systems. It can help people face their fears of death, if they have such fears, and deal with grief as friends and family members pass on.

Family or individual therapy can also assist family members who may be caretakers of their elder relatives, as it can assist them in dealing with their emotions, communication issues—which may be especially helpful if an elder has some form of dementia—and community resources. Possible diagnoses associated with aging might be include depression or anxiety.

Payment

Payment is usually handled by having your credit card on file, and being charged after each session accordingly. You are also welcome to pay via cash or check, but having an automatic card on file makes it easier for all parties involved, and less awkward during the counseling/coaching process, which is why we strongly recommend this method. We accept all major credit and debit cards. Insurance plans are not accepted, but I will gladly provide you a statement for you to seek reimbursement

SYMPTOMS AND PROBLEMS

We can work on any issue or problem you might have, whether it is a therapeutic issue (defiance, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, mood swings, etc.), or simple advise and motivation, to coach you to a better life. If I am not specialized in the particular symptom, or if we feel that you might need additional help, I can make appropriate referrals to someone that can help you better. My # 1 goal is your well-being!

HOURS
You can review our regular hours of operations, and then schedule a session online. Our online system lets you choose a specific time right now, without the back-and-forth of e-mail chains and phone calls.

Opulent VIP LLC