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Journey

How Mindful Moments Came To Be

When the world felt overwhelming, and people let me down, it was the animals who showed me unconditional love and healing. Their silent companionship, loyalty, and warmth helped me rediscover my strength. It was through these transformative connections that I found my calling—to become a trauma-focused animal-assisted therapist. In a world where words often fail, animals have a way of speaking directly to the heart, guiding healing in ways that go beyond the ordinary

Education
 

Degrees

  • Associate’s Degree in Childhood Education – Kingsborough College

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Art and Psychology – CUNY Brooklyn College

  • Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling – CUNY Brooklyn College
     

Advanced Training & Certifications
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

  • Trained by Thrive Counseling and Consulting with Chris Floro – EMDR Training

  • Trained by Bruce Hersey

    • Internal Family Systems (IFS) for EMDR

    • IFS-Informed EMDR

    • IFS for Blended Protectors
       

Couples Therapy & Relationship Counseling

  • Trained by The Gottman Institute

    • Gottman Level 1 & Level 2

    • Bringing Home Baby

    • The Art and Science of Love

    • 10 Core Principles for Effective Couples Therapy

    • The Art and Science of Love Making
       

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Trained by Beck Institute

    • Essentials of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

    • CBT for Anxiety
       

Trauma Therapy & Specialized Modalities

  • Trained by Eric Gentry, International Association of Trauma Professionals

    • Forward Facing Trauma Therapy (Certified Clinical Trauma Professional)

  • Trained by Kirby K. Reutter, Stephanie Vaughn, Lane Pederson, and Wise Mind Counseling

    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – 45 hours
       

Animal-Assisted & Equine Therapy

  • Trained by Natural Lifemanship

    • Equine-Connected EMDR

    • Fundamentals and Core of Natural Lifemanship (Equine-Assisted Therapy)

  • Trained by Big Heart Equestrian – Mindfulness with Horses

  • Trained by Expat Equestrian – Emotional Horsemanship

  • Trained by Jonathan Jordan – Animal-Assisted Therapy Certificate

  • Trained by Sarah Jenkins

    • Equilateral – Equine-Assisted EMDR Protocol

    • Healing the Whole Self Level 1 (Dissociation)

  • Trained by Aviv Therapy – Canine-Assisted Therapy (GROWL Model)

  • Trained by Tara Moser – Animal-Assisted Therapy
     

Compassionate Inquiry & Somatic Trauma Healing

  • Trained by Gabor Maté

    • Compassionate Inquiry (1-Year Professional Program)

    • When the Body Says No

    • The Myth of Normal

    • The Biology of Loss

    • Psychedelics in Modern Healing

    • Addiction: From Heroin to Workaholism

  • Trained by Peter Levine

    • Trauma and Its Effects on the Body

    • Somatic Strategies Between Shock and Developmental Trauma

    • How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness

    • Masterclass & 2-Day Trauma and Memory Workshop
       

Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy

  • Trained by the IFS Institute – IFS 6-Month Circle Training Program

  • Trained by Frank Anderson – Treating Complex Trauma Clients with IFS

Hi, I'm Lillyana!

B&L

My journey into the field of mental health is deeply personal. As a millennial, mixed-race woman with ADHD and a complex trauma history, I know what it’s like to feel out of place in a world that often struggles to hold space for nuance, difference, and the messiness of healing. I have walked the path of searching for support, only to feel unheard, misunderstood, or like I had to mold myself into something more “digestible” just to access care.

​

Navigating the mental health system was exhausting—I found myself thinking, "It shouldn’t be this hard to find a space where I feel seen." After multiple experiences with therapists who left me feeling dismissed, invalidated, and hopeless, I realized that I wanted to be part of the change I so desperately needed. This realization wasn’t just about becoming a therapist; it was about reimagining what therapy could feel like.

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I pursued this work with the intention of creating a space that is warm, authentic, and deeply compassionate—where people, especially those who have felt unseen in traditional mental health spaces, can come exactly as they are. I believe in therapy that honors neurodivergence, cultural identity, trauma, and the many layers that make up a person’s lived experience. Healing isn’t about "fixing" anything—it’s about understanding, reclaiming, and integrating all parts of yourself with self-compassion and care.

​

When the world felt overwhelming, and people let me down, it was the animals who showed me unconditional love and healing. Their silent companionship, loyalty, and warmth helped me rediscover my strength. In my darkest moments, when words failed, it was their presence that reminded me I wasn’t alone. It was through these transformative connections that I found my calling—to become a trauma-focused, animal-assisted therapist. In a world where language can feel limiting, animals have a way of speaking directly to the heart, guiding healing in ways that go beyond the ordinary.

​

Because of this, my work is not only grounded in traditional therapy but also in somatic healing, nature-based interventions, and animal-assisted therapy. I integrate Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), attachment work, and mindfulness-based techniques to help clients reconnect with themselves in a way that feels safe, intuitive, and empowering. I am deeply committed to neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-sensitive, and culturally responsive care, recognizing that healing looks different for everyone.

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I believe that therapy should be a space where you don’t have to mask, shrink yourself, or over-explain just to be understood. It’s a space where your whole self is welcome—your strengths, your struggles, your contradictions, and your resilience. Healing is not a linear process, nor is it something you have to navigate alone. Whether you are unpacking trauma, navigating ADHD and neurodivergence, struggling with self-worth, or seeking deeper connection with yourself and others, I am here to walk alongside you.

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You deserve a space where you feel seen, heard, and supported. I look forward to holding that space for you.

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