Carmen Ziers LMH-13977 has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UCF and two master’s degrees from Palm Beach Atlantic University dual track for Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family counseling.

Carmen has worked with individuals, families and their children to help resolve their issues due to negative behaviors, and obtain a new and different outlook at school, home, and their communities since 2012.

Carmen has ample experience with Exceptional Children and the Public-School System. She works with the families and the schools to explain to the parents the diagnosis process, school placement, as well as assists in explaining to the parent the 504 programs, writing their children’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Carmen was a counselor at UCF in the department of Marriage and Families Research Institute. She worked at the institute for 10 years as a Relationship Educator since 2007 until 2016, helping couples, families and individuals develop positive ways of communicating between them and with their children helping the families thrive.

Recently, Carmen was the Clinical Director at a Behavioral Health agency where she saw over 700 families during her tenure and managed 18 clinicians at any given time.

Edward Martinez is a dedicated therapist with a strong clinical foundation and a deep commitment to the emotional well-being of families. He is a graduate of Palm Beach Atlantic University (2017) and also holds training and certifications in ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis), which allows him to effectively understand and support youth with behavioral and developmental needs.

He has extensive experience working with addictions, as well as with children, adolescents, and their families in a variety of settings. Throughout his career, Edward has utilized the MATCH model, an evidence-based approach for treating anxiety, depression, trauma, and behavioral challenges in children and young people.

Edward has also worked within the child welfare system, supporting families in highly vulnerable situations. His training and experience have enabled him to work with neurodivergent youth, providing sensitive, structured, and individualized interventions tailored to their needs.

As a fully bilingual therapist (English/Spanish), he offers culturally competent and accessible services. For those who desire it, he incorporates Christian Counseling as part of the therapeutic process, adding a spiritual component to emotional support.

A resident of Central Florida for more than 20 years and married for 15 years, Edward is known for his warmth, professional ethics, and genuine commitment to the people he serves, creating safe and growth-oriented spaces for every client.

Helen Portalatín de Vargas is a Clinical Psychologist with more than 15 years of experience in the mental health field. Throughout her professional career, she has worked with women, men, children, and adolescents, providing support for a wide range of emotional and psychological needs. Helen is known for her warm presence, clinical sensitivity, and deep commitment to the emotional well-being of the individuals and families she serves.

Helen Portalatín is a compassionate and dedicated mental health counselor who specializes in supporting teenagers and women through life’s emotional challenges. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Helen has proudly called Florida home since 2016. Her cultural background and personal experiences help her connect meaningfully with Spanish-speaking clients from diverse communities.

Helen holds a degree in Clinical Psychology and brings a strong educational foundation, warmth, and genuine commitment to every therapeutic relationship. She understands that seeking therapy can feel intimidating, especially when someone is already experiencing anxiety, sadness, family conflict, major life changes, or emotional exhaustion. Her goal is to create a welcoming and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel safe, heard, respected, and understood.

As a Spanish-speaking counselor, Helen offers culturally responsive and accessible care to the Hispanic community, ensuring that clients feel supported in both language and cultural understanding.

Helen also has valuable experience in the child welfare system, supporting vulnerable children, teens, and families through complex emotional and relational challenges. Her therapeutic approach with teenagers is especially effective—she is recognized for her ability to connect with adolescents, help them feel understood, and achieve meaningful, positive results in their emotional growth and behavior.

As a Spanish-speaking counselor, Helen offers culturally responsive and accessible care to the Hispanic community, ensuring that clients feel supported in both language and cultural understanding.

Her vocation is rooted in a strong commitment to mental health and a genuine passion for helping others experience a more stable, functional, and fulfilling life. Her practice is defined by a collaborative, ethical, and compassionate approach, always centered on promoting personal growth, emotional balance, and positive transformation for those seeking to improve their psychological well-being.

Her vocation is rooted in a strong commitment to mental health and a genuine passion for helping others experience a more stable, functional, and fulfilling life. Her practice is defined by a collaborative, ethical, and compassionate approach, always centered on promoting personal growth, emotional balance, and positive transformation for those seeking to improve their psychological well-being.

Supporting Teenagers

Adolescence can be a challenging period filled with emotional, social, academic, and family pressures. Helen helps teenagers better understand their emotions, strengthen their self-esteem, develop healthy coping skills, and communicate more effectively.

She can provide support for concerns such as:

• Anxiety and excessive worry
• Depression and low motivation
• Academic or social stress
• Self-esteem and identity concerns
• Family and peer conflict
• Difficulty managing emotions
• Major life transitions
• Cultural adjustment
• Healthy boundaries and relationships

Helen works to build trust at a pace that feels comfortable for each teenager. She helps young clients recognize their strengths while developing practical tools they can use at home, at school, and in their relationships.

Supporting Women’s Emotional Wellness

Helen is passionate about supporting women as they navigate the many roles, expectations, and transitions that can affect their emotional health. She understands that women may spend so much time caring for their families, relationships, and responsibilities that they lose connection with their own needs.

Helen provides a supportive space where women can explore concerns related to:

• Anxiety, stress, and emotional overwhelm
• Depression and feelings of isolation
• Motherhood and parenting stress
• Relationship and family difficulties
• Self-esteem and personal identity
• Life transitions and adjustment
• Boundaries and communication
• Cultural and family expectations
• Personal growth and emotional wellness

Her therapeutic style is caring, compassionate, and collaborative. Helen believes that every client deserves to be treated with dignity and that meaningful change begins when people feel safe enough to express themselves honestly.

Therapy in Spanish from the Comfort of Home

Helen provides services exclusively in Spanish and through telehealth. Virtual therapy allows clients to receive confidential mental health support from the privacy and convenience of their own homes.

Providing therapy in Spanish allows Helen’s clients to express their emotions in the language that feels most natural and personal to them. This can make it easier to discuss sensitive experiences, cultural values, family dynamics, and deeply held beliefs without worrying about finding the right words in another language.

Helen is committed to helping her clients feel empowered, develop healthier coping skills, and move toward greater emotional balance and confidence. Whether a teenager is struggling to find her voice or a woman is ready to reconnect with herself, Helen offers compassionate guidance throughout the therapeutic process.

Helen Portalatín currently accepts Spanish-speaking clients for telehealth appointments only.

Outside of her professional work, Helen enjoys traveling, writing, and reading, as well as actively participating in initiatives that support and uplift the Hispanic community, contributing to a healthier and more connected environment. She also deeply values quality time with her family and friends, who serve as a constant source of joy, support, and inspiration in her life.

Barbara Marese earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Music Therapy from Lesley University in 2020. Her therapeutic approach combines evidence-based clinical interventions with the healing power of music.

She has specialized training in Music Therapy, MATCH, and Adoption Competency, as well as extensive experience within the child welfare system. Barbara has worked directly with children, adolescents, and families facing emotional, behavioral, and relational challenges.

Barbara also provides marriage and couples counseling, helping partners strengthen communication, resolve conflicts, and build healthier, more fulfilling relationships.

She is committed to helping clients develop effective coping skills, process depression, anxiety, and trauma, and reconnect with their inner strength. Her goal is to provide a warm, safe, and supportive environment where individuals and families can heal, grow, and move toward meaningful and lasting change.