Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
Selena Holston-Gabriel
Anxiety and Trauma Counselor in Winter Park, FL, and via telehealth across Florida
Selena supports the holistic wellbeing of women, children, adolescents, and families as they navigate anxiety, trauma, crisis, and relationship challenges, with optional Christian faith integration for clients who want it.
Request an Appointment with SelenaAbout Selena
Holistic Support Through Life's Transitions
Selena is committed to supporting the holistic wellbeing of individuals and families as they navigate life's challenges and transitions. Her clinical work focuses on helping women, children, and adolescents navigate anxiety, trauma, crisis, and relational difficulties through a trauma-informed lens.
Life's biggest transitions rarely affect just one person. When a mother is struggling, her children often feel it. When a teen is overwhelmed, the whole household can feel the strain. Selena understands that people heal within the context of their relationships and families, and she brings that awareness into her work with every client.
Whether you're dealing with anxiety that won't let up, the lingering effects of a painful experience, or a relationship that feels harder than it should, Selena offers a steady, supportive presence and practical tools to help you move forward.
Faith can be incorporated into the therapeutic process in a respectful and meaningful way, for clients who desire it.
For clients who desire it, Selena offers spiritual integration in counseling from a Christian worldview. For many people, faith is an important source of strength and meaning, and bringing it into therapy can make the work feel more whole. This is always your choice. Clients of all backgrounds and beliefs are welcome, and faith is only part of sessions when you ask for it.
How Selena Can Help
Areas of Focus
Here are some of the challenges Selena helps women, children, adolescents, and families work through.
Anxiety
Constant worry, racing thoughts, or physical tension that won't go away. Selena has additional training in anxiety and helps clients understand what drives it and build skills to feel calmer and more in control. Learn about perinatal anxiety therapy.
Trauma
Painful experiences can leave lasting effects on how we think, feel, and connect. Selena's trauma-informed approach prioritizes safety and pacing, helping clients heal without feeling overwhelmed.
Crisis & Its Aftermath
When life is turned upside down, it can be hard to know where to start. Trained in Psychological First Aid, Selena helps clients regain stability and take the next steps after a crisis.
Relationship Challenges
Conflict, distance, or communication breakdowns with a partner or family member. Selena has additional training in Gottman couples therapy and Prepare-Enrich, and helps clients build healthier, more connected relationships.
Children & Adolescents
Kids and teens face real pressures, and they don't always have the words for what they're feeling. Selena supports young clients with anxiety, trauma, and relational struggles in a way that meets them where they are.
Christian Counseling
For clients who want their faith to be part of healing, Selena offers counseling integrated with a Christian worldview, always respectfully and only by your choice.
Her Approach
Trauma-Informed and Tailored to You
Selena integrates DBT, CBT, attachment-based approaches, polyvagal theory, and solution-focused treatment. Rather than applying one method to everyone, she draws on the tools that best fit each client's needs and goals.
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) teaches skills for managing intense emotions, tolerating distress, and navigating relationships more effectively. CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) helps clients notice unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with more balanced, supportive ones.
Attachment-based approaches explore how early relationships shape the way we connect with others today. Polyvagal theory offers a framework for understanding the nervous system's response to stress and safety, which helps clients recognize when their body is in "fight, flight, or freeze" and learn ways to feel calm and grounded again.
Solution-focused treatment keeps the work moving forward by building on your strengths and focusing on the changes you want to see. Together, these approaches give Selena's clients both a deeper understanding of themselves and practical skills they can use right away.
Training & Credentials
Selena's Credentials
Selena is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern in Florida and provides therapy under the supervision of a Qualified Supervisor at Monarch Counseling.
- Registered MHC InternRegistered Mental Health Counselor Intern, practicing under clinical supervision
- AnxietyAdditional training in the treatment of anxiety
- Gottman & Prepare-EnrichAdditional training in Gottman couples therapy and the Prepare-Enrich relationship program
- Psychological First AidTraining in supporting people in the aftermath of crisis
- ApproachesDBT, CBT, attachment-based therapy, polyvagal theory, solution-focused treatment, and optional Christian faith integration
Getting Started
What to Expect When You Work with Selena
Getting started takes less than five minutes. Submit an appointment request and the Monarch team handles the rest, including checking your insurance and finding a time that works for you.
Most sessions are held via secure telehealth, available to anyone located in Florida. If you prefer to meet in person, Monarch Counseling's office is at 1950 Lee Road, Suite 110, in Winter Park, FL 32789, convenient to Orlando and the surrounding Central Florida area.
In your first session, Selena will get to know you and what's bringing you in. If you'd like faith to be part of your counseling, you can let her know at any point. There's no pressure to have the right words. Many clients start by simply saying they're ready for something to change.
Monarch Counseling accepts most major insurance, including Medicaid plans. See our Insurance & Rates page for details.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Selena
Who is Selena Holston-Gabriel?
Selena Holston-Gabriel is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern at Monarch Counseling in Winter Park, Florida. She helps women, children, and adolescents navigate anxiety, trauma, crisis, and relational difficulties through a trauma-informed lens.
Does Selena offer Christian counseling?
Yes. For clients who desire it, Selena offers spiritual integration in counseling from a Christian worldview. Faith is incorporated only by the client's choice, and clients of all backgrounds and beliefs are welcome.
Does Selena work with children and teens?
Yes. Selena works with children and adolescents, as well as women and families, on anxiety, trauma, crisis, and relationship difficulties.
Can Selena help with anxiety?
Yes. Selena has additional training in anxiety and uses approaches like CBT, DBT, and polyvagal-informed techniques to help clients understand their anxiety and feel calmer and more in control.
What is polyvagal theory?
Polyvagal theory is a framework for understanding how the nervous system responds to stress and safety. In therapy, it helps clients recognize when their body is in fight, flight, or freeze mode and learn ways to return to a calmer, more grounded state.
Does Selena work with couples?
Selena has additional training in Gottman couples therapy and the Prepare-Enrich program, and she supports clients with relationship difficulties. Submit an appointment request to ask about couples sessions with Selena.
What does Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern mean?
In Florida, a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern has completed graduate training and is registered with the state to provide counseling under the supervision of a Qualified Supervisor while completing the requirements for full licensure.
Does Selena offer telehealth?
Yes. Most sessions are held via secure telehealth, available to anyone located in Florida. In-person sessions are available at the Monarch Counseling office in Winter Park.
Does Selena accept insurance?
Monarch Counseling accepts most major insurance plans, including Medicaid plans. Visit the Insurance & Rates page for details, or submit an appointment request and our team will help verify your coverage.
How do I schedule an appointment with Selena?
Submit a request through the Monarch Counseling appointment request page. It takes less than five minutes, and our team will follow up to get you scheduled.
When You're Ready, Selena Is Here
Reach out to schedule with Selena in person in Winter Park or via telehealth anywhere in Florida.
Request an Appointment← Back to Our Team
If you're in crisis, call or text 988, the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-943-5746, or the PSI Helpline at 1-800-944-4773.