Today we’d like to introduce you to Felicia Levine, PHD, LCSW, CST.
Hi Felicia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
As a former newspaper reporter and magazine editor, I’ll try and be as succinct as possible. I was always torn between writing and psychology when contemplating careers, and ended up majoring in Communications/Journalism and Minoring in Psychology at Florida International University in Miami. I landed an assistant editor magazine job out of college and spent the next few decades working for local and national publications, winning awards including Editor of the Year by the Florida Magazine Association. I also worked as Miami editor for the film trade Variety magazine, and as a stringer for Glamour magazine. I did some TV too, interviewing actor Michael Cain (a sweetheart), singer Jon Bon Jovi (even better-looking in person), late tennis icon Arthur Ash (a class act) and other celebs.
But media began to feel redundant and empty — I wanted to make more of a difference. So at 42, I returned to school to further pursue my college minor. I earned my master’s degree in Clinical Social Work and later my PhD in Clinical Sexology and Gender Studies. It took many late nights and juggling careers before finally transitioning to work as a full-time psychotherapist. It was worth every minute! Today I run a thriving private practice in Deerfield Beach and I absolutely love what I do. It is a privilege to have clients trust me with their problems and helping them is incredibly rewarding. What’s also gratifying is the endless learning opportunities this field offers. I am constantly taking classes and certifications to offer my clients new tools and coping skills. And a lot of the skills and qualities I utilized as a journalist — being a good listener, knowing the right questions to ask, an innate curiosity about people — I use today as a psychotherapist. It makes me an even better practitioner.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Switching careers and returning to college after decades working in journalism was exciting, but also daunting. I used to joke about how I was one of the oldest students in my classes. I didn’t get a lot of sleep in those days, with studying for exams, attending classes and juggling an editing job to pay the bills. I also had professional internships, which for me included working with severely mentally ill individuals in a hospital psychiatric Baker Act unit, and then at a county facility as a psychotherapist for low-income and court-mandated clients. I had always felt confident in journalism, but suddenly there I was running groups for folks involuntarily committed for being a danger to themselves or others. I had to learn fast. And I did.
After graduation I worked for two years in the field as a “registered intern” before becoming eligible for the licensure exam. I started at a nonprofit agency helping children and families involved with the adoption and foster care system. It was an incredibly moving experience, and definitely tapped into my affinity for the underdog while simultaneously teaching me the importance of keeping empathy in check.
The day I finally took and passed my licensure exam was a full-circle moment. Soon after, I took an editing job to pay the bills and opened a part-time practice. Fast-forward to today: I’m thrilled with my career change and no two days are ever the same. The hard work was worth it 100-percent.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Felicia Levine, PhD, LCSW, CST?
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist with more than 16 years of experience and I work with individuals, couples and families. My specialties include anxiety (including Illness Anxiety Disorder, aka health anxiety or hypochondria), depression, childhood trauma, PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), gender identity issues, sex therapy, couples’ therapy/relationship issues and stage-of-life crises. I am a Board-Certified Sex Therapist and Board-Certified Transgender Care Therapist, and am trained in Hypnotherapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and Solution-Focused Therapy. I’m also a Certified Discernment Counselor, which is a short-term process for couples on the brink of divorce. I often combine methodologies to create personalized treatment plans for clients to address their specific issues.
My outreach work has included becoming a legal expert in pro bono court cases; co-writing/presenting focus groups on sexuality and aging geared toward women; cohosting bi-weekly transgender support groups in Boca Raton and Wilton Manors, and presenting at local and national transgender care conferences.
As a cisgender woman, I’m sometimes asked why I chose gender identity as one of my therapeutic specialties. Growing up, my parents had a close friend who identified as transgender female. She was kind and gentle, and the way some individuals treated her broke my heart — and pissed me off. I wanted to educate people and help banish the ignorance.
Health anxiety is another specialty that hit close to home. An ex-boyfriend of mine struggled with it. His experience was so mentally taxing and all-consuming that it inspired me to help others suffering from it. And I chose to specialize in
trauma after experiencing PTSD following a frightening car accident. I was fine physically but driving became terrifying. I underwent EMDR to overcome my PTSD and now help others do the same.
It’s important that my clients feel comfortable and my office reflects that. It’s more like a cozy living room than a cold medicinal space. They’re welcome to put their feet up, sip a coffee and feel safe speaking their mind in a judgement-free zone. I’m really passionate about what I do, and this is often reflected in my writing. My latest published article is about how the Covid-19 pandemic changed romance and relationships. Next up: A unique spin on a book about sex and dating.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Don’t let feeling overwhelmed stand in your way. Just keep moving forward — things will fall into place. And if you’re a psychotherapist just starting out, I highly recommend getting on insurance panels.
Pricing:
- $200 per hour
- I accept most commercial insurance plans, including Medicare
Contact Info:
- Website: felicialevinelcsw.com
Image Credits
images to come
