“Hello from Minnesota! My name is Tiffany, and I’m so delighted you’re here! Personally, I live in the great, northern Minnesota with my husband, two cats and one dog! My story of how I got to where I am dates to when I was just a little girl. I have had many obstacles, faced numerous health challenges from a skin condition that required consistent doctor appointments and out of 80-90 doctors, no one knew what skin condition I was facing. Each one gave a different diagnosis, which resulted in different medication, only to make my symptoms worse. Along with skin challenges, I’ve also underwent a period of abdominal issues and faced other emotional/mental health challenges over the years that came from these experiences. Despite all these challenges, my parents tried many things to help and provide the care I needed, but they never allowed me to use those struggles to miss out on life. They taught me in various ways to rise above and how to preserve when life gets tough. I remember vividly, my mom would always tell me, “Tiffany, you have a sermon within you that the Lord is preparing, that one day you’ll be able to share.” In my early twenties, this was the onset of a decade long battle between me and God, as I wrestled with him, in the lies that I once believed regarding my self-worth, my self-esteem, my beauty, my desire to be married but struggled with singleness. This was a full decade of sorting out all the lies I had once believed to receiving the truth that God was writing on my heart. The truth of seeing myself as he saw me, through his eyes, as an image barrier and creation by His hands, for His purpose. I had a small idea of who God was then but would later understand it in a much deeper way, as during this decade, while wrestling with God, I got to know him more, on a deeper level. He is a God who cares so deeply, and who is so faithful. One who’ll meet us in our mess, and ready to help us mend those broken pieces back together. Given my story, and the challenges that I have faced, but the perseverance that came from it all, God created my heart to love after people, wherever they’re at and for who He has created them to be.
In college, I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Since then, I have had numerous careers that rallied around people of all walks of life, from a direct support professional working with youth to build social, emotional and behavioral skills; to being a vocational coordinator (job coach/developer) working with individuals with disabilities/mental health to seek and retain employment; to case management for a managed care organization in WI, where I worked with individuals with physical disabilities, development/intellectual disabilities and frail elders; to working in a care management role for a counseling agency in International Falls, MN. In the spring of 2023, I enrolled into Center for Christian Coaching, where I spent six months being trained as a Christian Life Coach, receiving that certification in late fall of 2023. Most recently, I am currently working on being board certified as a mental health coach through American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC).
My heart and passion are to Love God and Love people. God is marvelous and wondrously faithful. He sees you; He hears you and He knows you. As your coach, I would be honored to come along side you, explore the possibilities of what God is doing in your life, and where he’s taking you on this journey of life.”
Find Providers Specializing in:
New York
Susan Boccia, BMHC BCPC
My Mission is to use my God given skills and experience to help facilitate a feeling of hope, calmness and spiritual wholeness for clients and families in their time of grief, family changes and loneliness.
Matthew Scott, LMFT
Matthew has had over 18 years experience collectively working in Clinical Settings, Residential Treatment Facilities, Home Visiting Programs, Outpatient Hospital Mental Health Facilities and Christian Based Counseling Services. As a Mental Health professional, he has had over 10 years experience specifically in clinical settings working in both Outpatient and Chrisitan based counseling services. Matthew co-lead a Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Program for Adolescents and Adults working for an Outpatient Mental Health Facility in NY State for 2 years. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a modified type of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Its main goals are to teach people how to live in the moment, develop healthy ways to cope with stress, regulate their emotions, and improve their relationships with others. He also has experience practicing in a Chrisitan Based Counseling Center based out of a Baptist Church in Upstate NY where his Father was the Senior Pastor for 24 years. He was able to see first hand as a Pastor’s son the impact healthy relationships can have on others’ overall functioning through radical genuineness, acceptance, validation and being non-judgemental with those you work with. Matthew is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and works with Individuals, Families , Adolescents, Children and Couples. As an MFT, he works systemically which means he considers his clients’ lives and the problems they present in therapy through a biopsychosocial lens. This means taking into account their mind, their body, and their relationships, and how all of these things affect each other. MFT’S believe we are shaped by where we come from and that informs so much of what we do in other relationships. Matthew utilizes various methods such as CBT, DBT, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Insight Oriented, Psychodynamics and Family Systems approaches to help clients reach and achieve their best self and work towards their life worth living goals.
Michael Mickens, BCMHC
Dr. Michael C. Mickens, D.Min., currently serves as a Pastor and Chaplain in training (CPE Internship). He completed his Doctorate of Ministry in Community Health and Sustainability at Virginia Union University, his Master of Divinity at Andrews University, and his Bachelors of Arts in Theology & Pre-Counseling/Chaplaincy Ministry at Oakwood University. He is a Duke trained Integrative Medicine Health and Well-being Coach and specializes in Mental Health Coaching. He has completed multiple certifications to include: Mental Health First Aid Training Adults, Mental Health Coaching First Responder Training, Mind, Body & Spirit: Mental Health in the 21st Century, Lay Health Education and Congregational Depression Awareness. He is passionate about supporting people on their journey towards health, hope, and wholeness.
Samantha Clements, BCMHC
Samantha is credentialed through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) as an Associate Certified Coach. Samantha is also a Board-Certified Master Mental Health Coach through the IBCC. She became a coach because she wanted to see transformation in the lives of others. She wants her clients to know they are uniquely created by a loving Father and He desires you to live life to the fullest. Samanthan cares for her client’s heart, body, and mind. She walks with her clients on the healing journey, trusting the Lord to bring about real and lasting change. Samantha lives in Florida with her youngest son and husband. She especially loves the beach and its sunsets.
Sondra Doty, BCMHC
As a life and mental health coach, Sondra strives to improve her clients’ lives by providing emotional, physical, and spiritual support. Sondra jokingly calls herself an emotion coach or detective. She desires to get to the root cause, pattern, and/or habit of what is hindering people’s lives. She brings truth, hope, and encouragement with a faith-based understanding.
Sondra is a board-certified master mental health coach through the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) with a focus on professional life coaching. (IBCC Certified).
Sondra has coached others in many different aspects of life for over 14 years. Key areas of coaching have been women’s health, birth, postpartum, motherhood/parenting, emotional well-being, career, chronic illness, habits, and faith challenges.
Johnny Dixon, BCMMC
Johnny Dixon is a dedicated, certified master mental health coach specializing in marriage and family services. Johnny has been helping individuals and families in crisis for twenty-six years. He has an academic background in Human Development and Family Studies with an Emphasis on children, youth, and families from Penn State University. He received diplomas in Master Mental Health Coach and Biblical Counseling from Light University. Johnny is certified by the International Board of Christian Care Board of Mental Health and is passionate about helping others heal holistically. Johnny believes life can be different.
Jonathan Durst, LMHC, LPC
Jonathan Durst has more than 20 years of experience as a people helper focusing on serving individuals, families, and organizations. He received his formal education from St. John’s University in Psychology and from Ashland Theological Seminary in Clinical Pastoral Counseling. He is currently licensed in New York as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (L.M.H.C.) and in Virginia as a Licensed Professional Counselor (L.P.C.). Jonathan has served his local church as a youth and an associate pastor prior to his profession in counseling. Early in his career, he had experiences working in several capacities of community mental healthcare in a wide variety of settings. He developed his outpatient counseling experience working at EMERGE Ministries in Akron, Ohio. Jonathan has since worked as a supervisor, clinical director, developed satellite counseling centers, partnered and consulted with churches and organizations, helped train future Christian counselors as an adjunct instructor, provided leadership and mental health training internationally, and has served on a few national mental healthcare committees. Most recently, before coming to Light Counseling, Jonathan was the founder and CEO of Bedrock Counseling Ministries, a Christian outpatient counseling clinic located in Syracuse, New York. It was out of his faith and obedience to God that Jonathan and his family relocated to Virginia for this next chapter of serving others.
Jonathan’s number one ministry is to his family. He strives to love God with all of his heart and is continually broken by both God’s goodness and His direction. He is blessed and honored to be married to Carmen and they have 3 children; Alicia, Matthew, and Gabriela.
Marie St. Louis, LMHC, LPC
Marie says spent most of my life helping people be the best versions of themselves, in one capacity or another. Marie St. Louis is a licensed counselor who has years of professional experience helping clients successfully navigate mental health challenges. Marie enjoys collaborating with clients to develop treatment goals and exploring practical and effective coping strategies to achieve them. She has spent most of her life helping people become the best version of themselves and is passionate about helping her clients heal. Marie provides individual psychotherapy, couples counseling, and group therapy. Her therapeutic approach centers primarily on using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a framework in helping clients better understand their inner world and use that understanding to overcome life challenges. Marie knows that life offers many unexpected twists and turns that oftentimes leave us overwhelmed with distressing emotions and undesirable behaviors that produce brokenness within. Integrating faith and clinical practice, she welcomes you into a judgment-free therapeutic relationship to safely discover, explore, learn, and grow into the man or woman God created you to be – an overcomer!
Gina Forgione, BCMHC
Faith-Based Licensed, Certified Nutritional Health, Diabetes Coach & Mental Health Coach IBCC, AACC
Angela Sutsakhan, BCMHC
Angela has worked with women individually and in small groups in faith based settings for over 20 years to help them handle life struggles. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education with a concentration in guidance and counseling and is a Master Mental Health Life Coach. Her passion is to bring hope to women who are hurting by coming alongside, listening well, and offering a way forward. Core areas of coaching include relationship issues-marriage, parenting, family of origin; identity/self-esteem; and spiritual issues.
Douglas Kowieski
Dr. Doug Kowieski serves as the Director of Care & Counseling at a church in N.E. Florida. He is married to his beautiful wife of 30 years. Doug earned his Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling and is a certified Master Mental Health Coach and Pastoral Counselor by the International board of Christian Care. They have four children ranging in age from 16-25 years of age. They also have four dogs that keep them pretty occupied. Doug has a 27 year career in law enforcement and retired from the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. In his spare time he likes to read, go to the beach, play with his dogs, and spend time with his family. Doug has a heart for helping foster and adoptive parents.











