Providers

After spending childhood in a military family and moving around the United States, Edna Schaefer, LMHC graduated from the University of Central Florida (GO KNIGHTS!) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Masters of Arts degree in Counselor Education. Over the past 20 years, Edna has worked for local mental health centers, a Fortune 500 Insurance Company, a major medical hospital, and has taught  community college courses as well as Masters degree classes, but her greatest professional fulfillment has been in private practice over the past 13 years working with clients individually and in families. Edna has been honored to be a part of the adoption process for 100s of families through domestic and international home study completion, post placement visits and birth parent and post-adoption counseling. Through all of these experiences, she has been exposed to a wide array of environments and people. She truly believes that family is the most important and crucial system and enjoys working towards positive goals to assist others to have their ideal relationships and lives. Edna has clinically supervised over a dozen Mental Health Counseling interns through the student and licensure process and regards the office as a place for growth, healing and learning for all. Edna has extensive training in the treatment of ADHD in children and adults, anxiety, grief, Gottman Couples therapy, and play therapy. Outside of the office, Edna enjoys family time, reading, traveling, gardening, and conservation and is involved in the community through volunteerism. 

Danielle Turwitt completed a Masters of Science in Counseling degree in 2017 from Capella University. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Psychological Research from the University of North Florida.  Danielle is also a National Board Certified Counselor (NCC). Having worked in private practice and various medical settings, her clinical training and work experience spans the field of community mental health. As an active member of the American Counseling Association, she has presented in Montréal on the topic of Complicated Grief Treatment and has inspired future clinical counselors from her Masters program by delivering a keynote at the Chi Sigma Iota induction ceremony in 2018. Danielle also works with prospective parents and birth parents in the adoption process. She believes Health is for everyone and that therapy is a place where one can grow. She is dedicated to working with individuals, adolescents, children, and families to provide holistic care through empathy, positive regard, and psychological insight. As a native Floridian, Danielle also enjoys time with her family, spending time outdoors, traveling, paddle boarding, and exercising. She believes that when we are mindful, we show up for our lives; we do not miss them in being distracted.

After earning her undergraduate degree in Family and Child Development in 1995 from Virginia Tech, Jennifer went on to earn certification as a Child Life Specialist, working with children and the social emotional aspect of pediatric hospitalization. This led her to humanitarian efforts in Bucharest, Romania where she worked with abandoned and orphaned children that ultimately shaped the direction of her career toward that of early intervention, child development, and mental health. Jennifer’s passion of working with children took her back to the United States where she continued her early intervention work as a Child Development Specialist, being an advocate for early intervention and family systems.  As a part of the military community, Jennifer has had the privilege to work over the past 20 years in locations spanning from California to Florida.

In December of 2020, Jennifer completed her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University. Jennifer has recently had the privilege to work with children and their families through Duval County Public Schools Full Service Schools program and the Child Guidance Center’s Specialized Family Services Team. Jennifer ascribes to a client-centered approach in sessions with an emphasized importance of play and unconditional positive regard. Jennifer frequently utilizes strength based, solution focused, family systems theory, and cognitive behavioral techniques interchangeably with clients, particularly incorporated through the modality of play. In addition to counseling, Jennifer loves being a mom and enjoys all things Disney. She is an avid traveler, loves learning and doing new things, and weaves in experience through play at every opportunity.