Our Staff

Our highly trained clinical staff offers background experience, expertise and training in treating abuse, trauma and PTSD related symptoms. All therapists on staff are trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and many are trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). In addition to in person therapy all our therapists offer virtual sessions.

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Orange Park

Mandarin Providers

Nichole DeMoya, MA, LMHC-QS, CATP

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Specialties
Developmental trauma
Single-incident traumas
Childhood abuse

Nichole DeMoya is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Qualified Supervisor, and Clinical Director of River’s Edge Counseling. With over a decade of experience in the mental health field, Nichole is known for her warm yet direct clinical style and her strong leadership in trauma-informed care across the lifespan.

Nichole specializes in treating children, adolescents, and adults who have experienced complex trauma, including sexual abuse, neglect, family disruption, and high-conflict dynamics. Her clinical approach integrates evidence-based practices such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Polyvagal Theory, and somatic-based interventions. When working with children and teens, Nichole actively incorporates parents and caregivers as essential partners in the healing process, helping families build stronger emotional connections and communication skills.

In addition to therapy services, Nichole provides comprehensive ADHD assessments for both children and adults, utilizing a combination of clinical interviews, behavioral observations, and standardized psychometric tools to inform accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment planning.

  • As a Qualified Supervisor, Nichole provides thoughtful, developmentally appropriate supervision for Registered Mental Health Counseling Interns and serves as a trusted site supervisor for master’s-level practicum and internship students from Jacksonville University, University of Florida, University of Central Florida, Capella University, and Liberty University. Her supervision approach emphasizes clinical skill-building, ethical decision-making, and professional identity development, all within a supportive and structured framework.

    In her role as Clinical Director, Nichole oversees the training, development, and clinical excellence of a large team of trauma-informed therapists across multiple locations. She is committed to fostering a practice environment where both clients and clinicians can thrive.

Smokey

Therapy Dog In-Training

A lovable companion rescued from the streets of Savannah, Smokey joined our team in August 2019 alongside his handler, Nichole DeMoya. He has a natural ability to sense the needs of our clients and continues to be trained with the goal of ultimately being certified as a therapy dog.

Melissa Taylor, LMFT

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Specialties
Marriage & Family Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Trauma-Focused CBT
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Play Therapy

Melissa received her Master’s in Family Therapy (MFT) from the Mercer University School of Medicine in 2014 and began working with child welfare agencies shortly afterward. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who utilizes Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) concepts into how she approaches each individual and family. She is trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and has worked alongside Child Welfare in some capacity for 6+ years. This includes assisting children and families with the trauma of child removal, reunification, or transitioning to a new forever home. She has received training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and she appreciate the utilization of Mindfulness for individuals, relationships, and especially within the experience of trauma.

  • Relationships are a foundation for our functioning. They can either increase or decrease our ability to thrive and progress through life. Managing relationships with challenged experiences from the past creates increased challenges in day-to-day life. If you are having difficulties responding to the relationships in your life or your interpersonal struggles are negatively impacting relationships, there is help. 

    Melissa obtained her Play Therapy Certificate from Capella University in 2019 and joined the team at River’s Edge Counseling in the Fall of 2021. She is an outstanding, energetic therapist who seeks to meet the individual and systemic needs of each person, couple, or family from an Attachment and Family Systems approach.

Janel Falvey, LMHC

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Specialties
Trauma-Focused CBT
Grief & Loss

EMDR

Janel joined the River’s Edge team as a Florida transplant, and has more than 16 years of experience in working with clients struggling with anxiety, mood disorders, grief and trauma. She is trained in EMDR and Trauma-Focused CBT. Her gentle smile and natural warmth helps clients develop the rapport needed to safely broach difficult memories.

Kayla DiPaulo, MS, CCTS-I

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Specialties
Anxiety, Grief, Autism,
Trauma

Kayla received her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University in 2022. She has experience working in both school and community-based mental health settings. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist for Individuals and is an anxiety, grief, and autism-informed counselor. Kayla enjoys helping children, adolescents and adults in areas such as improving their use of coping skills, decreasing anxious and/or depressive symptoms, navigating life transitions, processing trauma, grief and more. Kayla also performs preliminary autism assessments. In her spare time, Kayla enjoys spending time with her animals, being outdoors, and playing softball.

Hayleigh Haid, MS

Registered Mental Health Counseling Intern

Specialties
Trauma-Focused CBT
Play Therapy

Hayleigh obtained her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Marriage & Family Therapy at Jacksonville University. Additionally, she completed a Graduate Certificate in Child-Centered Play Therapy. Hayleigh joined River's Edge in August of 2023 as a graduate intern and has demonstrated passion for working with our clients. She has a naturally soothing presence and enjoys working with both children and adults. Hayleigh is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1, and Play Therapy. She sees therapy as a shared experience where clients are never alone in their mental health journey. She strives to integrate principles of trauma-informed care to ensure that her approach honors each client’s pace, resilience, and strengths. Together with her clients, she hopes to navigate the path to healing, focusing on building trust, developing safety, exploring challenges, uncovering strengths, and fostering pathways to growth.

Wendy Fortune, MS

Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern

Specialties
Trauma-Focused CBT
Play Therapy

Wendy obtained her Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Jacksonville University. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in Child-Centered Play Therapy, enhancing her expertise in working with children and families facing various life stressors including, but not limited to, traumatic experiences, grief and stressful life transitions. Since joining River's Edge Counseling as a graduate student intern in August 2023, Wendy’s joyful and kind demeanor has consistently helped clients of all ages feel comfortable and connected during the process of their therapeutic healing journey. Wendy utilizes both a Strengths-Based and Person-Centered therapeutic approach, through a Trauma-Informed Systemic lens, to facilitate growth and empowerment within the individuals and families she serves. Utilizing an integrative approach ranging from Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Attachment Focused concepts and techniques, Wendy provides an authentic, empathetic and empowering presence to promote a safe and supportive environment to the clients and families she has the honor of working with. 

Madelyn Rosenau, MSW

Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern

Specialties
Trauma-Focused CBT

Madelyn received her Bachelor’s in psychology and Master’s in social work from Samford University, graduating in 2023. Madelyn has worked with clients from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, including asylum-seeking clients and refugee children. Prior to joining River’s Edge, Madelyn worked with children and families in her role on the Community Action Team (CAT) working to stabilize children who were at-risk of out-of-home placement through hands-on, trauma-informed interventions with the goal of decreasing psychiatric hospitalizations, improving youth and family functioning, and increasing overall health and well-being. Madelyn specializes in trauma work with children, teens and young adults and has experience with a wide range of diagnoses such as: PTSD, anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar, DMDD, ODD etc. Madelyn is eager to accompany each client on their journey towards healing. She believes that every client already has the ability to heal within them and that her job as the therapist is to set the conditions necessary for healing, so that in turn, they can uncover the strengths that already exist within themselves. In her free time, you can find Madelyn at a concert or at the beach. Madelyn is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and can provide counseling from a Christian perspective for those who are interested.

Call to schedule your appointment

For first time patients we ask that you call the office to make an appointment. Our Care Coordinator is waiting to match you to one of our clinicians. We offer two convenient locations and all our therapists offer a telehealth option.