Brandy Benson, Psy.D., Licensed Psychologist, President/Owner of Tampa Bay Psychology Associates
Dr Brandy Benson, Lead Psychologist of TBPA, is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in behavioral health and wellness of First Responders. Her clientele ranges from law enforcement, fire rescue, emergency medical personnel, dispatchers, federal agents, and family members. She has worked closely with various police and fire rescue agencies across the State of Florida, as well as agencies under the Department of Justice and the Department of Corrections.
Dr. Benson’s areas of service include crisis intervention, trauma therapy, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) development and provision. She also specializes in fitness-for-duty, pre-employment, post-incident, and psychological clearance evaluations. Most recently, Dr. Benson has been hired by several agencies to assist with consultation and development of Officer Wellness and Safety programs to support increased utilization of mental health services by employees, as well as overall resiliency and prevention efforts of PTSD, Suicide, and other psychological conditions impacting the First Responding Community. Dr. Benson is also a published author on topics of commercialized sexual exploitation of children with the FBI and police suicide.
Dr. Benson earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She completed her clinical internship with the Federal Bureau of Prisons where she worked with incarcerated men and women with serious mental illness. Prior to this, she completed formal trainings at the Family Violence Program, the Miami VA Healthcare System, and the Miami Federal Detention Center, as well as informal trainings in psychoeducational evaluations and pediatric therapy. Dr. Benson has engaged in outpatient practice since 2012, both in Fort Lauderdale/Miami and Tampa/St. Petersburg.
In therapy, Dr. Benson utilizes a variety of techniques to cater to the unique needs and histories of each individual, family, and couple. Therapy commonly integrates solution-focused and process-oriented interventions, positive psychology, and therapeutic life skills with the intention of creating a more balanced and meaningful sense of life and health.
Ready to work with Rachel Menger, M.A.?
Rachel Menger, M.A., Senior Staff Counselor
Rachel Menger, MA, comes to Tampa Bay Psychology Associates from her home state of New York by way of Colorado, where she earned her Masters in Forensic Psychology from the University of Denver. A veteran of the field of corrections, Rachel began her career in mental health conducting research at a private forensic practice in Manhattan, where she worked on large-scale and high-profile homicide cases. She continued her career at New York City's Rikers Island Jail, then moved to Colorado, where she worked with the county of Denver, community corrections, Denver Adult Probation, and, most recently, handled crisis and triage with the Boulder County Sheriff's Office.
At Tampa Bay Psychology Associates, Rachel specializes in relationship and communication issues, and welcomes to therapy individuals and couples who are looking to work toward growing together and resolving unhelpful patterns in their relationships. She also counsels teens and adults on a variety of matters including family conflicts, identity formation, substance use/abuse, anxiety, low self-esteem, PTSD, and depression. Rachel is trained in E.M.D.R. therapy, a non-invasive form of trauma-resolution therapy that helps her clients overcome the subtle but long-term barriers to happiness that are caused by exposure to negative life events, big and small. Working within a customized, goal-motivated therapeutic relationship, Rachel’s clients learn to help themselves to cope with life’s challenges in ways that build positive and healthy habits that will last.
Rachel works with law enforcement and first responders to resolve specific job-related issues as well as day-to-day home-life stressors. As someone with numerous friends and family members in the fields of law enforcement and crisis response, Rachel brings personal as well as professional experience to her approaches to the unique challenges that face first-responder clients.
Kristin Klimley, Psy.D., Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Klimley specializes in trauma therapy, substance use interventions, and behavioral change. She has experience with the development and provision of behavioral health and peer support trainings for Veterans, First Responders, and their families. She has worked extensively with
hostage negotiation teams in the South Florida area. Dr. Klimley is also a published author on topics of commercialized sexual exploitation of children with the FBI, PTSD within first responder groups, and firefighter specific stress assessment.
Dr. Klimley earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She completed her clinical internship with the Veterans Health Administration in Bedford, MA where she worked with Veterans with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Prior to this, she completed formal trainings with the Family Violence Program, Adolescent Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program, the Miami VA Healthcare System, and the Memorial physical Rehab Hospital. She also has experience conducting comprehensive neuropsychological, psychoeducational, and diagnostic assessments in both a hospital and private practice setting.
Dr. Klimley has training in individual, family, and group interventions for a variety of behavioral health concerns. She utilizes a person-centered approach to cognitive, behavioral, and dialectical treatment models. Dr. Klimley has specialized training in Cognitive Process Therapy (CPT) for PTSD and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use Disorders. In therapy, she employs a variety of methods catering to an individual’s unique history and strengths as well as their current needs and goals. Dr. Klimley’s therapy approach commonly incorporates awareness and insight building, solution-focused interventions, mindfulness, and behavioral life skills to create a more balanced approach to one’s mental and physical health.
Ready to work with Dr. Klimley?
Molly & Blue, Therapy Dogs
Molly is a special addition to Tampa Bay Psychology Associates. She is a rescued, Brittany Spaniel mix and certified therapy dog. She has worked with and helped children and adults with a wide array of presenting concerns, including: dementia, ASD, anxiety, depression, trauma processing, and behavioral issues. She contributes to a joyful and comfortable atmosphere in the office for both staff and clients. Molly is happy to participate in play therapy with children or provide emotional support when needed. Although just one component of treatment, Molly is receptive and responsive to everyone that comes into the office and her presence can enrich any therapy experience. One of her newest and favorite jobs is to visit with her First Responders. Molly provides a boost to morale and an ability to break away from a stressful job.
Blue is TBPA’s newest addition! He is a handful but full of love to give. His favorite job? Snuggling on laps during session. He also appreciates the dog cookies in the waiting room!
Paris McDonald, M.S.,
Mental Health Counselor Resident
Paris is a U.S. Army Veteran, military spouse, and Tampa Bay Native. Paris earned her Master’s in Applied Clinical Psychology from the University of South Carolina, Aiken. She began her therapeutic career in neuropsychology where she conducted an array of neuropsychological, diagnostic, and work assessments to evaluate and analyze her clients’ psychological symptoms. Paris has worked closely with individuals coping with TBI’s, learning disabilities, and substance use. Paris’ professional experience also extends to Arizona where she worked with populations defined by Serious Mental Illness (SMI) with focus on behavioral and crisis interventions.
Paris has specialized training working with military veterans, military family members, children, adolescents, and adults. Her clinical knowledge of military personnel and families translates seamlessly when working with our First Responder clientele. In therapy, Paris has worked closely with service members and their families on depression, suicide prevention, anxiety, anger, processing trauma, interpersonal issues, self-esteem, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders. Paris’ therapeutic training and experience includes individual and group interventions utilizing resiliency training, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for adolescents.
In therapy, Paris tailors each session to best meet her client’s goals and to improve their overall quality of life. Mindfulness and Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques are integrating throughout treatment, taking a collaborative approach with her clients to encourage growth and change. Paris’ personal and professional experience provides a unique perspective to Tampa Bay Psychology Associates first-responder clientele and their family members.
Ready to work with Paris?
Johana Carrillo, M.Ed,
Mental Health Counselor Intern
Johana specializes in substance abuse, trauma, and depression. Her work experience started at a substance abuse and mental health treatment center working with veterans, active military clients, and first responders. Johana also has experience working with a variety of domestic and interpersonal dynamics. Her clientele includes individuals, couples, and families. Johana also offers therapy in Spanish.
Johana graduated with her B.A. in Psychology from the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College at Florida Atlantic University. Her honors thesis was on the effects of mindfulness on free recall memory on positive, negative, and neutral stimuli. Additionally, her undergraduate research project was on the effects of acute stress on working memory. Johana then went on to complete her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Florida Atlantic University. During her Master’s program, Johana was trained in Adlerian Therapy - a holistic approach that views individuals with relation to their social contexts and personal values. Johana does not believe that there is a “one size fits all” counseling approach. Therefore, she integrates different therapeutic approaches tailored to each individual's needs. These therapy approaches include Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
Johana shares her own personal journey with trauma and believes that individuals have the responsibility of healing not only one's trauma for oneself but also to break the intergenerational trauma passed on for those that come after us. Johana grew up in a country that experienced the longest-running civil war, and the enormous casualties of war included depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Through this experience, she learned that individuals are immensely resilient. Her goal in counseling others is to bring awareness to individuals who have experienced trauma or any other stressful event(s) in their life. Johana's message to her clients is that, although our past is important and can makes things probable, it does not determine what will happen for the rest of our lives.
Ready to work with Johana?
Amanda Higgs, Psy.D., Postdoctoral Resident
Dr. Amanda Higgs is a pre-licensed, clinical psychologist with training and experience working in and around law enforcement and the justice system for the last ten years. Dr. Higgs earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis in Forensics from Wright State University School of Professional Psychology. She completed internships with the United States Marshals Service and with the Florida Department of Corrections where she worked with incarcerated men and women with serious mental illness. Prior to this, she completed formal trainings at Wright Behavioral Health, a private practice working with military, veterans, police, and firefighters, Dayton Probation Office, and the Center for Adolescents, a juvenile detention center. Dr. Higgs has worked with law enforcement, firefighters, federal law enforcement, active duty military, veterans, adjudicated juveniles, convicted inmates, and individuals on probation. Dr. Higgs has experience with multiple agencies across the states of Ohio, Kansas, West Virginia, and Florida.
Dr. Higgs’ areas of service include crisis intervention, trauma informed therapy, individual and group therapy for a variety of psychological concerns, and diversity training. She also specializes in a variety of psychological assessments ranging from intellectual disability, PTSD, mood disorders, personality disorders, fitness for duty evaluations, appeals for disability ratings, pre-employment, post incident, and psychological clearance evaluations. Dr. Higgs has developed programs and training specifically related to building resilience to trauma experiences and incorporating diversity considerations into policy. She has conducted research on reentry programming and domestic terrorism. Her research in domestic terrorism focuses on creating psychological profiles to assist law enforcement in identification and capture of domestic terrorists. In therapy, Dr. Higgs utilizes a variety of techniques to address the unique needs of each individual striving to be holistic in treatment. Common integration of positive psychology, art therapy, music therapy, Adlerian psychology, CBT, and trauma focused interventions allow both flexibility and structure to address presenting concerns and promote well-being.