Clara Bossie, LMFT-QS

A natural born artist, and gifted teacher, Clara Bossie brings a kaleidoscope of talents and tools to her counseling practice. She is inventive and spontaneous in her approach to helping children, teens, adults and families. Clients will find that Clara creates a secure and constructive partnership, taking an active interest to bring about flexibility and change within their world. Her ability to bring wisdom and order to the complications and chaos of individual and family circumstances has earned her high regards in the counseling community. Clara received her bachelor’s degree in Exceptional Education with a special focus on Mental Disabilities from the University of Centeral Florida in 2001. As an ESE teacher, Clara went beyond the borders of the classroom to help childern with special needs and their families, achieving recognition as an outstanding educator. During that time she worked closely with Very Special Arts (VSA), Special Olympics, and Autism Speaks. Additionally, Clara developed a series of educational workshops and parent groups that provide valuable skills to parents and families in the community. Clara is a counselor educator and Florida qualified supervisor for mental health and marriage family registered interns where she shares her extensive experience and “out-of-the-therapy-office” philosophy with those entering the counseling field. Clara’s teaching experience fostered a deep interest in helping families at the core of their suffering. In 2007, Clara received her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University. Incorporating her educational background and experience working with children and families, Clara is able to draw from an eclectic array of approaches where some of her favorites include symbolic-experiential systemic family therapies, third-wave cognitive-behavioral therapies such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), compassion focused therapy, as well as mindfulness based approaches such as self-compassion counseling and expressive arts counseling. As a teacher at heart, Clara incorporates psycho-educational, experiential, and action oriented approaches that empower clients to become an active partner in their treatment. Clara seeks to understand clients from a relational perspective. She uses experiential approaches that allow clients to openly communicate feelings in the present moment, often incorporating creative works, ‘field trips’ and other spontaneous activities into her sessions. During therapy, Clara creates a secure environment where self-awareness, inspiration and change can happen. She values both honesty and clarity – giving clients the information they need in a straightforward and easy to understand manner. She works to build a stable and truthful relationship with her clients, tuning in to what they have experienced and how they perceive life. Ultimately, Clara becomes a trusted guide for individuals and families, traveling with them on their journey toward healing and wellness. In addition to individual and family therapy, Clara moderates group therapy, workshops, and parent support groups. She has received extensive training in DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) from Behavioral Tech, LLC, and has developed specialized DBT-based programs for children, adolescents and learning disabled individuals. A gifted artist from an early age, Clara incorporates creativity into every aspect of her life. Clara has a talent for bringing out the creative side in those around her. In her practice, Clara offers Expressive Art Therapy to both individuals and groups. Expressive Art utilizes the creative process for self-exploration that can often lead to insightful conclusions. With her clients, art becomes a therapeutic language allowing her to understand and heal what words cannot describe. In addition to her responsibilities as a therapist, Clara is the founder of Healing through Expressive Art and the Creative Director of the HEArt Show, an biannual event dedicated to raising awareness and funds for organizations that incorporate art into educational and healing activities. Since 2007, Clara has helped countless people grow and heal through varying abilities, trauma, mental illness, and family crises. Through trust and creativity, she helps others awaken their natural strengths and inherent wisdom so they may better understand themselves and create positive, effective relationships in their lives. Navigating these relationships with great communication, a sense of perspective, and self-awareness can not only bring healing, but amazing contentment as well. Education and Professional Training: Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL | 2020 - Current Ph.D. Student, Counselor Education FAU College of Education Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year, 2023 Dissertation Research: Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Counselor Education with additional research interests in supervision, curriculum design, program evaluation, self-compassion, and treatment interventions for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach, FL | 2007 - 2004 Master of Science, Clinical Mental Health Counseling with specialization in Marriage & Family Counseling University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL | 2001 - 1999 Bachelor of Science, Exceptional Child Education, Minor in Mental Handicaps K-12 Licenses: Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist LMFT (#MT2519), State of Florida Department of Health, 2010 Qualified LMFT & LMHC Supervisor, State of Florida Department of Health, 2015 Licensed Professional Educator /Mentally Handicapped K-12 (Lic#870969), State of Florida Department of Education, 2001- 2011 Certifications: PREPARE/ENRICH Facilitator Trainer, PREPARE ENRICH, 2022 Prolonged Exposure for PTSD (PE) instructed by Dr. Edna Foa, Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety at UPenn, 2020 Mindfulness Self-Compassion (MSC) Teacher in Training instructed by Chris Germer, Center for Mindfulness & Self-Compassion, 2019 Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS), (IAEDP) International Association for Eating Disorder Professionals, 2016 Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Certification, CPP Inc, 2016 DBT Intensively Training Therapist, Behavioral Tech LLC, 2012 Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT200), Life Power Yoga Academy, 2012 Certified Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Associate Instructor (#900340), Crisis Prevention Institute, 2011 Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), EMDR International Association, 2010 & 2015 Certified Addictionologist, C.Ad., American College of Addictionology & Compulsive Disorders, 2009 PREPARE/ENRICH Marriage Coach & Mentor Facilitator, PREPARE ENRICH, 2006 CPREP Marriage Coach & Educator, PREP, Inc., 2006 Local Education Agency Representative & Placement Specialist (LEA Rep), State of Florida Department of Education, 2003 Clinical Educator/Peer Teacher, Volusia County Schools, 2003 Specialties: Anxiety & Obsessive Compulsive Disorders Autism Spectrum Disorders Learning & Developmental Disorders Trauma & PTSD Shame & Self-Criticism Family & Couple Conflict Childhood Development & Behavioral Worries Business Burnout, Corporate Wellness, & Career Launching & Thriving for Young Adults Offering: Individual Counseling Family Therapy Child and Parent Coaching Parent Workshops Relationship Counseling Pre-Marital Counseling & Enrichment Group Psychotherapy DBT Therapy for specialized populations EMDR or Prolonged Exposure for PTSD Individual and Group Expressive Therapy Service to the Community: Counselor Education Advisory Board (2022-current), Florida Atlantic University College of Education, Counselor Education Vice President of Beta Rho Chi Chapter (2023-2024) Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) Member of Beta Rho Chi Chapter (2020-current) Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) Member (2020- current), ACA, American Counseling Association Member (2020- present), ACES, Association for Counselor Education & Supervision Southern Region Chapter Member (2020- present), SACES, Southern Association for Counselor Education & Supervision Member (2020- present), IAMFC, International Association Marriage & Family Counselors Member (2020- present), ACC, Association for Creativity in Counseling Clinical Fellow (2007-2020), AAMFT, American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy Southern Florida Chapter Member, past positions: certification chair, membership chair (2012-2019), iaedp, International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals Advisory member (2019), Healthier Jupiter Project, Jupiter Medical Center Board Member (2017-2019), Caring Hearts Auxiliary, FAU Memory & Wellness Center Professional Member IOCDF, (2018- current) International OCD Foundation Advisory Board (2019-2020), Urban Surf 4 Kids