Dr. Taylor Phillips, Psy.D.
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Dr. Taylor Phillips, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
“Helping adults recover from a variety of mental health conditions in order to pursue a sense of purpose and meaningful relationships.”
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1 in 5 adults experience a mental illness, which is defined as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that can cause a range of impairment in your daily life, from mild to severe. Maybe you’ve received treatment before and been provided a diagnosis, such as Major Depression or Generalized Anxiety Disorder, but I bet there are many of you reading this who are uncertain as to whether you meet criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition given estimates that up to half of such individuals do not seek treatment.
This may be because of the continued stigma surrounding mental health treatment or because you’ve always thought the difficulties you’ve been experiencing aren’t that serious and you can handle them on your own. Perhaps you are now in a place where you are wondering whether the anxiety you casually refer to is more than just nerves.
Whether you are looking for a safe space to understand your situation better, seeking help to better manage your symptoms, or in need of support in recognizing the quality person you continue to be despite how you may be made to feel since being diagnosed, therapy is able to help with any and all of the aforementioned areas (and more). The therapeutic process works by exploring your experiences and incorporating evidenced based practices, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) while creating a unique therapeutic alliance that serves as the catalyst for change.
Despite the aforementioned information, one common misunderstanding is that therapy is only for those who have a diagnosable mental health condition. I have worked with many individuals who do not meet criteria for a mental illness but are still experiencing difficulties they want help with, whether it be general stress, adjusting to changes in their life, or seeking to improve the relationship they have with themselves and/or others. The therapeutic process is just as important and has led to great success in these instances, as well.
Learn More About How I Help Adults Overcome Challenges to Live Their Best Lives...
My Counseling Services in Coral Springs, FL
I am Dr. Taylor Phillips, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist who is the Founder of Vitamin P Therapy, an independent entity within Bayview Therapy serving the amazing South Florida community (Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, Parkland, West Boca Raton, and surrounding areas).
I specialize in working with adults facing the unique challenges of the following (but not limited to):
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Depression
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Anxiety & Stress
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Bipolar Disorder
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Psychosis
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Grief/loss
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Trauma & PTSD
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Life Transitions
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Self-Esteem
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Women’s Mental Health
There are many mental health providers who believe individuals who experience some of the aforementioned concerns only benefit from psychotropic medication and are not appropriate for therapy; however, my experiences to date and current research shows otherwise. This is not to say I disagree with the use of psychotropic medication to help manage severe and impairing symptoms, as I have seen the incredible impact such medication has had for certain individuals.
Nonetheless, I have worked with many people who indicated medication was not enough in their road to healing and recovery, as it only targets one part of the person. As human beings, we are comprised of a complex array of thoughts, feelings, and perceptions based on our experiences and environments that often get overlooked when focusing on a medication only approach to treatment. This laid the groundwork for the development of Vitamin P Therapy. While medication can play a pivotal role in recovery, I believe in treating the whole person and fueling the body and mind with additional “vitamins” that are essential for optimal growth and functioning.
I am able to meet each person where they are at when coming into therapy, as I truly believe the success of treatment is largely based on the therapeutic alliance. While I am confident in my skills and knowledge base to help facilitate your recovery, the greatest progress is seen when both therapist and client work as part of a collaborative process.
Therefore, I utilize my expertise in session but balance it with empowering you as the expert on your own life and together, determining how the both of us can integrate our areas of knowledge. I also believe it is important to the therapeutic relationship to be able to relate beyond the traditional “doctor-client” mode and that there are appropriate times to acknowledge the shared experience of being human at the end of the day. As such, while I adhere to ethical and professional standards, there may be moments where our sessions feel more casual and relational in nature.
My Story
For me, I identify a natural inclination for listening to people and understanding their experiences given my tendency to be more reserved among my more outspoken and emotionally-charged family and friends. I remember many times seeing everyone just talking over one another, eager to make their point while I sat back and realized how ineffective this was because no one was hearing what the other person was saying, the very goal each person was trying to achieve! But why was it no one else noticed this?
Such individual differences, even within the same family, and the many factors that contribute to who we are as people sparked my initial interest in the field of psychology and helped me to realize active listening is not a characteristic inherent in all people, but a skill that can be utilized in helping others through difficulties.
With regard to my educational background, I graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Central Florida with my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After graduation, I decided to take some time to gain clinical experience before embarking on the journey of graduate school, as I knew reading about something in a book was very different from the reality of it.
I began working as a mental health technician at a community mental health facility where I had the fortunate opportunity to help a wide range of individuals, from children to older adults, who were often experiencing one of their most difficult times in their lives subsequent to significant mental health symptoms, such as psychosis, mania, and depression.
As I saw many individuals recover, I also began to see the limits of inpatient care, particularly when it is initiated involuntarily. As I enrolled in graduate school to obtain my Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) from Nova Southeastern University, I decided to specialize in working with individuals who have experienced psychosis and major mood disorders, particularly in inpatient and forensic settings, such as hospitals and jails.
I completed my predoctoral internship at Arkansas State Hospital and graduated from Nova Southeastern University with my Psy.D. in 2015. After completing all licensing requirements, I continued to work in a state hospital setting where I maintained the privilege of working as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team to help treat some of the strongest and most resilient individuals who were experiencing severe forms of mental illness and adversity, often including significant trauma.
With my growing number of years working in such a setting, I began to realize the scarcity of qualified clinicians in the community specializing in various forms of psychosis and mood disorders to help achieve/maintain stability and minimize the need for hospitalization whenever possible, as I understood the limits of what inpatient settings can achieve, the possible adverse consequences of involuntarily hospitalizing someone, and the decline in treatment gains without sufficient outpatient treatment in place.
Since transitioning into private practice, I have also been able to reconnect with several areas I am passionate about helping people in, such as adjusting to life transitions, improving self-worth, and thriving in your life rather than just going through the everyday motions to get by.
Just For Fun
In my free time, you can find me spending time with my family, including my husband and two young children who continue to teach me what the whole “work-life balance” mantra is about. You can find us always on the go, whether it be exploring the various parks in our community or walking along the beautiful South Florida beaches.
While personal time can be hard to come by these days, I try and capitalize on such moments by reading a good suspense novel, binge-watching a variety of shows, and taking up yoga to help reset my mind and learn compassion for my body. I also love going out to eat and trying new restaurants, as one of the great things about South Florida is the abundance of eateries.
Lastly, despite years of unsuccessful attempts, I continue to search for my green thumb, as gardening has always been an interest of mine with a relentless dream of having my own secret garden to enjoy one day.
Why Work with Me?
Finding the right therapist can be a difficult process and one of the primary deterrents of seeking treatment or giving up too early in the process. The goodness of fit between therapist and client cannot be emphasized enough and why I take the time to establish that relationship in addition to clinical intervention.
I not only have the education and training for working with adults with a wide variety of mental health diagnoses, but also the passion for helping those who seek to better themselves and achieve greater satisfaction from life. I am confident that with my easy-going personality, dedication to achieving quality over quantity within my practice, and overall expertise and passion for this work, I can help you too.
Take the Next Step, Let's Connect!
Thinking about reaching out? Take the first step and contact me to get started at (954) 391-5305. I offer a complimentary phone consultation so we can discuss how I can help you and/or your loved one.
I am offering face-to-face sessions at our beautiful and serene Coral Springs counseling office or through online therapy via our secure telehealth platform for those who reside in the state of Florida.
For more information about my approach or my counseling services for adults, visit my website.
I look forward to speaking with you!
Dr. Taylor Phillips Recent Blogs:
Top Rate Coral Springs Psychologist
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