About


At Positive Start Counseling Services, we believe that every individual deserves the chance to thrive. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, relationship challenges, trauma, or simply seeking greater clarity in your life—we’re here to help.

With a team of licensed therapists offering in-person and telehealth options, we make it easy to access care that works for you.

 

Meet Our Therapists

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Michelle Fyfe was born on the tropical island of Jamaica. She went to Hillel Academy Prep School and The Queen’s High School. She played netball. She was on the school’s swim team and represented her school during competitive swimming meets. She also was a member of the Flying Fish Ambassadors II swim team and swam competitively. Michelle Fyfe received an AA degree in Liberal Arts from Broward Community College in Davie, Florida. She obtained a BA degree in Psychology from Florida International University in Miami, Florida. She holds a Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling from Carlos Albizu University in Miami, Florida. Michelle is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), a Certified Addictions Professional (CAP), Certified Telehealth Provider (CTP), and a Certified Recovery Residence Administrator (CRRA). Michelle has been making an impact on lives and helping others since 1997. She has experience in the field of addictions, mental health, juvenile delinquents, HIV, military service members and their families, and life’s stressors. Michelle has held several positions in Private and Government sectors including the position of Chief Operating Officer, Quality Assurance, Utilization Review Director, Director of Admissions, Clinical Director, and Program Manager in which she was responsible for program development, management, and utilization management. Michelle is a well rounded therapist and she sees therapy as a journey of self discovery and self realization. Moving towards your full human potential. She uses her training and life experiences to help you review and evaluate your life situation, and help you clarify your true goals. Michelle’s approach to therapy is Cognitive Behavioral, Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused and Client Centered. Michelle is also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT). Every client is a unique individual, and she tailor’s her technique and approach to meet your needs and personal style. She is compassionate, empathic, and supportive in engaging clients and assisting her clients with achieving their goals. She works closely with her clients in order to improve their lives and help them deal with their life’s stressors. Michelle is genuine and she truly cares about the clients that she serves. Specialties Include: Addiction, Anger Management, Anxiety/Stress, Children and Adolescents, Codependency, Crisis Intervention, Depression, Grief/Loss, Guilt and Shame, HIV/AIDS, Life Management Skills, Impulse Control and Conduct Disorder, ADD/ADHD, Parenting Issues, Peer Relationships, Relationship Issues, Self Esteem Issues, Women’s Issues, Depression, Mood Disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Military Family Life, Employee Assistance Program, Work Related Issues, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), and Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT).

Dr. Natalie Rothman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Addiction Professional, and Certified Telehealth Practitioner. She brings a compassionate, systemic approach to her work with individuals, couples, and families, helping clients navigate life’s challenges while fostering growth and connection.

In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Rothman serves as the Clinical Director of the Brief Therapy Institute/Medical Family Therapy Clinic at Nova Southeastern University and as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Couple and Family Therapy. She is passionate about training the next generation of therapists and has extensive experience providing clinical supervision, mentorship, and trauma-informed training.

Dr. Rothman specializes in solution-oriented and strength-based therapy, LGBTQIA+ affirmative counseling, and innovative experiential approaches, including Equine Assisted Family Therapy and Relational Learning. She integrates a biopsychosocial-spiritual framework in her work, ensuring a holistic, inclusive, and supportive environment for healing.

Clients and colleagues know Dr. Rothman for her warm, engaging style and her commitment to helping people discover new perspectives, develop resilience, and build stronger relationships.

Dr. Lori Pantaleao is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Addiction Professional, and Certified Telehealth Practitioner. She brings over two decades of experience as a clinician, educator, and mentor, working with individuals, couples, and families through a collaborative, strength-based approach.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Pantaleao serves as the Master’s Program Director and Assistant Professor in the Department of Couple and Family Therapy at Nova Southeastern University. She is passionate about training future therapists, guiding research, and supporting supervisees in developing their skills as systemic, solution-focused practitioners.

Dr. Pantaleao specializes in marriage and family therapy, clinical supervision, and qualitative research, and she integrates creative, solution-oriented practices to help clients and students alike discover new perspectives and possibilities. She also volunteers her time as an editor for The Qualitative Report and as an accreditation and site reviewer for COAMFTE, helping ensure excellence in the education and training of marriage and family therapists.
Clients and colleagues know Dr. Pantaleao for her warm, collaborative style and her dedication to empowering others to navigate life’s challenges and create lasting change.

Judith Mondesir is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Florida. She received her Bachelors from Florida Atlantic University in Social Work and her Masters from Barry University in Advanced Clinical Social Work. Her specialty is in working with individuals with depression and anxiety disorders. She has over 3 years experience working with individuals, couples and families who seek guidance with anxiety, depression, communication, family conflicts, self-esteem, and coping skills. Judith’s approach is goal-oriented, strength based, warm, and engaging. She works towards creating an open, non-judgemental space for you to be comfortable sharing your thoughts, fears, hopes, and goals. Together you will create specific goals to work on at a comfortable pace. You will work together to find patterns and connections between your thoughts, behaviors and emotions; use appropriate clinical modality to work towards your goals. Judith looks forward to working with her clients in order to create the best version of you.

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Farren Lundy is a dedicated Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern in the State of Florida, committed to making a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals and families.  She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University and went on to complete her Master’s in Social Work at Barry University.  With over a decade of experience serving diverse populations, Farren has developed a deep understanding of the complexities faced by families navigating childcare, the judicial system, collaborative care, and addiction recovery.
Farren’s passion lies in helping others achieve positive change through her extensive therapeutic skills. She employs empathy, problem-solving, goal-setting, and self-awareness techniques to empower clients on their journeys toward healing and growth. Her approach emphasizes the importance of rapport-building as a cornerstone for effective therapeutic relationships, enabling her to foster trust and facilitate meaningful change.
As a wife and mother, Farren holds family values close to her heart, believing strongly in the importance of strengthening the family system. In her personal time, she enjoys nurturing her relationships with family and friends, as well as exploring her interests in fashion, beauty, and overall wellness.
Farren’s rich experience working with adolescents and adults across various backgrounds has equipped her with a unique perspective on the challenges individuals face. She is dedicated to using her skills to inspire hope and create lasting, positive change in the lives of those she serves.

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Marleine Flaurestale is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Barry University and a Master’s degree in Professional Mental Health Counseling from South University. Marleine comes with years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families, in varies complex situations. Her primary goal is to provide a safe and compassionate space to help individuals navigate through unresolved thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Marleine understands the importance of allowing the client the opportunity to collaborate using their own strength while utilizing the skills learned during the sessions.

Brianna Burgess is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern. Brianna is a dedicated mental health therapist whose academic journey began at Palm Beach Atlantic University, where she earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mental Health Counseling. Building upon this strong foundation, she continued her educational pursuit by enrolling in a Ph.D. program in Marriage and Family Therapy at Nova Southeastern University.

Her professional experience spans non-profit work, where she has honed her skills and passion for helping others. Brianna’s focus extends across various domains, including therapy for couples, families, children and individual counseling sessions. Her overarching goal as a therapist is to foster a secure and welcoming environment, allowing her clients to share their thoughts and emotions freely.

With a heartfelt commitment to creating safe spaces for her clients, Brianna aims to facilitate healing and growth, advocating for the well-being of those she serves through her therapeutic practice. Her dedication to providing a supportive setting for her clients reflects her genuine desire to make a meaningful impact in their lives.

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Kathy Maenza is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.  Kathy Maenza earned a Master’s degree in Social Work from Barry University.  Kathy has worked in a variety of settings including community mental health, substance-abuse, and adolescent treatment.  Kathy brings over 20 years experience in substance-abuse and mental health.  Kathy is well versed in substance abuse, ACOA and codependency.  She utilizes a person-centered approach.  She invites clients to self-determine goals related to their emotional well being.  Kathy encompasses a cognitive and motivational interviewing framework to explore thought patterns and behaviors contributing to mental distress.  She incorporates Trauma-Informed care and takes a holistic approach, offering safety, compassion, and support to help people make long-lasting changes.

Toniqua LaFleur is a Registered Clinical Social Work Intern who graduated with her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University. Her professional career began in the Non-Profit world where she realized her passion for helping the community through case management services. She has worked with various populations helping children and their families sustain self-sufficiency and providing medically necessary mental health services to learn coping skills with the end goal being a decrease in depression, anxiety, grief, anger, family conflict, and negative behaviors. She enjoys working with troubled teens who are misunderstood and in need of mentorship and guidance; as well as women trying to find their way in life.

Through life experiences and taking what she’s learned and applying it in the field, she has learned a lot about selflessness, self-awareness, accountability, and the importance of healing your inner child. She believes in meeting the client where they are and providing a safe space throughout the entire therapeutic process. No matter how well we think we are, we can all use some self improvement. She focuses on helping the client gain insight into self, increase their self-esteem, build on their strengths, discover self-love, and prioritize self-care. She hopes to one day start a non-profit organization of her own called This Mind of Mine which will focus on mental health in young adults.

Elan Klein is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with extensive experience in various settings, including a substance abuse partial hospitalization program, working with children in a hospital setting, and college counseling center. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Florida and her Masters degree from Florida Atlantic University in Mental Health Counseling.  With a compassionate and client-centered approach, she creates a safe space for individuals to explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. She specializes in solution-focused therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), offering an empathetic approach tailored to meet the unique needs of each client.  She believes in the power of therapy to foster resilience and promote lasting change.

Elan’s areas of expertise include:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Infertility
  • Grief and Loss Counseling

Elan provides individual and couples counseling services, creating a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their challenges and work toward meaningful solutions. Her commitment to understanding and addressing the emotional needs of her clients makes her a valuable ally in their journey toward healing and personal growth.   She emphasizes a holistic approach, integrating mindfulness techniques and self-care practices to empower clients in their journey toward mental well-being.

Frantcha Louis is a Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern. As a compassionate and dedicated MSW graduate, she specializes in providing therapeutic support to children and families. With two years of hands-on experience in clinical settings, Frantcha focus on helping families overcome challenges such as trauma, behavioral issues, and emotional distress. Fluent in Haitian Creole, she brings cultural sensitivity and a deep understanding of the unique experiences of Creole-speaking families. Frantcha’s approach integrates evidence-based therapies, including CBT and narrative therapy, to ensure that each client receives personalized and effective care. Her work is centered on building resilience, improving communication, and fostering healthy family dynamics. Frantcha believes in the power of understanding each client’s cultural background to provide the most effective, compassionate care possible.

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Call today for an appointment: 954-817-5825


11440 Okeechobee Blvd., Suite 205B, Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33411

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