Jean Kilsheimer Caserta, LMFT
About me
Dear Future Clients,
Looking for a therapist? These words should come to mind: CARING, COMPETENT, COMPASSIONATE, COURTEOUS, CONFIDENT, NON-JUDGMENTAL, ACCEPTING, and FLEXIBLE. These are just a few of my best qualifications when working with clients of all ages, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and those who demonstrate multiple issues. So, let me tell you a bit about myself.
I began my professional career as a teacher, because I loved working with students and families. I wanted to make a change in the world, by helping others learn and gain acceptance by all. Discovering that students come from all different, diversified backgrounds and multiple family situations, I continued my studies and became a Behavioral Specialist. So many educators were diagnosing and labeling students. I found this disturbing as I believe that no child is born evil, stupid, crazy, or bad. Rather, I believe individuals are affected by the family and environmental systems of which they are members. Therefore, I continued my studies in the field of Family Systemic Therapy and completed my degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida. I began working as a Licensed Family Therapist in the Florida School Systems, Church Programs and Private Practice. I utilize the method of therapy which best suits the clientele. Some of these include but are not limited to Client-Centered, Solution Focused, Narrative, Play, Brief Strategical, Problem-Solving and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies.
My career experiences opened my eyes to the many diversified situations that children, teens, adults, and families are exposed to each and every day. Something new always pops up and seems to shake up a person’s life, and you just need someone to listen and understand the situations that are affecting your life. As an Educator, Behavioral Specialist and a Licensed Family Therapist, I have worked with many different clients. No problem is too big or too small.
My degrees are a Bachelors of Arts in Education and French, and a Masters in Science in the field of Family Therapy. My Professional Teaching Certificate includes Endorsements in working with ESOL (English as a Second Language) individuals, Gifted or Highly Gifted Individuals, Specific Learning Disabilities, and Multiple Behavioral Disorders. I have over 30 years of Professional Experience.
I myself grew up in a large Irish-German, Catholic family with five sisters where perfection was expected. This caused many internal family issues, which I now understand because of my training. Also, my mother was an orphan who grew up in a New York City Orphanage before being placed in a loving foster home. Yet, the family did not want to adopt her and thus she suffered from anxiety, depression, and feelings of inadequacy for her entire life. She also struggled with alcoholism and I was given the responsibility to care for my dear mother and wait for her to come home when she walked out in the middle of the night. I learned compassion at an early age and knew I always wanted to help others either in the Peace Corps or here in the United States. My mother’s foster family spoke French and thus I majored in French in college, studying at Immaculata University in Pennsylvania, Laval University in Quebec, Canada and study abroad programs in Paris, and Normandy, France.
Now, I am a mother of three married adult children, grandmother to seven beautiful grandkids, and wife of 46 years to a wonderful husband. However, I suffered from Depression and Generalized Anxiety, after the birth of my second child. Of course, everyone told me to “Just Get Over It.” Luckily, I found a wonderful psychiatrist of Indian descent who changed my life forever. In fact, my kind, qualified psychiatrist encouraged me to further my studies and become a Family Therapist……and that is where I am today.
If you are touched by my story and feel I could help you, it would be my pleasure and honor to be your therapist. While I do speak French, because there are so many different dialects, all my sessions are in English. However, we can use French when a certain word(s) gets us stuck, so we can use French-English. Thank you for taking the time to read my Profile. I would love to work with you, because YOU are important to me.
Professional experience
Additional areas of focus: Addictions, Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Coping with life changes, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Adoption and foster care, Aging and geriatric issues, Antisocial personality, Attachment issues, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Blended family issues, Body image, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain, illness, and disability, Co-morbidity, Commitment issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Dependent personality, Domestic violence, Drug and alcohol addiction, Eating and food-related issues, Family of origin issues, Family problems, Fertility issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Hospice and end-of-life counseling, Immigration issues, Impulsivity, Intellectual disability, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Mood disorders, Multicultural concerns, Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Phobias, Postpartum depression, Prejudice and discrimination, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-harm, Self-love, Smoking / vaping cessation, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy
Languages
License information
FL LMFT MT2119
Reviews
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Jean Kilsheimer Caserta. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Professional, good listener, take care of you and always there for you. I highly recommend!
Written on Oct 15, 2024 after therapy with Jean for 3 months on issues concerning depression, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, self esteem, and career difficulties
"Dr. Jeannie" is great! She understands what is going on with my life and really cares about me. We have very insightful conversations and I learn a lot about what is truly affecting me in my life. She doesn't judge and gives you valuable advice that helps tremendously. I feel very fortunate to have her in my life. She has guided me through my mother's death this year, helped me understand what is going on with my teenage son, allowed me to see clearly what is going on professionally as well as saw me through my dog's eye surgery. She helped me through all of this in less than a year's time. Dr. Jeannie is amazing and you will be happy to work with her.
Written on Dec 29, 2023 after therapy with Jean for 6 months on issues concerning depression, grief, eating disorders, anger management, and adhd
I am getting a lot out of each of my sessions with Dr. Jeannie. I'm feeling better about moving through some tough experiences I've struggled with in the past and Dr. Jeannie has helped me navigate them in a wonderfully supportive manner. Dr. Jeannie is a wonderful listener and her life experiences help lend understanding and guidance in my own journey.
Written on Oct 02, 2023 after therapy with Jean for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, family conflicts, grief, self esteem, and coping with life changes
She is excellent
Written on Sep 27, 2023 after therapy with Jean for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, self esteem, and career difficulties
very kind and funny.
doesn't judge or make you feel badly in anything you say. a very good experience in a first time with a therapist im glad i had her!
Written on Sep 26, 2023 after therapy with Jean for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, sleeping disorders, and compassion fatigue
She is amazing!!!!! Very knowledgeable, professional and experienced. I had complex areas in my life that intertwined but Mrs. Caserta was able to help me to navigate it all in a very loving, caring, friendly and sincere way. Her impact on my life and mental health is priceless.
I truly love working with her.
Each session feels like a spa to my soul ❤️
Written on Aug 12, 2023 after therapy with Jean for 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, parenting issues, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, and adhd