Dara Champion, MS, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (IMH #7618)
Certified Nutrition & Wellness Coach (AFPA, 2008)
Dara Champion provides mental health counseling and personal coaching with a unique
emphasis in health psychology. She counsels individuals in the areas of (but not
limited to): depression, anxiety, weight management, obesity, stress management,
smoking cessation, chronic illness, and chronic pain. She holds a personal and professional
interest in the emerging research supporting mind-body medicine and its application
to personal health & wellness.
Upon earning her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Florida,
Dara gained counseling experience at Shand’s Hospital under the notable “Arts in
Medicine” program, employing creative therapy interventions to patients with chronic
conditions. After graduating, she pursued an apprenticeship with the Human Performance
Institute, where she was exposed to research-based strategies involved in increasing
energy, managing stress and improving performance.
Next, she went on to obtain her master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Palm
Beach Atlantic University. She fulfilled her master's clinical internship under
Orlando Regional Healthcare, counseling patients diagnosed with HIV/Aids. This provided
her with further experience in clinically treating many of the co-occurring mental
health issues associated with chronic illness.
Since, Dara has counseled a wide range of client needs across a variety of inpatient
and outpatient settings (including hospitals, clinics, social skills camps, schools,
and homes). Today, in addition to seeing patients in private practice, she provides
nutrition counseling to patients at Medi-weightloss Clinics. She is also on staff
with Central Florida Behavioral Hospital as a Clinical Therapist, where she conducts
psychological evaluations and leads weekly psychotherapy groups. With Gilstrap &
Associates, she brings eclectic experience and a sincere interest to assisting individuals
in their mental, emotional, behavioral health.