About Dr. Binensztok

About Me

counseling dr vassilia binensztok

I’m a psychotherapist, an author, a researcher, an academic, and the founder of Juno Counseling and Wellness. I know what it’s like to feel like things will never get better, and I’m here to show you the way to the other side.

I specialize in psychotherapy for anxiety disorders, adult survivors of childhood trauma, and relationship issues. I provide therapy for adults, teens, and couples, and use a variety of approaches including psychodynamic therapy, existential therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Somatic Experiencing, Polyvagal Theory, EMDR, the Safe and Sound Protocol, and the Gottman Method for couples.

I love working with challenging cases including complex trauma, severe anxiety, panic, and phobias, unexplained medical symptoms (somatic symptoms, conversion disorders, functional disorders), and chronic pain. I use a proprietary integrated trauma-informed, nervous system-based, psychodynamic approach.

Since earning my Master’s and Ph.D. in Mental Health Counseling, I’ve served as a counselor at a hospital, taught mental health counseling at the elite graduate level, published a wide array of books and articles in the field of mental health, and delivered dozens of presentations on counseling and mental health.

But my passion isn’t just gaining knowledge; it’s sharing it in a personal and practical way. With over 15 years of experience helping people heal from complex trauma, I use my wealth of knowledge and expertise to analyze complicated situations, find the root of the problem, and unearth the path to healing. I’ve dealt with a wide array of cases, from working in a high-risk, locked psychiatric unit, to providing Cognitive Enhancement Therapy for people with Schizophrenia. I promise you won’t shock me. Whatever heaviness you’re holding, it’s safe to share.

I love to volunteer and help out in the community by serving on boards, attending charity events, and participating in community-centric programs. I am an alumnus of Leadership Palm Beach County (Class of 2023). I enjoy arts and culture, travel, new experiences, and random knowledge. I am also an animal lover and consider myself both a serious person and someone who loves to laugh. I am originally from Brooklyn, NY

On Founding the Practice

Like many, I come from a dysfunctional home teeming with depression and mental illness. I experienced chronic childhood trauma, culminating in the death of both of my parents in a car accident when I was 17.

In the years following the death of my parents, I felt like good things were meant for other people, but not for me. As I moved into adulthood on my own, I didn’t have the tools to process the way my childhood trauma was showing up in my life.

It was my own therapeutic journey that helped me reframe my story to reclaim my personal power. That’s why I founded Juno Counseling and Wellness: to help you understand the root of your struggles and make positive, lasting changes in a safe, judgment-free space.

I didn’t set out to become an expert in my field.
‍I set out to learn as much as possible—
‍and that road brought me here.

Now, I’ve built a team of professional therapists with varied specialties and one commonality: we all believe in the continued pursuit of knowledge.

And we’re here to share it with you.

Education

  • Ph.D. Counseling, Florida Atlantic University
  • M.S. Mental Health Counseling, Nova Southeastern University
  • B.A. English, Dartmouth College
  • Study Abroad Program, Universitat de Barcelona

Certifications

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor – MH14175 Florida
  • National Certified Counselor (NCC)
  • Qualified Supervisor for Registered Mental Health CounselingInterns (QS)
  • Board Certified TeleMental Health Provider (BC-TMH)
  • Certified Forensic Mental Health Evaluator (CFMHE)
  • Parenting Coordination
  • Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Court Mediator

Board Positions/Community Service

  • Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Vita Nova Inc.
  • Board Member, Pace Center for Girls of Palm Beach County
  • Former Board Member, People of Purpose
  • Women’s Leadership Council, Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce
  • Alumni, Leadership Palm Beach County, Class of 2023
  • Committee Member, Family Promise
  • Committee member and volunteer, Leadership Palm Beach County
  • Fundraising Committee, Vita Nova, Inc.

Professional Memberships

  • American Counseling Association
  • American Psychological Association – Teacher Affiliate
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness – Palm Beach County
  • Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling
  • Mental Health Counselors Association of Palm Beach County
  • Women's Chamber of Commerce - Palm Beach County
  • Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce

Specialty Trainings

  • Gottman Method Couples Therapy – Level II
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy
  • Somatic Experiencing
  • Cognitive Enhancement Therapy
  • Exposure Therapy
  • Family Court Mediation
  • Parenting Coordination
  • Forensic Mental Health Evaluation
  • EMDRIA-approved EMDR training

Publications

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

  • Sperry, L., & Binensztok, V. (2019, Summer). Adlerian Pattern-Focused Therapy in clinical practice. The Journal of Individual Psychology, 75(2), 171-182.
  • Sperry, L., & Binensztok, V. (2018, Fall). Adlerian Pattern-Focused Therapy: A treatment manual. The Journal of Individual Psychology, 74(3), 309-348.

MAGAZINE PUBLICATIONS

BOOK CHAPTERS

  • Binensztok, V., & Vastardis, T.E. (2019). Child abuse assessment strategy and inventories. In L. Sperry (Ed.), Family assessment: Contemporary and cutting-edge strategies (3rd ed.). Routledge.
  • Binensztok, V., Vastardis, T. E., & Gill, C. S. (2018). Spiritual and religions interventions in "Third Wave" cognitive behavioral therapies. In C. S. Gill & R. R. Freund, Spirituality and religion in counseling: Competency-based strategies for ethical practice (pp. 132-146). Routledge.
  • Stoupas, G., Binensztok, V., & Sperry, L. (2018). Understanding the spiritual domain through case conceptualization. In C. S. Gill & R. R. Freund, Spirituality and religion in counseling: Competency-based strategies for ethical practice (pp. 64-81). Routledge.

Features and Interviews

Counseling Positions

  • Private Practice, Juno Counseling and Wellness, Palm Beach Gardens, FL. 
  • Self-Care and Burnout Prevention for Peer Support Specialists, National Alliance on Mental Illness, West Palm Beach, FL. (2022)
  • Cognitive Enhancement Therapist for people with Schizophrenia, National Alliance on Mental Illness, West Palm Beach, FL.
  • Therapist, Palm Beach State College, College-Wide Counseling Center, Lake Worth, FL.
  • Mental Health Counseling Intern, Broward General Medical Center, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  Dependency Case Manager, Children’s Home Society, West Palm Beach, FL.

Research Experience

  • Doctoral Dissertation. The Influence of Reflective Practice on Counselor Trainees’ Case Conceptualization Competence. Quasi-experimental design., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Counselor Education, Boca Raton, FL. (2019)
  • Research Assistant, The Effects of Case Conceptualization on Practitioners’ View of Evidence Based Practice, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Counselor Education, Boca Raton, FL. (2016)
  • Research Assistant, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Psychology, W.A.V.E.S. Lab Infant Jealousy Study, Jupiter, FL (2015)

Counselor Supervision

  • Certified Master’s Student Clinical Training Site, The Family Institute, Northwestern University
  • Certified Master’s Student Clinical Training Site, Palm Beach Atlantic University
  • Co-conducted Master’s interviews, Florida Atlantic University
  • Proctor, Masters Exit Exams, Florida Atlantic University

Academic & Professional Journals

  • Reviewer, The American Journal of Family Therapy, Routledge.
  • Ad-hoc reviewer, The American Journal of Family Therapy, Routledge.

BOOKS

Multicultural Child Maltreatment Risk Assessment

Binensztok, V. (2021, July). Multicultural child maltreatment risk assessment: Effective evaluation for diverse populations. Routledge.

Ultra-Brief Cognitive Behavioral Interventions

Sperry, L., & Binensztok, V. (2019). Ultra-brief cognitive-behavioral interventions: A new practice model for mental health and integrated care. Routledge.

Learning and Practicing Adlerian Therapy

Sperry, L., & Binensztok, V. (2019). Learning and practicing Adlerian therapy. Cognella.

Awards and Recognition

  • Winner - Giraffe Award - Women's Chamber of Commerce Palm Beach
  • Best of Palm Beach County, Juno Counseling and Wellness, Finalist (2024)
  • Best of Florida, Juno Counseling and Wellness, Honorable Mention, Guide to Florida (2023)
  • Woman of the Year, Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, Nominee (2022)
  • 3-Minute Thesis, Florida Atlantic University, First place winner in preliminary heat (2016)

Academic Experience

Northwestern University

The Family Institute, the Center for Applied and Psychological and Family Studies,Clinical Mental Health Counseling, CACREP-accredited, Evanston, IL.Students: Masters’ level

Affiliate Faculty
Taught graduate courses in mental health counseling.
Courses Taught:

  • COUN 406 – Research Methods in Counseling
  • COUN 415 – Psychopathology in Counseling

St Bonaventure University

Department of Counselor Education
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, CACREP-accredited, St. Bonaventure, NY.
Students: Masters’ level

Adjunct Faculty
Taught graduate courses in mental health counseling.
Courses Taught:

  • CE-634 Interventions in Counseling
  • CE-640 Introduction to Addictions
  • CE-662 Residency I
  • CE-530 Theories and Techniques in Mental Health Counseling
  • CE-560 Testing and Assessment in Mental Health Counseling
  • CE-610 Practicum in Mental Health Counseling

Florida Atlantic University

Department of Counselor Education
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, CACREP-accredited, Boca Raton, FL.
Students: Masters’ and undergraduate level

Adjunct Faculty:
Taught graduate and undergraduate courses in mental health counseling.
Courses Taught:

  • MHS 6830 Internship in Mental Health Counseling
  • MHS 6401 Theories and Techniques in Counseling
  • MHS 6070 Psychopathology in Counseling
  • MHS 6710 Counseling Research and Evidence Based Practice
  • SDS 4410, Interpersonal Communication

Courses Created:

  • MHS6930 Advanced Counseling Interventions in Mental Health and Integrated Care Settings

Lynn University

Department of Counselor Education
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Boca Raton, FL.
Students: Masters’ level

Adjunct Faculty
Taught graduate courses in mental health counseling.
Courses Taught:

  • Human Sexuality in Counseling
  • Research and Assessment in Counseling

Palm Beach State College

Department of Social Sciences and Human Services
Psychology and Human Services, Lake Worth, FL.
Students: Associates and Bachelors level

Adjunct Faculty
Taught undergraduate courses in psychology and human services.
Courses Taught:

  • PSY 2012 General Psychology
  • HUS 1302 Counseling and Interviewing
  • DEP 2005 Human Growth and Development
  • HUS 2308 Psychotherapy: Theory and Practice

Courses Created:

  • HUS4352 Multicultural Perspectives in Mental Health
  • HUS 4700 Diagnosis and Treatment Planning in Human Services

Public Speaking

NATIONAL CONFERENCES

  • Binensztok, V., (2021, April) Caught between worlds: Improving treatment outcomes for adult children of immigrants. 60-minute clinical education session at American Counseling Association Conference, Virtual Conference.
  • Binensztok, V., (2021, April) Unlocking expertise: Reflection as a tool for mastering evidence-based practice. 30-minute education session at American Counseling Association Conference, Virtual Conference.
  • Binensztok, V., (2020, April; Conference cancelled) Unlocking expertise: Reflection as a tool for mastering evidence-based practice. 30-minute poster presentation session at American Counseling Association Conference, San Diego, CA.
  • Binensztok, V., Lipp, S., Sperry, L., Stoupas, G., (2018, April) Case Conceptualization  and Evidence-Based Practice: Attitudes in Training, 90-minute advanced presentation session presented at American Counseling Association Conference, Atlanta, GA.
  • Binensztok, V., (2016, September). Reflective Practice and Student Counselors’ Case Conceptualization Skills, Roundtable presentation presented at Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

REGIONAL AND STATE CONFERENCES

  • Binensztok, V., (2021, April). Working with families in the Florida family court system: Roles, boundaries, and limitations. Webinar to be presented at Florida Mental Health Counselors Association, Virtual Webinar.
  • Binensztok, V., (2021, February). Pain to paranoia: How the immigrant experience with trauma affects substance use treatment. 90-minute presentation session presented at Strengthening the Heartland, South Dakota State University, The Intersection of Diversity and Addiction, Virtual Conference.
  • Binensztok, V., (2016, November). Guided Reflective Practice and Student Counselors’ Case Conceptualization Skills, Presentation session presented at Florida Atlantic University College of Education Student Achievement Council 16th Annual Student Research Symposium, Boca Raton, FL.

INVITED SPEAKER

  • Binensztok, V., (2024, May). Burnout and self-care for nonprofit professionals. Association of Fundraising Professionals – Palm Beach County
  • Binensztok, V., (2024, March). Never good enough: A psychodynamic view of imposter syndrome and five ways you can tackle it. Palm Beach County Bar Association
  • Binensztok, V., (2024, February). Safety through action: DBT skills for trauma-based disorders. Mental Health Counselors Association of Palm Beach County
  • Binensztok, V., (2023, August). Small Business Seminar Session 5: Elevating your personal and professional brand. Panel discussion for Women in Business Council 2023 Mentorship Academy
  • Binensztok, V., (2023, May). Somatic Experiencing: The Body Remembers. Mental Health Counselor’s Association of Palm Beach
  • Binensztok, V., (2023, May). Investing in wellness: Incorporating self-care and coping skills for busy professionals. Palm Beach County Bar Association Bench Bar Conference
  • Binensztok, V., (2023, April). The power of storytelling – the art of Hugo Navarro. Panel discussion. The Box Gallery. West Palm Beach, FL
  • Binensztok, V., (2022, May). Invest in Yourself! Self-care for Success. Path to College. West Palm Beach, FL
  • Binensztok, V., (2021, May). Working with families in the Florida family court system: Roles, boundaries, and limitations. Webinar to be presented at National Board for Forensic Mental Health Evaluators, Virtual Webinar.
  • Binensztok, V., (2021, April). Self-care for academic and career success., Path to College, West Palm Beach, FL
  • Binensztok V., (2021, March). Blank slate - coast to coast: A panel discussion on mental health. Panel participant at Blank Slate by Domenic Esposito, The Box Gallery, West Palm Beach, FL.
  • Binensztok, V., (2021, February) Self-care for everyone: Practical tips for stress management and prevention, Palm Beach Young Professionals, Palm Beach, FL.
  • Binensztok, V., (2020, November) She Owns It! The Docuseries, Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County, Guest interview, West Palm Beach, FL
  • Binensztok, V., (2020, September) Combatting COVID-19 stress: Cultivating wellness during a pandemic, League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach, FL
  • Binensztok, V., (2020, July) Guided meditation, Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce – Women In Business, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
  • Binensztok, V., (2020, June) Self-care for everyone: Practical tips for stress management and prevention, Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce: Palm Beach, FL.
  • Binensztok, V., (2020, May) Self-care for everyone: Practical tips for stress management and prevention, National Alliance for Mental Illness Palm Beach County, Lake Worth, FL.
  • Binensztok, V., (2020, May) Welcome to the new office: Managing stress while working from home during COVID-19, Rotary Club of Wellington, Wellington, FL.
  • Binensztok, V., (2020, March) Maintaining the positive: How your outlook can help you weather any storm, Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
  • Binensztok, V., (2020, January) The Power of Self-Compassion: How Positive Self-Talk Transforms our Well-Being, National Alliance for Mental Illness Palm Beach County, Lake Worth, FL.
  • Binensztok, V., (2019, August) Understanding Trauma from a Modern Perspective; 60-minute presentation, Women’s Wellness Conference, Compass Community Center, Lake Worth, FL.
  • Binensztok, V., (2019, April) Mental Health Diversity: Meeting of the Minds; Moderator, Panel presentation, Palm Beach State College, Lake Worth, FL.
  • Binensztok, V., (2016, July). Getting to Know Yourself, Upward Bound Youth Program at Palm Beach State College, Lake Worth, FL.
  • Binensztok, V., (2016, March). Worst Case Scenario: Understanding Anxiety and Its Effect on Students, Faculty Development Day presentation at Palm Beach State College, Lake Worth, FL.
  • Binensztok, V., (2016, March). You Are Not Alone: A Student Panel on Depression & Anxiety, Panel Discussion Moderator at Palm Beach State College, Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
  • Binensztok, V., (2016, February). You Gotta Know Career Seminar: So You Wish to Pursue a Career in Psychology or Related Field?. Palm Beach State College, Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
  • Binensztok, V. (2016, February). What is Counseling? Understanding the Profession and Careers, Palm Beach State College, Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
  • Binensztok, V., (2015, November). Using Mindfulness to Manage Cravings, The Great American Smoke-Out – Smoking Cessation Event, Palm Beach State College Wellness Center, Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
  • Binensztok, V., (2015, October) Child Maltreatment: Risks, Implications, and Legal Issues; A Training for Helping Professionals, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, FL
  • Binensztok, V., (2015, March). A Call for Help. Can You Hear Me? – An Educator’s Guide to Student Mental Health Issues, Faculty Development Day, Palm Beach State College, Lake Worth, FL.
Multicultural Child Maltreatment Risk Assessment

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