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Biographies

Jacqueline Testa, NCC, LPC

Jackie had originally set out to be a teacher when she began attending CCSU as an undergraduate; however, that idea quickly changed and she completed her B.A. in Sociology. In the course of her undergraduate career, she decided that she wanted to further pursue her education and become a mental health counselor. Her primary goal in doing so was to work with children and adolescents to help them achieve their greatest potential by the time they became young adults. Jackie went on to attend the University of St. Joseph and completed her M.A. in Community Counseling. The following year, she began working for a small private practice with the opportunity to pursue her passion - working with children and adolescents.  Over the course of six and a half years she developed and grew her clinical skills, with a promotion to Assistant Clinical Director.  In 2017, Jackie took a leap to pursue her ultimate professional goal of opening a private practice, thus resulting in the creation Dahlia Counseling Services, LLC. She has experience working with children ages 4 and older, adolescents and adults. In private practice, she works with teens and adults with a variety of clinical needs. Jackie is a Licensed Professional Counselor in CT and is also a National Certified Counselor through the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Email Jackie at Jackie.DahliaCounseling@gmail.com

Cheryl Shepherd, LMHC, LPC, NCC

Cheryl was interested in psychology from the moment she took Psych 101 while still in high school. She went on to graduate with a B.A. in Psychology from SUNY At Albany. She continued her studies and received a M.S. in Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology from the University of New Haven. Cheryl’s professional journey took her in numerous directions, including conducting the polygraph, directing an after-school program and summer camp, supervising a residential program for girls, and working as a Paraprofessional at Suffield High School. It was while working as part of an in-home therapy clinical team, when she decided the best fit was a career working with others in a therapeutic environment. Cheryl went on to study Clinical Mental Health Counseling and received a M.S. from Bay Path University. Cheryl has experience working with children ages 4 and older, adolescents and adults. In private practice, she works with teens and adults with a variety of clinical needs. Cheryl is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in MA, a Licensed Professional Counselor in CT and SC, and is also a National Certified Counselor through the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Email Cheryl at Cheryl.DahliaCounseling@gmail.com

 

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