Sunny is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a Certified Addiction Professional, and a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist. Sunny has received her PhD in Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University, her Master’s degree in counseling specialization in Marital, Couple, Family Counseling and Mental Health Counseling from Barry University, and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from San Diego State University. Sunny’s clinical experience includes working with the substance abuse population in residential settings and intensive outpatient settings providing individual, family, and couples therapy. Sunny's experience focuses on working with adults and adolescents with substance abuse disorders and mental health disorders. Sunny has experience working with Native Americans from the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Sunny also has experience working with severely emotionally disturbed children and children with disabilities.
P.A.R.C. Mag: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your education, what your dreams, and what were your aspirations before you became a doctor?
Dr. Sunny: "I was born in Armenia. I am Greek and Armenian. I moved to California when I was about nine years old. I was always interested in the mental health field since my family owns a business in that area. I have always enjoyed interacting with individuals who suffer from disabilities. I graduated from San Diego State University in 2008 majoring in psychology. I decided to move to Miami to pursue my education in counseling. I received my Master’s from Barry University from a dual program (mental health & marital, couples, family therapy) in 2010. After being out of school for about two months after receiving my Master’s, I decided that I wanted to learn more about my field, therefore, I decided to earn my doctorate from Nova Southeastern University focusing on Family Therapy. I graduated with my doctorate in 2015."
P.A.R.C. Mag: When did you decide to establish your own practice (Healing Hearts Therapy Center) and formulate Compassion Behavioral Health?
Dr. Sunny: "Once I received my License in Mental Health, I decided that I wanted to have my own practice and call it Healing Hearts Therapy Center, Inc. I wanted to be my own boss and reach out to individuals who were interested in receiving my services. As far as Compassion Behavioral Health, I wanted to provide quality services in a treatment center by training and building report with clinicians."
P.A.R.C. Mag: Can you tell us about your work as an addiction professional? When did you start working in that area of therapy?
Dr. Sunny: "I have been working in the addiction field since 2009. I started my internship in 2008 and started fully working with the substance abuse population after completing my internship. I specialize in alcohol, and substance use with co-occurring disorders in a treatment setting (intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization placement, outpatient, and residential level of treatment)."
P.A.R.C. Mag: We noticed in your online business profile that you worked with the Native Americans from the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Can you describe your work with them? Were there other programs at the time in place designed to help the indigenous people of the US?
Dr. Sunny: "I worked with the Seminole Tribe of Florida since 2013. I was working in a private treatment center called John’s Place which provided substance abuse and mental health treatment exclusively for the Seminole Tribe of Florida. After my chapter ended at John’s place, I wanted to pursue my private practice with the Seminole Tribe population. I also completed my dissertation for my doctorate on the Seminole Tribe of Florida. I love working with the Seminole tribe, it is a unique experience. There may be certain programs that provide services for the indigenous people, however, John’s place was exclusively for the Seminole Tribe of Florida."
By: KC Loesener