Professional Disclosure Statement

Penny L. Phares, MSN, ARNP, CS, is licensed for advanced practice in nursing in the State of Florida as a Clinical Specialist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing. Educated at Michigan State University and the Medical College of Virginia, she has been trained in individual and group therapy practice and family therapy, is a Registered Play Therapist, and has certification in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing.

She has had supervised experience and training in play therapy, play groups, and adolescent group counseling. She is a trainer for caregivers of children with special needs and provides workshops on behavior and family function. As a member of the Board of Directors of the Isaiah Foundation, she is instrumental in perpetuating the mission of the organization to provide for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the child.

Professional affiliations include the American Association of Christian Counselors, the Association of Play Therapy, Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honorary and the Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing.

A personal message from Penny Phares:

My focus in counseling begins as an advocate for my clients. As a nurse, I often refer to my clients as patients, because that is a term which defines my own role. A nurse is one who focuses on the human response to disease or traumatic circumstance. Because of nursing’s knowledge base in child development, the physiological human stress response, and human behavior, I do not consider myself an expert who can direct or advise but rather as a trained counselor who may facilitate change.

As a Christian counselor, I also believe that people are made up of body, soul and spirit. As such, I keep in mind issues of physiology, psychology and spirituality. It is my desire to provide qualified professional psychotherapy as well as sound Biblical counsel, and I will discuss spiritual matters when appropriate, but also with full knowledge and consent of my patient.

I look forward to providing my professional counseling services. As a Christian and as a nurse, I enter each counseling relationship prayerfully and professionally. Each client signs a statement that indicates he/she has read and understands my position and that any questions regarding the direction of my counseling have been answered satisfactorily. The client may receive a copy of this statement. My signature indicates that I verify the accuracy of this statement and that I commit to upholding its specifications.

The phone number and address to verify licensing is as follows:

Department of Health
Division of Medical Quality Assurance
Client Services
2020 Capital Circle SE, BIN #C01
Tallahassee, Fl 32399-3251

(850) 414-7209