Our Story
Despina Mitchell M.S, LMFT has been treating patients for over a decade in the Rochester community. Throughout her years working with individuals, couples, and families, she has had the opportunity to practice in multiple clinic and community based settings before starting her private practice.
In 2006 Despina graduated from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry where she began treating patients at Strong Family Therapy Services, located within University of Rochester Medical Center. She completed her training at St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center where in addition to providing therapy, she co-facilitated a series of groups focusing on improving the lives and self-images of women. These groups expanded outside the center to Sojourner House for Women as well as Wilson Commencement Park. In 2006 she began working as a primary therapist at Unity Health System’s Home Based Crisis Intervention Program providing community based therapeutic intervention to children and families in crisis.
Her approach to treatment draws from a systemic perspective focusing on individuals, couples, and families in the context of a larger system. She is a strength based therapist who believes that anything is possible when individuals and couples are willing to work. The therapeutic process is a vulnerable and sometimes scary endeavor, which can feel complex at times. Through this endeavor it is important for patients to be “met where they are at” before moving forward. She views her patients as the experts in their lives and focuses treatment on helping them recognize what positive change “looks like” for them and identifying how she can work together with them to make that change.
Though her specialty is working with families and couples in a marriage or committed relationship, she also enjoys working with individuals. Whether its dealing with depression, improving communication, conflict resolution, anxiety, mood disorders or processing trauma to name a few, she will work together with you to meet your goals in a safe and comfortable environment free of judgment.
Despina is a Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. She is certified in medical family therapy and currently serves as an advisory council member for Bryant & Stratton College OTA program as the interdisciplinary content expert in mental health.