Geron approaches the counseling process from a primarily existential perspective. He believes that every person carries within them their perfect self. He realizes that a person’s perfect self is often clouded over with the pain, fear, and tragedy that can accompany a life lived in a hectic and fast paced world. His goal is to walk with and gently guide his clients down a path of self-discovery that will bring them into full view and realization of their own worth, essence, and purpose. Geron believes that it is only in the discovery of our own uniqueness that we can overpower the pain and tragedy in life and even become empowered by it. For Geron, life is the ultimate journey that should be taken with hungry minds, open eyes and hands raised in awe.

Certifications:

National Certified Counselor
EMDR Certified Therapist
Registered Play Therapist
Registered Play Therapist Supervisor
Certified Hypnotherapist
Certified Forensic Mental Health Evaluator
State of Florida Qualified Supervisor

Primary Treatment Approaches:

· Existential Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychoanalysis, Gestalt Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Systems, Experiential Therapy,Group Dynamics, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Client Centered Therapy
Providing treatment for the following needs
Abandonment, Abuse, Anxiety, Age Related Issues, Addictions, Anger Management,Career Development, Childhood Issues, Depression, Divorce Recovery, Grief/Bereavement, Guilt Remediation, Life Coaching, Marriage & Family, Premarital Counsel, Personality Issues, Phobias, Self-Image, Spirituality, Sexuality, Stress, Trauma & Crisis Intervention, Parenting.

Speciality Therapeutic Areas:

Geron's particular areas of special training & focus are in depth psychology, existential issues, anxiety, hypnosis, play therapy, brain function, trauma/crisis, the integration of theology and psychology to achieve spiritual and emotional wholeness, working with persons in ministry, and addressing issues of religious trauma. Geron is also trained in equine assisted psychotherapy.

Advanced Christian Counseling Qualifications:

Geron holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (1984) with emphasis in theology, psychology, philosophy, and biblical studies from Trevecca Nazarene University, a Christian university, in Nashville Tennessee. Trevecca Nazarene University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Trevecca is one of the most respected Christian liberal arts institutions in the Southeast offering bachelors, master’s and doctoral degrees in a variety of disciplines.

Geron also holds a Master of Divinity degree, with emphasis in systematic theology and biblical studies, graduating with a 3.389 GPA. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Nazarene Theological Seminary, Kansas City Missouri in 1987. Nazarene Theological Seminary is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and stands alongside institutions like Fuller Theological Seminary, Dallas Theological Seminary, Asbury Seminary, and Wheaton College in historical and academic integrity.

Geron also holds a Master of Science degree in counseling psychology with special emphasis in play therapy, from Palm Beach Atlantic University, graduating in 2011 with a 4.0 GPA. . Palm Beach Atlantic University is a decidedly Christian University offering bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in dozens of fields and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Additionally, Geron has also accumulated almost 400 hours of state of Florida approved continuing education units in several clinical areas including, hypnotherapy, guided imagery, play therapy, personality disorders, autism spectrum disorders, Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing, and several other areas of clinical significance. He has also done significant independent reading, research, and lecturing in the area of brain structure and functioning.

Geron was originally ordained in 1989 by the International Churches of the Nazarene. Currently he is recognized as an ordained minister by Hearthouse Ministeries. He is also currently credentialed as a State of Florida Registered Mental Health Counseling Intern and has to date surpassed the half way mark in meeting the state requirements for the hours needed to qualify for full licensure as a State of Florida licensed mental health counselor.

As far as ministry experience, Geron has 22 years of full time pastoral service in four churches in the Southeastern United States serving as senior pastor. He also has 2 years serving part-time as a co-pastor, teacher and special speaker. As far as counseling experience, Geron began his career as a pastoral counselor in 1987. In this role he provided spiritual, family, relationship, grief, life guidance, crisis management, and addictions counsel extensively throughout his pastoral career. Additionally, he has served now for over five years as a full-time mental health counselor serving Central Florida Psychological Consultants as a staff counselor and River Counseling Center/Milestone Counseling as founder, director, and therapist. Geron proudly practices Christian counseling from a decidedly integrative perspective.

Geron is currently professionally accountable to The State of Florida, The American Mental Health Counselors Association, The Play Therapy Association, The American Psychological Association, and the EMDR International Association. He carries five million dollars in professional liability insurance and is endorsed by Psychology Today Magazine as an accredited professional mental health provider.

Commonly Used Interventions:
Psychoeducation, Bibliotherapy, Relaxation Training, Hypnosis, Guided Imagery, Play Therapy, Music and Art Therapy, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Role Play, EMDR, Formal Assessments and evaluations.
Play Therapy Focus

As a therapist, Geron is definitely in touch with his inner child. He takes this comfort in a child's world into the therapeutic relationship to assist children of all ages, face their challenges, fears, and their future in an environment that is fun, safe, and nurturing. His unique understanding of a child’s perspective quickly endears him to children young or old.

“Children's games are hardly games. Children are never more serious than when they play.“

Montaigne, Essays

Additional Training:

Eriksonian Hypnosis, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Play Therapy, Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder, Brain Functioning, EMDR
Public Speaking and Presentation Services

Geron offers a wide variety of consultation, mentoring and public speaking services to bring a rich history of experience to those interested in expanding their learning base in either a one on one basis or group format.

Geron’s years of advisory, business management, and public speaking skills give him the ability to present common sense approaches on a variety of issues, to individuals, small groups, or large audiences.
Geron is available for presentations to address the following issues:

Integrating Spirituality and Mental Health, Stress Management, Ministry Challenges, Self Discovery, Burnout Prevention, Life Management Skills, Relationship Reconstruction, Trauma Recovery, Surviving Grief, Discovering the Deep Self, Children & the Inner Child, Reigniting Marital Sexuality, Parenting, Domestic Violence (prevention/recovery)

Member:

Pi Tau Chi- National Honor Society in Religion

Psy Chi- National Honor Society in Psychology

CAPS- Christian & Psychological Studies

FAPT- Florida Association for Play Therapy

LSSSN- Lake Sumter Shared Services Network

LSGN- Lake Sumter Grantsmanship Network

Lake Sumter Trauma Informed Care Initiative

EMDR International Association

American Mental Health Counselors Association

Florida Mental Health Counselors Association

National Association for Play Therapy