Graduate level Interns make Incredible Clinicians

My name is Abbey Rhys, I was born and raised in Jackson, Tennessee and have resided in Knoxville, Tennessee since 2017. I have my bachelor's degree in Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice from The University of Tennessee at Martin. I am currently enrolled in a graduate program for Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Grand Canyon University. My professional experience consists of direct residential care for juveniles (3+ years), crisis counseling in various mental health settings (2+ years), and behavioral therapy for children with special needs (2+ years). 

On a personal level, I enjoy spending time with my spouse and cats, playing video games, listening to music, and attempting to keep houseplants alive. I also enjoy various arts and craft activities and have recently picked up crocheting which has been a blast! 

I'm Elizabeth Genovise and I'm an intern at Wildflower Children's Counseling. My background is in teaching and Fine Arts (creative writing), and I have served as a mentor for fifteen years. I am completing my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2025, along with a Jungian Studies certificate from the CG Jung Institute in Chicago. I am MBTI (Myers Briggs Typology Index) certified, and have trained in sandtray therapy.  I believe in the absolute value of the individual, and I seek to help others live more fulfilling, authentic lives via self-exploration. My approach is client-centered with an added emphasis on body-mindfulness, and I believe in the healing power of art/creative writing therapy and sandplay. I believe that in the face of depression, anxiety, trauma, emotional dysregulation, and somatic illness, there is always a path to recovery and renewal. Children, just like adults, heal when they are heard; they require a protected space in which to freely explore their dreams, emotions, and needs. Nothing brings me more joy than to see a young person come into his or her own!

I grew up in Chicago, and attended college and graduate school in Michigan, Iowa, and Louisiana. I have lived in east Tennessee since 2010, where I enjoy hiking, walking, reading, and writing in my free time. I am a fiction writer, and in my stories I explore the nature of the human spirit and what it means to find wholeness in life.