Introducing Our 2019-2020 Interns

Introducing Our 2019-2020 Interns

In follow up to our recent post describing the intern program at Vital Sources, which allows us to offer quality therapy services at a lower rate to those who qualify, we’d like to introduce you to our three newest interns:

Fr. Bryan Duggan

It is so easy today to become lost… to feel overwhelmed… to feel alone. If you are going through a season of suffering, indecision, or confusion, it is helpful to have someone to talk to who is non-judgmental, accepting and encouraging. Having an objective listener to come alongside you in your struggle can reduce the painful feeling of being alone and stuck in your difficulties. My focus is to help you find your way forward to become more authentically and confidently yourself in the midst of your life’s circumstances.

Fr. Bryan comes to Vital Sources with 3 years of clinical experience and is qualified by an undergraduate and graduate degrees in Philosophy and Theology from the Seminary of Christ the King in Canada, and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Clinical Psychology at Divine Mercy University in Virginia. He is passionate about meeting people where they are and accompanying them through suffering towards freedom and wholeness. You will find him to be compassionate, warm and insightful. He has worked in a variety of settings with men and women in individual, couples and group modalities. Fr. Bryan has a background working with seminarians and young adults discerning religious life and marriage and has a particular interest in working with this age group at times of transition and discernment. Additionally, he is conducting ongoing research and training in integrating the knowledge and skills of psychology with the spiritual aspect of our lives.

During the course of his graduate studies Fr. Bryan has lived and worked in the Northern Virginia region but is originally from the Pacific Northwest. He loves the outdoors and enjoys retreating to nature to be restored in soul and body. He enjoys classical literature and appreciates those authors with insight into humanity who present psychologically rich dimensions in their literary characters.

Sabrina Hernandez

Every time you tear a leaf off a calendar, you present a new place for new ideas and new progress. -Charles Kettering

Life can feel challenging, lonely, confusing and overwhelming at times. Yet, seeking help for a personal problem can be difficult. If you are struggling you can create the opportunity to feel better. My goal is to create a safe space where healing can begin. Through the gift of therapy, I aim to encourage and empower you to enjoy life and your full potential in the hopes of leading you to greater personal discovery of inner resources and perspectives that will lead to contentedness and healthier relationships. I invite you to allow me to help you build awareness, compassion, understanding, respect, empathy, and acceptance toward yourself and others.

Sabrina is in her final year and second clinical placement experience of the Hood College clinical mental health counseling graduate program. Previous clinical experience providing psychotherapy to a diverse clientele of individuals has included working with those experiencing anxiety, depression, intense family conflict, and life transitions, as well as facilitating a women’s support group. Practicing from a person-centered theoretical framework, Sabrina aims to help her clients discover their ability to function at their best– in life and in relationships through warmth, compassion, encouragement, and collaboration. Sabrina is passionate about helping individuals identify the source of their struggles and make life-changing choices. She also has a special interest in helping clients have more loving and connected families by cultivating fulfilling relationships and intimacy. Her work with couples addresses concerns of general relationship issues, communication problems, and moving past affairs and infidelity. Major life transitions including marriage, adjusting to parenthood and co-parenting after divorce or separation are areas of focus in her family work.

Originally from New York, Sabrina moved to Washington, DC to attend Howard University where she obtained her bachelor of arts degree in interior design. After working in the design field, Sabrina changed her focus and began working with children. Soon after getting married, Sabrina and her husband moved to Frederick where they started their family. Sabrina, her husband and their two sons have called Frederick home for the last 7 years. Sabrina enjoyed her role as a stay-at-home mother before enrolling in graduate school to pursue her Master’s degree in counseling, feeling called to the work of helping others improve their lives and relationships. Sabrina enjoys reading, crafting, cooking, baking, traveling and spending time with family and friends. Sabrina intends to pursue licensure as a marriage and family therapist.

Jennifer Lanuzga

Having worked with persons of all ages in my clinical work, I have come to appreciate the uniqueness of each individual within the context of a specific lived history. Despite individual differences, however, to be human is to long for relationship, wholeness, and integration, to be free, and to be loved. As a psychotherapist, I feel it a privilege to walk with one who suffers towards this wholeness, hope, and healing. I have also witnessed the power of the therapeutic relationship in this journey, which in and of itself can be healing. It is my hope that those I encounter professionally experience this in our work together.

As a fourth-year doctoral student in the Psy.D. Program at The Institute for the Psychological Sciences (Divine Mercy University) in Sterling, Virginia, Jennifer enjoys continuing work as an intern while completing her academic studies in clinical psychology this year. She graduated with her Masters in Clinical Psychology in May of 2019 and is working to complete her dissertation this year. Jennifer is open to working with people of all ages and with a variety of mental health issues. Her specific training and professional development interests include focusing on relationships and interpersonal styles, working with clients to heal from trauma, Child-Centered Play Therapy, Relationship Enhancement Therapy (couples & dyads), family therapy, integrating spirituality and faith in treatment, and examining the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Jennifer has also been trained in cognitive and personality assessment, which she continues at Vital Sources Psychological Services.

Jennifer currently lives in Frederick, Maryland, where she finds enjoyment in the natural beauty of her surroundings and the faith community she has joined. She is originally from Tampa, Florida but grew up both stateside and overseas in a military family. Jennifer attributes her love for cultures and languages in part to her international upbringing. For several years in the past, she was privileged to serve in communities across the United States and in Cuba as a teacher, catechist, and missionary. Jennifer also finds joy in music, artistic creation, nature, and gardening.

We welcome Fr. Bryan, Sabrina, and Jennifer into the Vital Sources community. To inquire about current openings, please call us at 301-620-8700 and ask to speak with the Intake Coordinator.