Mental Health & Wellness

Our clinician’s approach to mental health care is rooted in a client-centric philosophy, where the student athlete’s overall wellbeing is prioritized. We are committed to addressing the unique personal, academic, and athletic challenges faced by student athletes and will collaborate to create a plan that best fits their needs and goals. Confidentiality is strictly upheld throughout the therapeutic process, creating a safe and trusting environment where athletes feel comfortable expressing themselves and seeking support.

Mental Health Clinicians

Alvin Butler

LMHC

A graduate of the University of Florida and a Gainesville native, I am a former UF defensive back (1972-1974). I am presently the director of a private counseling company (The ITM Group) with offices located in 18 Northcentral Florida locations from Lake City to Longwood. My experience includes working with a variety of different presenting problems including substance abuse, psycho-sexual disorders, anger management, and general mental health issues. I have 20 years of experience working for state-run inpatient mental health facilities. I have a MS in Counseling Psychology, in addition to, a MS in Criminal Justice. I have worked for several years in the state penal system, and I have been a professional counselor in the local community for more than 25 years. I have worked with athletes at the high school and collegiate level. I initially began working with the University of Florida athletes approximately 10 years ago, when individual clients were referred directly through the Athletic Association. I primarily use a cognitive-behavioral approach to counseling. I have experience with both group services and individual problems including relationship difficulties (family or partner), excessive emotions (anger, anxiety, etc.), and other general counseling areas.

Dwain Allen

LMHC

I look forward to using 25 years of counseling experience to help others through the life challenges they face. I've had the opportunity to work with professionals, groups, individuals, married couples and student athletes at the University of Florida over the last 14 years. I have also had the pleasure of working with professional athletes in the MLB, NBA, NFL, and U.S. and International Olympic teams. Additionally, I enjoy culture and team building through group and individual development.

I have worked with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues treating patients who have struggled with stress, anxiety, substance abuse, relationship problems, career issues and depression among others. I have had the pleasure of working with, and learning from, individuals from diverse religious, racial, and ethnic backgrounds across all age groups. Within a supportive atmosphere, we will work together to identify what you’re struggling with and develop a personalized treatment plan. My goal in our sessions together is to foster revelations, practice refinement, and pursue resilience to help promote a lasting cognitive, behavioral, and emotional change.

I use various modes of treatment including CBT, Insight Oriented Therapy, Spirituality and Meditation. I enjoy working towards mental wellness using eclectic approaches that are unique to the individual and therapeutic relationship. I am also experienced with using family structure and system(s) approaches and enjoy psychoeducation and group/team dynamics.

As for hobbies, I enjoy family time, horticulture, wood working, connecting with nature, cooking and all things creative!

Kathleen Joseph

LMHC

Kathleen Joseph is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in private practice in Gainesville, FL. Kathleen was trained at the University of Florida where she received her M.Ed/Ed.S in Mental Health Counseling with an additional certification from the University of Florida Center for Spirituality and Health in 2015.

Using her experience as a Black Woman and training at the intersection of race and sex, Kathleen creates a safe space for women to discuss lived experiences authentically in therapy.

In counseling, Kathleen utilizes a blend of talk therapy as well as body based (also called somatic) modalities aimed at reducing the symptoms that result from ongoing stress conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder. Kathleen has found that these somatic modalities aid clients who have endured trauma to function with greater resilience and ease.

Kathleen is passionate about addressing issues affecting traditionally marginalized populations (e.g. historically oppressed racial/ethnic groups, members of the LGBTQ community, etc.) in the counseling context, and finds deep meaning from this work.

Before her current specialization in trauma healing, Kathleen served as mental health counselor to the 21 varsity teams at the University of Florida from 2015 – 2020. Kathleen also has experience working at various social service/community-based agencies, including the Partnership for Strong Families, Meridian Behavioral Health Care, and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.

Kathleen's civic and community involvement includes co-creating the BrainPower Program - a mental health program designed to serve the young women and their families - at Girls Place Inc. Currently, Kathleen serves on the Board of the Education Foundation of Alachua County, whose mission is to support teachers through grants and professional development and students through Senior Scholarships and through the Take Stock in Children mentoring program.

Outside of her professional and community engagements, Kathleen enjoys spending time with family and friends, being active, and creating art.

Matt Seitz

PhD

Dr. Matt Seitz is a licensed psychologist and two-time Gator graduate. He runs a private therapy and assessment practice in town and contracts with UF’s Athletic Association. He has worked with athletes at all levels, including high school, college, professional and Olympic athletes. Dr. Seitz takes a solution-focused and cognitive-behavioral approach to help clients with anxiety, depression, panic attacks, relationship problems, addiction, identity issues, and career questions. He is also a sport psychologist and works with athletes in developing various mental skills to achieve optimal performance. Dr. Seitz believes that being an emotionally and mentally healthy athlete can improve an athlete both outside of and during performance. His goal is to provide a client-centered and warm counseling environment, including collaborating and setting goals with each individual athlete to tailor counseling sessions to fit their unique needs. If you would like to read more about Dr. Seitz, you can visit his website at www.drmattseitz.com.

Meggen Sixbey

PHD, LMHC, LMFT

Dr. Meggen Sixbey is a licensed mental health counselor with more than 20 years of experience working with college students. She received her doctorate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Department of Counselor Education at the University of Florida with a specialization in crisis intervention and suicide prevention. She worked with the University of Florida Counseling and Wellness Center (CWC) for 16 years, providing many services, including individual and couple’s counseling. She frequently works with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, grief and loss, sexual assault, childhood abuse, relationship concerns, as well as many other things. Her approach to therapy focuses on how individual’s identities, families, and other internal and external resources help get them through difficult times, and how to make shifts in places they are getting stuck. When not working, Dr. Sixbey enjoys being involved with her three daughter’s sports activities and being active in nature doing things such as hiking, paddle boarding, and scuba diving.

Nicole Karcinski

DNP, PMHNP-BC

Dr. Nicole Karcinski has been the Director of Mental Health for UF’s Athletic Association (UAA) since January 2024. She is a board certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner who earned a bachelor’s & doctorate degree from the University of Florida and a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC). Her 20+ years of experience providing psychiatric assessment, medication management, and therapy spans various agency settings, including inpatient, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient & outpatient practice.

Prior to joining the UAA, Dr. Karcinski worked at UF’s Florida Recovery Center, UNC’s Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders, a private neuropsychiatric practice in Chapel Hill, NC and at Student Health Psychiatry on UF’s campus. Throughout her career she has provided mental health care to high school, collegiate, professional & Olympic athletes.

Dr. Karcinski frequently assists people through their experiences of anxiety, depression, childhood trauma/abuse, disordered eating and athletic performance concerns. While she typically utilizes a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Psychodynamic therapy & Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dr. Karcinski finds it essential that she and the client collaborate to ensure each individual’s mental health goals are met.

Dr. Karcinski’s priority in developing a therapeutic connection is to create an emotionally safe and confidential environment where clients can feel comfortable revealing their authentic selves. She strives to be affirming of sexual & gender minority individuals and prioritizes trauma informed and culturally sensitive care.

Outside of work Dr. Karcinski enjoys being active outdoors with her husband and 2 children and reading a good book in her hammock.

Tatiana Edouard

LMHC

Tatiana is a licensed mental health counselor who earned her Master’s and Specialist degrees from the University of Florida. Tatiana has been working as a mental health therapist for 5 years now. A substantial amount of her clinical work is in helping young adults navigate through shame, trauma, identity work, anxiety, grief, depression, LGBTQ+ related issues, racial oppression, and relationships. Tatiana primarily takes a humanistic approach in her therapy and often integrates the works of Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), Narrative, and somatic-based practices. Tatiana holds a warm, energetic and compassionate presence in her sessions. Tatiana believes her job as a therapist is to walk alongside her clients, and to help create a space for them to heal, reconnect to themselves, and grow. When Tatiana is not working with athletes, she enjoys running on trails, reading, and listening to music!