About Denise Mote

Hi! My name is Denise, and I was born a Navy brat, but mostly refer to Maryland as home. I did the latter part of my growing up in North Carolina, where I also completed my undergraduate studies. I ventured down to Florida to pursue my career and graduate studies, and lived there for 15 years. I've lived most of my life on the East Coast but decided it was time for a change, so I'm now out West enjoying the big city life in Seattle. I still enjoy coming back to Florida to visit friends and get to stay connected with clients virtually. In my free time I enjoy interior decorating, being with friends and family, traveling and new adventures, and I am always down for a good Rom-Com and Friends re-runs!

I didn't always know that I would end up in the Social Work field, but I always knew I had a passion and heart for helping others. After several internships and a few job experiences, I learned a lot about people, and each experience led me to my ultimate goal of becoming a Clinical Social Worker. I believe in people's ability to be resilient to make lasting and meaningful changes in their lives. I enjoy supporting, mentoring, empowering and guiding others when they find themselves in need.

Education, Experience, and Approach

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Addictions Professional in the state of Florida. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from East Carolina University and my Master’s Degree in Social Work from The University of South Florida. I began my work in the social work field in 2007 and have experience in behavioral health treatment settings, medical social work, crisis intervention and psychiatric settings, macro-level social work, and teaching graduate level social work courses. I am also a qualified supervisor for postgraduate students working towards licensure. My goal in therapy is to assist others when life feels unbalanced and overwhelming. My style is collaborative and practical, and works from a strengths-based perspective. I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy in my counseling approach, and have specialized a lot of my work in the field of addiction and substance abuse. I also work with adolescents and adults who may be facing challenges with trauma, co-dependency, relationships, anxiety, stress, depression, and anger. If you feel like I'd be a good fit for your needs in therapy, I'd be glad to support and assist you as you navigate and work towards your goals.