Business Details
Your Trusted Partner for Family Counseling in Miami
First Step Family Counseling has dedicated itself to providing individualized, evidence-based psychological services to children, adults, and families since our founding. Our strength-based approach prioritizes compassion, understanding, and the belief that happiness is an achievable reality for all clients. Our team specializes in developmental assessments, play therapy, and trauma-focused treatment, addressing challenges such as posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and family systems dynamics. With expertise rooted in over two decades of academic and clinical experience, we offer parenting support, dyadic therapy, and co-parenting guidance tailored to the unique needs of each individual and family.Our founder, Dr. Melissa Argumosa, brings specialized training in infant mental health and a deep understanding of attachment and family relationships to every service we provide. We maintain strong partnerships with South Florida mental health providers to ensure comprehensive care and community-based referrals when needed. Our practice combines academic rigor with practical application, offering developmental screenings, classroom support consultations, and professional training for early childhood providers. We are committed to transparency, ethical practice, and empowering clients through personalized therapeutic interventions that foster resilience and emotional well-being.
Services
Developmental Assessments
Play Therapy
Individual Therapy
Dyadic Therapy
Family Therapy
Co-Parenting Support
Parenting Counseling
Trauma-Focused Treatment
Highlights and features
- We specialize in trauma-focused treatment for children and adults
- Our founder holds a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology
- We provide evidence-based play therapy for young children
- We offer specialized infant mental health services
- We maintain extensive partnerships with South Florida providers
Services
Developmental Assessments
Screening for developmental delays in children helps identify treatment needs and determine appropriate community services. Our assessments provide critical insights into cognitive, emotional, and social development patterns. Early identification enables targeted interventions that address specific challenges while building on individual strengths.
Play Therapy
Play-based interventions allow children to process trauma and stress through symbolic interactions. This therapeutic approach creates safe spaces for emotional expression without judgment. Our specialists use play therapy to address anxiety, behavioral issues, and social-emotional challenges in young clients.
Trauma-Focused Treatment
Specialized interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder in children and adults focus on processing traumatic experiences. Our evidence-based approach helps clients rebuild trust and develop coping strategies. Treatment addresses symptoms like aggression, social withdrawal, and developmental regression through structured therapeutic techniques.
Family Therapy
Structured sessions improve family communication patterns and resolve relationship conflicts. Our approach strengthens parent-child bonds while establishing healthy behavioral frameworks. Therapy addresses specific dynamics affecting family units during periods of transition or emotional distress.
Parenting Support
Guidance for parents managing postpartum depression, adoption adjustments, and discipline challenges. Our evidence-based approach establishes clear expectations that provide children with security and structure. Support includes practical strategies for fostering emotional development and behavioral regulation.
People
Dr. Melissa Argumosa
Founder & Clinical Director
Dr. Argumosa holds a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Florida International University. She specializes in infant mental health, trauma treatment, and family systems therapy. With over 15 years of clinical experience, she has developed community mental health programs and provided professional training across South Florida.
Questions
What age groups do you work with?
We provide services for infants, children, adolescents, and adults through specialized therapeutic approaches tailored to each developmental stage.
Do you treat trauma-related conditions?
Yes, our trauma-focused treatment addresses posttraumatic stress disorder in children and adults using evidence-based interventions that promote emotional recovery.
What parenting support options exist?
We offer counseling for postpartum depression, adoption adjustments, and behavior management challenges with practical strategies for establishing effective parenting frameworks.
How do you handle developmental concerns?
Our developmental assessments identify delays and create targeted treatment plans while connecting families with appropriate community resources for comprehensive care.
Can you help separated parents?
Yes, our co-parenting sessions focus on creating consistent environments for children through collaborative strategies that prioritize child well-being over parental conflict.
