Clinical Experience | Dr. Dragana Ilic

My Clinical Experience

I have worked in the community agencies, private practice, and educational settings as a therapist, a professor, and a supervisor. I am very passionate about my work and appreciative of all the experiences I had with my clients in the past. They made me a better therapist and have contributed to my growth as a person. I feel privileged for the opportunity to witness their story and to assist them on their journey of discovery and transformation.

My Qualifications

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist in the state of Florida, an AAMFT Supervisor and Clinical Fellow, a Florida Qualified Supervisor for MFT and MHC Interns, and a Board Certified-TeleMental Health Provider.

My Education

I hold a Ph.D. in Couples and Family Therapy and a M.S. in Applied Clinical Psychology. During my education, I had the opportunity to practice and learn many models of therapy from a psychoanalytic, behavioral, and cognitive ones, to a more systemic, brief, and postmodern approaches.

For over a decade, I have significant experience working with people who faced and struggled with the following issues:

Relationship dissatisfaction and conflict
Communication struggles
Lack of intimacy
Trust issues, jealousy, infidelity
Breakup, separation, divorce
Stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, anger, disappointment, unhappiness, hopelessness, guilt, blame, life dissatisfaction
Negative self-image and self-esteem
Substance abuse and dependence
Grief
Family issues
Pre-marital counseling
Remarriage & Stepfamilies
Life transitions
Immigrant transitions
Same sex relationships

My expertise is in systemic and postmodern therapy approaches. In addition, I have presented my research studies at the national and international conferences.

My Approach

Utilizing systemic perspective, particularly narrative therapy approach I work with individuals, coupes, and families who usually seek to improve their relationships, feel better, achieve their personal and professional goals, and find solutions to a wide range of concerns.

As a multilingual therapist, I have experience working with individuals from different cultures and backgrounds. My international experiences, such as being a former professional athlete and living in many different countries, have contributed to my awareness of and sensitivity to cultural differences and social justice issues. Being culturally humble and not imposing of my values and beliefs is important to me.

Narrative therapy is very respectful, non-blaming approach that centers people as experts on their lives. I believe that people have many skills, competencies, values, beliefs, and abilities to reduce the influence of the problems in their lives. We are social and interpretive beings, and we are active in construction of our stories and meaning. In therapy, new stories can be developed that are more preferred and that lead to desired future.

I usually ask many questions and by being curious I inspire people to also take a stance of curiosity about their lives. During our sessions, we will explore the stories you have about your life and relationships, their effects and meanings. Your voice is privileged and your values are respected in this process. You will be invited to reflect on your experiences and to take a stance how you prefer to live your life. People usually become more in touch with their skills and strengths relevant to addressing their concerns as well as with their hopes, dreams, aspirations, intentions, and values related to their preferred ways of living their lives. It is also not uncommon that they experience ''aha'' moments and feel more empowered and liberated.

As a systemic therapist, I prefer not to analyze behavior in terms of pathology, but instead, I believe that all behaviors and experiences can be understood if we explore the unique context in which they exist. I believe in a mutual responsibility for change and hold myself accountable for creating a context for such conditions and possibilities. If you need more information about my approach, please do not hesitate to ask. I would be happy to answer all your questions.

My Approach