Ellie Mental Health Provides Compassionate Care For Children, Adults & Couples 

(L.-r.) Ellie Mental Health of Wesley Chapel clinical director Dina Hargrave and therapists Engy Eskander & Chailee Snyder (photo below).

The New Year, usually celebrated as a time of hopefulness following the joy of the holiday season, also can be especially challenging for those coping with the loss of loved ones, financial hardships and other personal struggles. The clinicians at Ellie Mental Health, located on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel, recognize these unique emotional difficulties and provide accessible outpatient services to support individuals in emotional need during these times and beyond. The clinic encourages both therapists and clients to be their true selves throughout the therapeutic journey. 

“At Ellie Mental Health, the focus is on providing a comfortable, judgment-free environment where clients can be authentic and receive the care they need and deserve,” says clinical director Dina Hargrave. “We want both the clients and the therapists to feel they are in a safe space.” 

Ellie Mental Health is a franchise with more than 200 locations nationwide and 20 in Florida, including New Port Richey and Wesley Chapel. The Mendota Heights, MN-based company opened its first franchise in 2022. 

Dina is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in both Florida and Utah who has worked with children with significant behavioral concerns and their families for more than 10 years. She brings that experience to her role as the director and supervisor of the Wesley Chapel location of Ellie Mental Health. 

Originally from Georgia, Dina earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree and a Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Georgia in Athens. Her education continued at Utah State University, where she received advanced training as an Educational Specialist in Psychology (EdS). 

Having previously lived in Tampa, Dina feels a connection to the region and is passionate about making a difference here. 

“This opportunity was unique,” she explains. “I enjoy managing people and helping them grow to their full potential. It’s rewarding to see both the clinicians and clients thrive, so when this position became available, I quickly said ‘Yes.’” 

Ellie Mental Health offers a wide range of therapeutic counseling services to meet diverse mental health needs provided by two Registered Mental Health Counselor Interns (RMHCIs). An RMHCI is an individual who has completed requirements for becoming a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) but still needs to have supervised experience to meet the requirements for state licensure. 

Those requirements include a Master’s degree or higher in mental health counseling, a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised fieldwork and a minimum of 1,500 hours of face-to-face psychotherapy work under the supervision of a qualified LMHC with a minimum of 1,000 hours of that being direct supervision. 

RMHCIs must pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) and participate in continuing education. After fulfilling the internship requirements and passing the NCMHCE, an application for licensure as an LMHC in Florida can be submitted. 

At the Wesley Chapel office of Ellie Mental Health, RMHCI Rebekah “Chailee” Snyder received her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Psychology from the University of South Florida in Tampa and her Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a Trauma Certificate from Antioch University. Chailee works with children as young as age two. She also works with adults. 

Fellow RMHCI Engy Eskander received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from USF Tampa and her M.A. degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Engy focuses on clients ages 15 and older and she provides couples counseling, including services in Arabic. 

The Wesley Chapel office offers play therapy for children as young as age two, plus therapy for adolescents, adults, couples and families, including Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). The clinicians also work with people with autism and those suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. 

Also offered are Psychoeducation and Psychological Testing for kids, gender-affirming care, as well as faith-based counseling, which is available upon request. Dina says she currently is working on hiring more therapists so the available services can be expanded. 

The Right Fit For Your Care 

“We don’t offer a one-size-fits-all approach,” Dina emphasizes. “If a therapist isn’t the right fit for a particular client or lacks the necessary specialty, we can easily connect them with someone else, which ensures personalized care.” 

She adds, “Wesley Chapel was a natural choice for the clinic’s location. The area’s rapid growth and the rising demand for mental health services made it an ideal spot. And so far, we’ve received positive feedback from the community. People are glad we are here because there aren’t many options like us in this area.” 

Dina also has been communicating with the Pasco County School District and says she looks forward to working with the District’s schools in the near future. She says she hopes to be able to offer services not only to the school children but their families as well. 

She also says that having flexible hours available for clients and therapists is a feature that makes this Ellie Mental Health office stand out. If the clinician is willing to work during the hours requested by the patient, Dina says those hours will be approved. Once the sessions start, if the clinician is not sure where the problem lies, a psychological test can be used to help provide clarity in diagnosing and treating complex issues. 

The team also ensures a secure and confidential environment for clients. “All communication is HIPAA-protected,” Dina explains, “and even during training, we don’t use real names to maintain confidentiality.” 

Even though Ellie Mental Health Wesley Chapel only opened in September, the clinic has already seen several success stories. Dina says one client made significant progress in just three sessions, while another, after six sessions, left with renewed hope despite having to relocate. 

“These are the moments that remind us why we do this work,” Dina says. 

Ellie Mental Health accepts most insurance plans, including Medicare, and Dina says, “We are working to finalize our Medicaid contract to better serve children and people with disabilities.” 

Recognizing the importance of accessibility, Dina says the clinic also offers online therapy services. This allows clients to receive care from the comfort of their homes, breaking down barriers such as transportation issues or time constraints. 

But, Ellie Mental Health is more than just a clinic — it’s a place of understanding and acceptance. With its commitment to authenticity, diversity and personalized care, Ellie Mental Health is not just helping individuals but transforming the way the community views mental health. 

Ellie Mental Health (30792 S.R. 54) is open Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-6 p.m., with other hours available upon request. For more info or to schedule an appointment, visit EllieMentalHealth.com/locations/wesley-chapel-fl or call (813) 701-5250.

Cozy Research & Lifetime Family & Urgent Care To Begin Local Covid-19 Study

Dr. Jonathan Yousef (left) and Ryan DeWeese of Cozy Research will conduct a clinical trial out of Dr. Yousef’s Wesley Chapel office in the battle against Covid-19. (Photo: Courtesy of Ryan DeWeese)

Wesley Chapel will be helping with the fight against Covid-19, and you can help, too.

Bio-pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, with $486 million from the U.S government to accelerate its Covid-19 antibody therapy, known as AZD7442, will begin Phase-III clinical trials in various cities worldwide.

Cozy Research, LLC,  a research company founded in 2016 by Wesley Chapel resident Ryan DeWeese, has been contracted by AstraZeneca to help conduct one of its clinical studies of roughly 5,000 volunteers worldwide, including 100-200 people in the Wesley Chapel area.

“We’ve placed most of our other studies on hold just due to the importance of Covid treatment,” DeWeese says. “We’re dumping all our resources into this upcoming study.”

Cozy Research has three offices in Pasco County — one for cardiology in Zephyrhills with Dr. Binu Jacob, one for gastroenterology in Wesley Chapel with Dr. Saeed Ahmed and the Lifetime Family & Urgent Care office in Wesley Chapel of Dr. Jonathan Yousef.

Dr. Yousef’s office, located at 5801 Argerian Dr., off of S.R. 54, will be home to the AZD7442 clinical study.

“This is the biggest study we’ve done,” DeWeese says. “We haven’t seen anything like this (Covid) in 100 years, so it’s an all-hands-on-deck approach. This is groundbreaking stuff, and something that we’re ecstatic to be able to provide.”

Phase III trials are usually the last phase before seeking FDA approval.

If the trial is successful, AstraZeneca, which is based in Cambridge, UK, will supply 100,000 doses of the antibody therapy to the United States by the end of the year.

AZD7442 is a clone of antibodies, which are made by your immune system in response to infections. They stick to viruses and prevent them from infecting healthy cells. The antibodies used for engineering AZD7442 are derived from patients after they have recovered from being infected by the novel coronavirus, and mimic natural antibodies.

DeWeese said Cozy Research is looking for roughly 200 adults ages 18 and older to take part in the study. 

They need to find people who have never been infected with Covid-19 but are at high risk of exposure. The hope is that the antibodies can protect those at high risk of getting the disease due to their jobs — like teachers, healthcare workers, service industry workers and first responders — as well as those who are over the age of 60 who may not be able to tolerate a vaccine due to other medical conditions.

Participants will receive a one-time injection of the monoclonal antibodies, which should be effective for six months to a year, and will have to check back five times over the next year to see if the antibodies are still present.

“The hope of the study is that 90 percent of the people will never end up getting Covid,” DeWeese says.

Those taking part in the antibody study will not necessarily be protected from the virus. The injection of antibodies does not replace hand washing and mask wearing, DeWeese says. “You still need to exercise caution; this is just another layer of protection.”

Cozy Research will be pre-screening patients over the phone and will give priority based on medical need or risk factors. Appointments will be Tuesday-Friday, with some Saturday openings available.

Volunteers may receive compensation for their time and travel

The study was expected to begin in early November. For more info or to see if you qualify, email Ryan@cozyresearch.com or call (813) 922-2115.