Illumino Counseling, LLC was founded by Sofia Neville, LCPC, LMHC, to provide faith-based mental health care that integrates Catholic and Christian values. The name is inspired by St. Thomas Aquinas’s idea that “it is better to illuminate than just shine.” To shine is to emit one’s own light; to illuminate is to reflect light so that others may see. As a Catholic company, we believe that Christ is the ultimate healer, and so we aim to reflect God’s healing light through the therapeutic process. Pain and disconnection can dim our ability to reflect light. Isolation can make our own inner light feel faint. At Illumino, we offer a holistic approach to counseling, combining evidence-based practices with spiritual insight, to help you reconnect, heal, and grow.
To provide holistic mental health services rooted in the Catholic faith, that can in turn allow the individual to bring light to others.
We understand belonging as a sense of security in relationships with others, which is rooted in knowing that we have been made in the image and likeness of God. Belonging allows for connection and collaboration, which foster our own healing and allow us to touch the lives of others in the process.
We regard hope as the desire for healing and confidence in the ability to receive it. This is done through trust and active participation in God’s plan for us; hope leads to living wholeheartedly. As St. Catherine of Siena said, “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.”
We believe that, as Aristotle discusses regarding virtue, balance is key for flourishing. Balance requires mindful and habitual decision making to develop a sustainable rhythm in the different dimensions of life. The byproduct of this rhythm is a state of wellbeing and intrapersonal peace.
I graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville with a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with a concentration in Crisis and Trauma, in 2021. I have been practicing since 2020.
I am Catholic and believe that each person has been endowed with inherent dignity and worth by God. This belief is foundational to how I work with my clients - I strive to receive every client with the adopting love of Christ.
I love the outdoors and enjoy hiking, fishing, ATVing, and traveling. I also love to read, draw, and paint. A few of my favorite books are A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Count of Monte Cristo, Daring Greatly, and Man’s Search for Meaning.
Sofia is able to meet with clients living in Maryland and Florida. Sofia's Maryland license number is LC13995. Sofia's Florida license number is MH25434.
Sofia is a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist through Evergreen Certifications. Sofia's credential ID is 955743.
Matthew 5:15
Kensington, Maryland
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