The Episcopal Counseling Center

Dale D. "Dede" Eshleman, M.S. DaleE@ecc1021.com St. Cloud, Titusville, Cocoa, Maitland & Orlando Office Marriage & Family Therapist #1695

   Dede was first drawn to family counseling in 1990 when a member of the youth group she led was hospitalized for behavioral issues. After a successful 21 days of treatment the young person returned home where the same issues re-emerged. This pattern continued through four different hospitalizations until the teenager left home. "There must be other ways to work with teenagers and their families in crisis," Dede thought.

  Dede left full time youth ministry in 1995 to complete her Masters of Science in Marriage & Family Counseling at Stetson University in Deland, graduating in December of 1995. She joined the Episcopal Counseling Center in 1999.

  Since 1996, Dede has worked in community mental health, providing school and home based intervention for families dealing with serious illness, loss of loved ones, depression, trauma, behavioral issues and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. In addition Dede has worked with couples seeking to improve their relationships. Dede enjoys working with children with attachment and abuse issues, teaching parents the skills of play therapy to enhance family relationships, and working with teenagers individually as they transition to adulthood.

  Dede works with children, teenagers, couples and parents all within the context of their larger families and seeks the God-given creativity and resilience within each individual to empower the therapeutic process.

  Dede and her husband, Jamie, are members of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Maitland where they serve as assistant youth leaders. Dede enjoys being active in many youth ministry activities offered through The Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida. She likes snow skiing, going to the beach, bicycling, photography, volleyball, reading, eating ice-cream, go-cart racing, and spending time with family and friends.