Meet Andrew

Board Certified & Licensed Mental Health Counselor

FL License # MH 14713

Dr. Andrew Z. Baker is a licensed mental health counselor, author, and drummer. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University with his master's degree in clinical mental health counseling in 2014 and received his doctoral degree in counseling in December 2017. In that time, Andrew has distinguished himself as a leading counselor in the fields of substance abuse and community mental health counseling. He has worked in private practice and substance abuse counseling environments since his time as a student at the prestigious Faulk Center for Counseling in Boca Raton. Andrew is keenly interested in understanding what makes therapy effective, and has applied this to his own practice. His dissertation, a mathematical analysis of the therapeutic relationship, compared different styles of therapy amongst master practitioners in order to explore common factors in psychotherapy. Andrew is also interested in understanding the way that stories and personal narratives shape our experiences, which he brings into his clinical work with clients. Additionally, Andrew has conducted research exploring the healing properties of drumming and rhythm in group therapy.

My Approach

I treat each client uniquely, and focus on building non-judgmental and encouraging relationships. My counseling is holistic and strength-based; as such, I work to help clients more fully understand and accept themselves, as well as others. My primary counseling approaches (Adlerian and Narrative Therapy) are geared towards improving interpersonal relationships, building social connection, and shifting style of life patterns that often impede recovery. This type of therapy harnesses your strengths to help you deal with life's difficulties and meet your goals. I'm also an integrative clinician, meaning that I use interventions from CBT (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy), Existential, Acceptance and Commitment, Mindfulness-based, and Dialectical Behavior Therapies based on your needs and personality.

My counseling philosophy is very simple: life is often difficult, and sometimes people get stuck. I don't view people as “sick” or “broken.” Although life presents us all with challenges, there is much more to be hopeful about, particularly with the right support.