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Avril Lindsay Dennis, LCSW

Avril Lindsay Dennis, LCSW, has been a practicing Licensed Clinical Social Worker for over twenty-five years. After earning her graduate degree from Fordham University, she pursued postgraduate training, including a certificate in Interpersonal Trauma. This became a passionate area of specialty for her, which also includes understanding the needs of individuals with substance use disorders & providing mental health support for those in twelve-step programs.

Currently licensed & practicing in New York, North Carolina, Georgia & Florida, Avril believes in a person-centered approach to treatment. She understands that life presents its challenges—such as divorce, caring for aging parents, medical issues, marriage, or raising teenagers—& that there is no "one size fits all" solution. She is guided by the social work principle of people helping people & fostering important connections.

Over her career, Avril has specialized in treating & supervising the care of children & adolescents with trauma & psychiatric illnesses within child welfare, juvenile justice, & mental health settings. She has served in various roles, including direct support professional, case manager, & therapist, before moving into operations, program administration, & quality & risk management. Being passionate about continuing the legacy of quality clinical work, Avril continues to enjoy providing supervision to the next generation of clinicians.

Additionally, Avril provides consulting services to programs seeking to streamline operations, policies, & overall services within child welfare systems. She has spearheaded program startups & licensing transitions, with a focus on exceeding accreditation & policy requirements. Her expertise includes leading teams through Council on Accreditation & Joint Commission accreditation cycles, demonstrating her deep knowledge of standards & her keen awareness of risk management.

Avril has also served on professional boards & oversight organizations. She has been a COA peer reviewer and team leader since 2012. Her collaborations include publications & presentations on creative treatment options for youth, such as teaching a course on community care for NGOs in Baghdad, Iraq, & a specialization in animal-assisted therapies. She has collaborated with two service dog organizations over the years, taught & presented on the topic & trained & worked with several of her own therapy dogs. She and her current therapy dog, Eli, continue to volunteer in various programs.

In 2016, after a successful career in New York City, she followed her spouse and relocated to Central Florida to continue her public service work.

In her spare time, Avril enjoys spending time with her spouse & dogs, relaxing at home, camping, visiting the beach or the Disney theme parks, sewing & crafting. She works to find gratitude for every moment life presents.