It all began with an idea.

Family Tyes Counseling and Consulting, LLC, was created when two adoption competency trained counselors had the idea to work together to make an impact on the adoption of foster children in the Tampa Bay area. 

There were some doubts… could we do it? how would anyone know about us? would anyone believe we could do it?

Rochelle and Joi faced their fears, made the jump into entrepreneurship and 10 years later are still making an impact on adoptive families!

My name is Rochelle, and I am a licensed mental health counselor (MH5925). I have been working as a licensed mental health counselor for the past 27 years providing services in the community mental health setting and private practice. Since making the leap to starting Family Tyes Counseling and Consulting, LLC (Family Tyes), I divide my time between Family Tyes and my private practice. In my private practice, I work with teens, young and midlife women who are struggling with anxiety and depression.

I became a mental health counselor because I wanted to “know why people do what they do and figure out how to change it.” Little did I know where that quest would take me!

I started working within the child welfare system providing counseling to at risk and traumatized children in the foster care system. This led to working with runaway youth, providing counseling within the school system and managing a number of different counseling programs. At the time I thought, if I was the supervisor of a program, I could impact more children and families than if I was solo. Ultimately, that was not the right fit for me.

The right fit for me is being an entrepreneur in the world of mental health. There is no bureaucracy, no jumping through unnecessary hoops or runaround trying to obtain information. Through my work at Family Tyes and in private practice, I am able to take the knowledge I gained and share it with others, so they too can make changes. I found I love sharing my knowledge and insight with others, which is one of the reasons I occasionally teach college courses on psychology and counseling.

In my journey working with children and families of all races, faiths, socioeconomic backgrounds and educational backgrounds one thing became clear… being a parent is hard work! Parenting is not for the faint of heart that is for sure. Oftentimes, when a person is in the “parenting thick of it,” it is helpful to hear a perspective from someone who is not directly involved… that is where I come in. Whether you are looking to become an adoptive parent, are a biological/step/adoptive parent looking for guidance or are looking for a different perspective Family Tyes is the place for you!

Joi Lembke received her undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology, at the University of South Florida in 1991 and her Master’s degree in Community and Counseling Psychology at Springfield College in 2001. Since that time Joi has attended many trainings and earned multiple certifications in different modalities of treatment to include cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma informed cognitive behavioral therapy, adoption competent services, numerous parenting education courses and play therapy. 

Joi’s passion for working in the social services field began when she was a child, observing injustices and wanting to find justice.  She began her career working as an in home therapist for a small mental health agency where she earned multiple promotions and eventually served in a senior director role over a continuum of care. She later transitioned to the child welfare agency as an administrator and earned a promotion to a senior level manager, director of operations, where she worked for multiple lead agencies for over eight years. 

Joi possesses excellent communication, negotiation, and facilitation skills as well and is described as a talented leader. As managing partner of Family Tyes for ten years, Joi has an invaluable experience working with community partners, understanding the intersection between child welfare, mental health and the court system and advocating for families with all agencies, large and small.

Joi has been married for over 25 years, is a mother and enjoys time with her daughter and husband traveling, boating and watching their daughter compete as a barrel racer in rodeos. Her personal goals include continuing to explore new lands, experience adventure, attend amazing concerts and spend time laughing with the ones she loves.