Denise Sowell Montford was born and raised in Panama City, Florida. She graduated from Auburn University with a B.A. in Psychology and a Master's in Social Work from the University of South Carolina. Denise's professional experience includes mental health counseling in outpatient, inpatient, and long-term care settings; child welfare and foster care case management; hospital based social work and other health care settings. Specifically, she spent 18 and a half years in social work, bereavement, education, and training in the hospice setting. Additionally, Denise was an adjunct instructor for 10 years in the Social Work Department at Florida State University Panama City. In 2017 she became full time teaching faculty in the Social Work Program. In 2015, Denise co-founded Angel House Bereavement Center and now serves as its President and Executive Director. She continues to promote the field of Social Work by providing supervision for social work and counseling interns, and clinical supervision for social work and counseling interns who are pursuing their licensure.
Denise is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Florida and a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Alabama. She is also a Certified Trauma Professional (CCTP) through the International Association of Trauma Professionals (IATP). Denise is also a Certified Grief Informed Professional. Denise completed the Thanatology Certificate Program at the University of Alabama. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and has the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW) credentials through NASW.
Denise has received the following awards:
In her personal life, Denise is married to James Montford and they have a teenage daughter, Sadie, and several cats.
For Denise, Angel House is a mission and dream that is rooted deeply in her heart, "Thirty years ago, my siblings and I began our grief journey following the death of our father. We were unprepared for the major impact this loss would have on our family. Through my own grief, I learned how unpredictable grief can be and how everyone grieves in their own way. Because of my own experience, I decided that I wanted to help other families who had experienced the loss of a loved one. The following year, I began working for a hospice as their bereavement specialist. I had a wonderful mentor who taught me much of what I know about grief and loss. I learned the rest of what I know about grief from the many individuals who have allowed me to walk with them in their own grief journey. Throughout my years with hospice, my dream of one day opening a free-standing bereavement center began to develop. This dream was shared by the other co-founders of Angel House and all our dedicated volunteers. It was a dream come true for all of us when Angel House opened its doors in April 2015. In our society, death and grief are often denied and many find it uncomfortable to support others who are grieving.
It is my mission to provide education and support to others who are grieving. Angel House Bereavement Center is a quiet and safe place where they can come and share their deepest pain and receive support from our therapists, staff, volunteers, and others who are grieving. It is truly an honor to walk with individuals through their grief journey.
No one should face grief alone. Your donation keeps our counseling, support groups, and programs accessible to those in need.
Angel House Bereavement Center relies on the dedication of volunteers who have a passion for helping others through difficult times.
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