Children (6 to 10) Therapists in Fort Walton Beach, FL

Please know you do not have to go through this alone. In my role as a mental health counselor, my approach to building trust is rooted in authenticity, empathy, and collaborative engagement. I recognize that the therapeutic relationship is a dynamic and evolving partnership, and my commitment to fostering trust is paramount. I strive to create a space where clients feel seen, heard, and understood. Ultimately, my goal is to build trusting alliance that empowers clients to explore their challenges, develop resilience, and work towards positive change.

I am very boundary and communication oriented. Effective communication originates from the heart - empathy is the goal. You are the driver and I help guide you. Together we create life changing experiences, a new respect for self and others. As a team we teach each other. My job is to help empower you. My approach is eclectic and evidence based. I work with you to help serve your needs - individually, with your family, significant other, or whomever you please. I work well with any combination of family members, blended families, same sex unions, and any religion or non-religious preference.

My name is Christina, I have a Master of Science degree in counseling and psychology. Life is a beautiful journey, but there are moments when it can seem too overwhelming to navigate it alone. Sometimes you need to reach out to someone who can help you find your way forward. If you feel weighed down by feelings of uncertainty or distress, come to see me. Together, we can work to identify and treat the root causes of your difficulties and create a new opportunity for a life with rich experiences and joyful memories.

Making the decision and moving forward with seeking therapy is a huge step and usually, it’s the biggest challenge in therapy. From the moment you step through my door, you’ve already got someone in your corner. I take pride in offering a supportive, calm, accepting, and safe environment for my clients. Today’s environment makes it more difficult for us to find ways to create healthy coping skills. We will work together to identify thought patterns and behaviors, process your emotions, and explore your values and beliefs. We’ll build those healthy coping skills together. It may not always be easy, but it will certainly be worth it.

Life's unexpected twists and turns can leave us feeling lost, but having someone who offers support without judgment can make all the difference. Creating a safe haven where individuals can freely express their emotions is both an honor and a privilege. If you're facing challenges and feel stuck, know that you don't have to go through it alone. As a former Army soldier and an Air Force spouse, I understand the anxiety and uncertainty that often accompany life's "hurry up and wait" moments. I believe this shouldn't extend to mental health—we deserve proactive support.

I have experience working with clients from all walks of life. I have experience working with children and their families, teenagers, young adults, and adults of any age. My philosophy involves helping you get started with improving your life in a collaborative and supportive environment that involves us deciding the best path forward. My goal is to help you to rebuild your sense of self, and prevent your emotions from controlling your life. Life can throw a lot at us, and I would love to help restore your confidence in handling any problem that comes your way. I am also passionate about cultural inclusion and LGBTQ+ affirming care.

My desire as a therapist is to help others discover the joy in living. I believe that those burdened with traumatic or distressing life events can find hope, healing, and freedom. Many high-performing, intelligent people secretly battle anxiety, depression, and trauma/stress, and they become overwhelmed trying to handle it alone. The mask of perfection smiles that "everything is ok," while the true person feels lost, drained, and confused. If you or a loved one are having difficulty navigating life due to upsetting, stressful life experiences, therapy can provide opportunities to breathe deeply again and look forward to a new day.

We want the most life has to offer. At times, circumstances, habits and trauma does not serve us well.... we wake up to find we aren't where we thought. If you're here, you are not alone. Colleen’s compassion, honesty, knowledge and transparency enables you to uncover your own abilities to cope, heal, and move through challenges. Colleen’s strengths include breaking down issues into manageable pieces to empower patients to move toward healing. She uses evidenced based methods like CBT and is also a Certified EMDR trauma-recovery therapist.

I became a Social Worker because your life is worth my time! I have experience in and enjoy working with all different ages as well as all different types of issues. You are not alone in your journey and I am here to help! I specialize in Substance Use and can help you on your journey to sobriety.

Asking for help is the first important step you can take on your journey to wholeness. I am here to help you identify, explore, and remove obstacles to your wellbeing. Watson, my therapy dog, offers great comfort as you work through difficult issues. If you are dealing with depression, anxiety, grief, or need to find a way out of an abusive relationship, or break cycles of self-harm, I am here to counsel you in a supportive way that is unique to you. My expertise also helps couples strengthen their relationship, encourages families to develop stronger bonds, and helps children and adolescents overcome struggles during childhood.

Dempsey Rupe is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and completed her master’s degree in Social Work at Florida State University. She is currently pursing to become a Registered Play Therapist. Dempsey is trained in EMDR therapy, including EMDR with play therapy techniques. Dempsey utilizes play therapy techniques with children, teens, and families. Dempsey is trained to interpret play of children to give the guideway to healing children. Dempsey works best with children who have not responded well to therapy prior. Dempsey is trained in Theraplay which is an attachment rebuilding therapy for families with attachment injuries.

Welcome, I am passionate about your potential to see change. I have noticed often people accept a harmful pattern, negative emotion or unrealized potential as a permanent part of their lives. I believe change is not only possible, but attainable. If one puts in the effort you can gain insight, recognize patterns, and start on your journey towards change. Your goal may be feeling more balanced or it could be for your child to display improved focus or self esteem. Let us partner together to make pivotal transitions in your life.

The therapeutic process is a collaborative journey, and my passion is helping others identify and achieve their goals in a safe, inclusive environment while also individualizing treatment plans to each client’s unique needs. Life's journey can be challenging for each of us in many different ways, so equipping clients with tools to heal and grow is what fuels my passion to continue helping others. My office provides a safe space to explore identities, heal from trauma, and foster resilience.

I create a trusting space and build rapport so that you can have a place to process challenges, which also creates growth. Creating a safe space for my clients also means creating a space of compassion, empathy, understanding, and non-judgment. I value the transformative nature of a strong therapeutic relationship. Sometimes, there are disruptions in life that affect not only the present but the future as well. These disruptions can impact how we see ourselves, how we see others, and how we perceive the world in a negative way. I draw from the modalities of CBT, DBT, Person-Centered Therapy, and SandTray Therapy.

As a registered mental health counselor intern, I passionately advocate for self-care and mental wellness while working collaboratively with clients to empower and build resilience and achieve mental health goals in a safe, empathetic space for healing and self-empowerment. I am prepared to assist individuals in coping and managing emotional, behavioral, and psychological challenges. What is an LPC Intern? Click on the above acronym LPC to find out more.

I help clients battling mixed emotions: anxiety, depression, worries, fear, and trauma. They have excessive/some worry that is difficult to control, occurring more days than not for more than 30 days and beyond. They might also experience motor tension, autonomic hyperactivity, and hypervigilance. I work with you to create short- and long-term goals to reduce symptoms' frequency, intensity, and duration so that daily functioning is not impaired. The plan is to stabilize anxiety levels while increasing the ability to function. Help resolve the core conflict causing the anxiety. Enhance ability to cope with daily and life stressors.

You have already made progress by making the decision to begin therapy, and that is huge! No matter what issues you are facing, we will work together to find a way to help you meet your treatment goals in a safe, non-judgmental environment. All I need from you is honesty, commitment, and a willingness to share your story at a pace that is comfortable for you. Whether it is anxiety, depression, self-esteem, codependency, or relationship issues, we can work together to find skills or techniques that can enrich your life. I can offer you coping skills/techniques as well as materials that you can use for additional guidance.

Since 2013, I’ve worked with a range of mental health concerns in my private practice. In 2015 I learned of NeruoTherapy and utilized it as part of a wellness based inpatient program. And in 2017 I introduced it to my private practice. After seeing remarkable improvements with so many client concerns, (Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, TBI, Stroke Recovery, ADHD, Sleep Issues, Memory, Focus, Performance Enhancement, and more), Emerald Coast NeruoFeedback was founded in 2021, making it available outside of my counseling practice. At ECNF we combine cutting edge software with years of clinical experience from assessment to implementation.

I believe insight and gained knowledge of self, plus learning skills can enable a person to live life to his/her potential. I help clients of all ages gain new perspectives, identify negative thinking patterns, develop a healthy expression of feelings. and problem solve.