Lesbian Therapists in Gulfport, FL

I am a licensed clinical social worker with over 19 years' experience helping families and youth transform their lives for the better. My holistic approach to treatment provides a safe and empathic environment for clients to work towards improved emotional health and well being. I provide counseling to children, adults, families and couples. I am bilingual and specialize in working with gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning (GLBTQ) individuals and their families as well as child behavioral problems, depression, anxiety, stress management and relationship challenges. I offer caring, competent therapy services to meet the goals you have for your life.

How do you find the right therapist for you? There are a lot of people providing counseling services and I am the person who is focused on creative problem solving. In my counseling I tend to be more directive with the use of action methods. I believe my job is to help you prioritize concerns, identify possible solutions, and facilitate change. Originally I was involved with the fine arts; I worked in medicine and danced in local modern dance companies. I have two Master of Arts degrees: therapeutic Expressive Arts and Professional Mental Health Counseling. I have extensive experience as a crisis and addictions counselor.

Through connection in a safe space, you and I will work toward enhancing the strengths you already possess to promote and enhance healing. I have been in private practice for more than 15 years and have been helping people through life’s changes and transitions. It is my goal to help: Those seeking hope and confidence to deal with depression, anxiety, and stress; Those in transition due to loss (relationships, death), sexual orientation, and/or decisions (divorce/separation, job changes); Those seeking more authenticity in their lives and in their relationships; Those who want to enhance the quality of and positivity in life.

I understand the variety and depth of problems we encounter in living our lives. I know from both my practice and my life, that we can learn new ways to handle the difficult events and situations that life hands us- depression, anxiety, life transitions, relationship concerns, loss and grief, questions of identity, body image, trauma concerns and others. I will listen closely to you and will value and respect who you are, where you come from, what your concerns are and what your goals are.

I specialize in trauma, mood disorders, and self-esteem. I work with clients who are tired of being stuck in their head, their past, and in a life that doesn’t bring them fulfillment or joy. I am here to help you gain further control of your thoughts and feelings, and build a life that is worth living.

Hello! As a counselor, it is my job to create a safe and compassionate space for you to explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. If you find yourself feeling stuck, struggling with relationships, fighting anxiety or depression, struggling with substance use, or have a history of trauma give me a call so we can discuss what counseling can do for you. Together we will examine the possible biological, sociological, psychological, and systemic root causes that may be holding you back. Through a decolonial lens we will use various therapies like CBT and Narrative Therapy to begin your healing journey.

A life worth living is one that is full of relationships, and commitments that align with and express our personal values; a life of meaning and purpose. For many people with trauma, such a life feels like a fantasy, wholly unattainable and not within grasp. We often simply hope for a life we can survive, getting through day to day, weeks, months, and staying alive and ok. But we can hope for more than that from life. We can recover and heal, and learn about ourselves and what makes us come alive. I’m here to help you navigate overwhelming emotion so you can feel safe and grounded; connect to yourself so you feel powerful.

I hold a personnel belief that the client needs to tell their story, feel safe in doing so, and form a bond of trust with their therapist. I have worked in mental health for 17 years. My background started in Criminal Justice. My first Masters degree is in this field, and continued to a Maters in Counseling. There was always one common thread, people were broken. A broken person loses trust, in both people and themselves. Building the therapeutic rapport is the beginning of trust, and the first step to healing. Mood and emotions can be deceptive, people want to give up, isolate, may be angry or dysfunctional. Take the first step.

I offer therapeutic services for individuals (18+), couples (of all orientations, genders, and relationship structures). I specialize in working with people experiencing life changes, depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, and identity exploration and development.

If your are reading this professional biography, I imagine you are looking for a therapist that will be the right fit for you. Someone who is competent and experienced and will listen to you with a genuine interest and connection. Someone that will help you with strategies to reduce stress and anxiety and assist you in practical planning to create changes. Over the years I have been that therapist for many people; working with them on issues due to anxiety, depression and major life stressors. I welcome the opportunity to meet with you for a consultation and discuss your needs.

Voted 2023 Best of the Bay Finalist! I offer a practical approach to provide support and guidance to clients. Whether it is urgent life stressors, relationship challenges, family issues, or trauma there is always a way to shine some light. While a large part of my practice is working with clients using talk therapy, I am also a trauma expert trained in EMDR as well as ART. These techniques allow me to help clients become unstuck from habitual reactive states that often create havoc in relationships and other important areas of life.