Grief counselors and therapists in Fernandina Beach, FL

You don't have to have everything figured out to be here.

I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida, and I’ve been helping people work through meaningful change since 2011.

I support clients navigating anxiety, depression, life transitions, and addiction, with a focus on building resilience and a stronger sense of self. I especially enjoy working with LGBTQ+ individuals, those navigating recovery and the HIV/AIDS community. I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts from Southern Methodist University and my Master of Arts in Counseling from Webster University.

My name is Oscar DeBardeleben, and I know firsthand that change is possible because I’ve lived it. As an Army veteran, I’ve faced the kind of life challenges that can feel insurmountable—but seeking therapy was the turning point that allowed me to reclaim my life. Today, I combine that personal resilience with a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Social Work background to help others find their way back. Having served diverse communities within the VA and Indian Health Service, I am dedicated to helping you navigate your own path toward a stronger, more confident self.

I got my start working in a residential setting, supporting people through serious mental health challenges, trauma, and addiction. That experience shaped how I see therapy, it’s not just clinical, it’s about feeling understood and not alone in what you’re going through. I now work with people dealing with things like trauma, emotional ups and downs, and substance use, and I’m trained in EMDR. While I have experience with more intense situations, I also work with people who feel stuck, reactive, or disconnected and want to understand why.

I help military members, first responders, and law enforcement professionals carry the weight of service with more strength, clarity, and support through therapy built around their world. If you’re dealing with trauma, stress, addiction, relationship strain, or the silent pressure of always having to hold it together, you don’t have to face it alone. My goal is to offer a space that feels confidential, grounded, and free of judgment—where you can talk honestly without clichés, forced vulnerability, or someone who doesn’t understand the culture you come from.

Generous, Dependable, Supportive, Kindhearted, Insightful, assertive, courageous, bold, compassionate

I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over 16 years of experience in healthcare, with 13 years including mental health care. My background includes working in high-acuity settings such as ICU and trauma care, which has strengthened my ability to remain calm, attentive, and thorough in complex situations.

I try to keep therapy real, practical, and focused on what actually helps. You don’t need to show up with the perfect words or a clear explanation of what’s going on—that’s something we’ll figure out together.

I’m someone who listens carefully but also isn’t afraid to be direct when it’s helpful. My goal is to create a space where you can be honest, think things through, and leave sessions with a little more clarity than you came in with.

Most of all, I believe therapy works best when it feels like a genuine conversation. My role is to help you make sense of things and support you as you move toward the changes you want in your life.

I am licensed in Florida with 10+ years of professional work experience combined in conflict resolution and mental health counseling. I believe that empowerment is an essential and powerful tool in the healing process. I obtained a doctoral degree in conflict resolution and a master's degree in counseling psychology. I have experience in helping clients with LGBTQ+ related issues, relationship issues, life transitions, family conflicts, coping with grief, coping with loss, motivation and self-esteem. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion.