Addiction therapists & psychiatrists in Pensacola, FL

As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I specialize in working with teens and adults who are navigating challenges such as stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties. I am passionate about helping clients recognize their strengths, overcome obstacles, and develop a stronger sense of identity.

As a lifelong Missouri resident and educator, I am very familiar with the specifics that come with living in this area.

I’m a licensed mental health counselor, trauma therapist, author, and advocate with more than 30 years of experience supporting individuals and families through healing, recovery, and life transitions. I specialize in trauma, anxiety, depression, domestic violence, childhood abuse, relationship challenges, and emotional healing. I have extensive experience working with incarcerated individuals, juvenile offenders, and justice-involved populations, helping clients navigate trauma, behavioral challenges, emotional regulation, and personal growth. My approach is compassionate, culturally sensitive, and grounded in helping clients feel safe, seen, and empowered. I integrate evidence-based practices with mindfulness, emotional awareness, and practical coping strategies to help clients rebuild confidence, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful change. My goal is to help you move from survival to healing—one step at a time.

I’m Diera Woodard, LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I’m passionate about helping individuals and families navigate life’s challenges with compassion, authenticity, and practical tools for real change. My mission is to create a safe, supportive space where you can heal, grow, and reconnect with your sense of purpose and peace.

Clients often describe my style as warm, honest, and empowering. I meet you where you are and walk with you as you develop the insight and tools needed to create lasting change. I believe that therapy should feel like a collaborative conversation — one that helps you understand your emotions, strengthen your coping skills, and move toward a life that feels more aligned and fulfilling.

I graduated from The Ohio State University with my DNP in 2020 focusing on efficient pathways to implement depression screening post-stroke to identify mental health needs. After working a couple years as a nurse practitioner within neurosurgery, I transitioned from Ohio to Florida and pursued my PMHNP certification from Florida State University. Over the past 5 years I have been treating psychiatric needs in LTC around Florida. I am currently working to expand into independent practice and work personally with individuals creating a therapeutic relationship and enhancing their mental health.

I have 30 years of experience of helping those with those who have mental health, addictions and relationship problems. I am honored to help all who seek help with any of these issues. I help clients find solutions in a safe and non-judgmental place.

Therapy with me is very human and genuine. I don’t just focus on what’s painful or stuck but help to highlight the ways in which my clients overcome life's punches. While I take this work seriously, I believe laughter can be healing and disarming in therapy.

I earned my Master’s degree in Counselor Education from Florida International University and have worked in a variety of settings, including the foster care system, residential treatment, and community mental health. My background includes supporting individuals navigating trauma, persistent mental health conditions, substance use, eating disorders, and major life transitions. I’ve also worked with veterans, individuals who are unhoused, and LGBTQIA2S+ clients.

In my practice, I work with clients experiencing anxiety, panic, depression, trauma, identity exploration, relationship challenges, and life transitions. I also support clients with PTSD, some OCD presentations, and concerns related to gender, sexuality, and queer identity. My work is trauma-informed, affirming, and rooted in helping clients feel both emotionally safe and genuinely understood.

Welcome! Taking the first step toward mental wellness takes courage, and I am here to support you in a safe, non-judgmental space. As a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, I believe in a holistic, compassionate, collaborative, and patient-centered approach to care. My goal is to build trust and develop a strong therapeutic relationship with you. By considering your physical health, lifestyle, and social factors alongside your mental health, we can work together to achieve your long-term well-being. You deserve to feel empowered, understood, and supported throughout your entire journey.

As a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I am dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based mental health care to individuals across the lifespan focusing majorly in adults. I bring a holistic and integrative approach to treatment—addressing both emotional and physical well-being

As a DNP-prepared, board-certified Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I firmly believe everyone has the right to quality mental health care. With many years of experience in mental health and a diverse nursing background, I am committed to providing a safe, supportive, and judgment-free environment. This is a space where you can feel secure, understood, and empowered to achieve your optimal mental health. Congratulations on taking the first step toward living a fulfilling life.

True healing isn't just about managing symptoms — it's about addressing the whole person.

I'm a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who believes that lasting stability and happiness require working on three levels: your physical experience, your emotional patterns, and your spiritual wellbeing. When all three are addressed together, real change becomes possible.

I work with clients to identify what's getting in the way of the life they want — and build the tools, insight, and coping strategies to actually get there.

If you're an adolescent or adult carrying anxiety, depression, trauma, or the kind of exhaustion that comes from navigating life on your own for too long, therapy with me is meant to feel calm, unhurried, and genuinely supportive. I work with teens and adults facing relationship struggles, self-esteem challenges, life transitions, emotional dysregulation, and stress that's hard to shake. I also support parents of children and young adults with ADHD or autism-related needs, and I have experience working with individuals and families facing complex mental health and substance use challenges. My background spans community mental health, crisis stabilization, outpatient care, and hospital settings, so I've sat with a wide range of what people go through.