Addiction therapists & psychiatrists in Florida

I believe that effective mental health care starts with trust, respect, and open communication. My goal is to create a supportive, judgment-free space where you feel comfortable discussing your concerns and experiences. I work with individuals facing a variety of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, mood disorders, ADHD, trauma-related concerns, and other psychiatric conditions. Together, we'll focus on understanding your unique experiences and developing a treatment plan that aligns with your goals and values.

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.

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor with over 20 years of experience supporting adults through life’s most challenging seasons. My background includes extensive work in behavioral health and addiction treatment, with a focus on helping clients navigate anxiety, depression, substance use concerns, stress, life transitions, and emotional overwhelm. I believe therapy should feel supportive, practical, and judgment-free. Many of my clients come to therapy feeling stuck, exhausted, anxious, discouraged, or unsure of how to move forward. My goal is to help you better understand what you are experiencing, identify patterns that may be holding you back, and build healthier tools to manage life with more confidence and stability.

I strive to create a space where you feel heard, respected, and supported as we work together toward meaningful change.

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.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, anxious, weighed down, or stuck carrying things you rarely say out loud, you don’t have to do that alone. I work with people navigating depression, anxiety, substance use, trauma, attachment wounds, and PTSD. In therapy, we’ll slow things down, make sense of what you’re carrying, and help you build a life that feels safer, steadier, and more like your own. Nothing is “too much” here, and you get to set the pace.

I believe therapy is not about “fixing” you-It’s about empowering you. Together, we will work to uncover your strengths, clarify your goals, and build skills that support meaningful, lasting change. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or simply seeking personal growth, I’m here to walk alongside you in this therapeutic process.

I look forward to connecting with you.

My focus is to help individuals heal, energize, and become aware of their inner strengths. We achieve this by providing a neutral safe space, listening to your concerns, and customizing a treatment plan. I want to walk alongside you and help to empower you. Together, we find hope.

I am dedicated to the mental health field and have been both a therapist and a clinical supervisor. My areas of knowledge include trauma, depression, grief, anxiety, adjustment disorder, substance abuse, ADHD, self-esteem issues, and life transition difficulties. I work with individuals, adolescents, couples, and families.

Making the decision to start therapy is a profound investment of your time, energy, and vulnerability. If you are looking for a blank-slate clinician who simply nods and listens, we might not be the best fit. I offer a highly engaged, malleable, and unflinching partnership.

My approach is rooted in the belief that while the work of untangling our lives is deeply structural, the room itself doesn't always have to feel heavy. I bring a grounded warmth to my practice—which means knowing how to sit quietly in the gravity of a difficult truth, but also knowing when to break the tension, exhale, and find the light in the sheer complexity of being human. I won’t just sit in silence while you do all the heavy lifting; I am an active collaborator who adapts to exactly where you are.

I want you to know that my role is to support you with compassion, respect, and evidence‐based care. I take the time to listen closely so I can understand what you’re experiencing and what matters most to you. My approach is collaborative—I believe treatment works best when we make decisions together. I’m here to provide a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can speak openly and feel heard. My goal is to help you move toward stability, confidence, and a better quality of life.

I primarily treat patients experiencing anxiety and depression, as well as conditions such as OCD, ADHD, and mood disorders. My approach is holistic, addressing the physiological, cognitive, and emotional aspects of mental health to support overall well-being.

As a board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from the University of Central Florida, I am committed to providing comprehensive, patient-centered care. I believe in treating the whole person—mind, body, and soul—and meeting each individual where they are in their journey.

Seeking support is a sign of strength—something we all need at times. Simply putting words to what you’ve been carrying can feel like a weight lifted. With an objective, supportive partner, you can gain clarity about where you are and where you want to go. When you’re ready, you’re welcome to reach out or schedule an appointment.