Grief counselors and therapists in Valrico, FL

Hello out there to my LGBTQIA+ family! I've been working with the full rainbow of people since I opened my practice in 2015! I particularly love working with Trans & Gender Expansive folx! I do my best work with people who are experiecing depression, anxiety, trauma, gender dysphoria, coming out, and a desire to live authentically. My in-office practice is based at the Rose Dynasty Center, the LGBTQIA+ center in Lakeland, Florida!

I have been in the mental health field for over 10 years and have been counseling for four years. I became a counselor because I genuinely care about what happens to others and I want to help them through tough times. I have a passion for working with the LGBT+, ENM/Polyamorous, minority, and Kink communities. I am proficient in helping with issues related to trauma. I especially love to help empower the oppressed and the people who are made to feel "less than."

I am a warm and empathetic individual that has specialties in addiction, men's issues, and grief. I have a Master in Mental Health from Keiser University and have been working in my specialties for the last 5 years.

I believe therapy works best when clients feel safe, supported, and genuinely understood. My approach is warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental, and I strive to create a space where clients can openly explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences at their own pace.

I understand that reaching out for help can feel vulnerable, and I value the trust my clients place in me. I work to meet each person where they are while helping them build insight, coping skills, resilience, and confidence. I believe in balancing empathy and validation with practical tools and strategies that support meaningful and lasting change.

Clients often describe me as compassionate, approachable, calming, and easy to talk to. I utilize evidence-based approaches including CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and trauma-informed care, while tailoring treatment to each client’s individual needs and goals.

Drawing from twenty years of experience in education and principal of therapeutic schools, I have developed the art of conflict resolution with reticent learners, with parents, with couples and individuals. I have the skillset to support people and transform their perceptions of self to cope with communication issues, anger, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and trauma. My empathetic approach offers people to find positive and creative techniques. I am highly gifted in working to establish and enhance relationships between parent and child/husband and wife using conflict resolution to create opportunities. As a clinician of almost ten years, I interact exceedingly well with individuals and couples to support positive communication and achieve personal growth whether it be in a marriage, parenting/school skills, or within oneself. My understanding, compassion, and acceptance of people when they enter therapy create a safe and trusting environment to unpack problems and develop strategies that enhance well-being, stability, and alternative perspectives on how to address struggles/conflicts.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, struggling with depression, carrying the weight of past trauma, or finding yourself stuck in relationship patterns that no longer serve you, you're not alone. Many of my clients come to therapy feeling emotionally exhausted, disconnected from themselves, or unsure how to move forward. Others are navigating grief, family challenges, relationship concerns, or major life transitions that leave them feeling disconnected from themselves.

As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I provide a warm, supportive space where you can openly explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences without fear of judgment. My goal is to help you better understand what's contributing to your current struggles, build on your strengths, and develop practical tools that support healing, confidence, and meaningful change.