Grief counselors and therapists in Winter Haven, FL

Mental health is apart of us all! Jessica Herron is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner. She started her career as a registered nurse on a progressive coronary unit at age of 21, where she learned mental health is at the core of healing. She obtained her masters degree in 2010, specializing in psychiatric care. She has worked many diverse areas: community, inpatient, crisis, dual diagnosis, detox, emergency room; from children to geriatic and dementia related behaviors. Her passion is to lesson the stigma associated with mental health across the lifespan and normalize a bad day. When she is not serving her community, she enjoys time with her husband and 2 young children; the youngest a heart transplant warrior and indulging in a decadent cupcake.

I’ve been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California since 1995 and in Florida since 2001, with decades of experience supporting individuals, couples, families, and groups. In addition to my clinical work, I’ve served as a motivational trainer, consultant, and adjunct faculty member at over 20 universities, community colleges, hospitals, and medical centers.

My approach is rooted in psychoeducation — helping you better understand yourself while giving you practical tools to navigate life’s challenges. I enjoy working with people from all walks of life and have experience supporting clients through relationship issues, life transitions, personal growth, and emotional healing. I also facilitate seminars, workshops, and small groups, where I create a supportive space for learning, connection, and growth. My goal is to help you feel understood, empowered, and equipped to move forward with confidence.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, struggling with depression, or carrying the impact of past trauma into your relationships and daily life? You may feel stuck in patterns that are hard to break, disconnected from yourself or others, or unsure how to move forward. I work with individuals across Florida who are navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship challenges. Together, we create a supportive, nonjudgmental space where you can process your experiences, build insight, and develop tools to feel more grounded, connected, and in control of your life.

Seeking therapy can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face life’s challenges alone. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 10 years of experience, I work with children, teens, adults, and couples struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship concerns, stress, and life transitions. I provide a warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel heard and understood. My goal is to help you gain insight, develop healthy coping skills, and create meaningful, lasting change so you can live a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Ready to stop managing the noise and finally start living?

You are exhausted from carrying everyone else's luggage. On paper, you are high-functioning, capable, and the one everyone turns to. But inside, the mental noise feels like a car alarm that has been blaring for days without stopping. You have tried analyzing your thoughts, policing your anxiety, and forcing yourself to stay calm, but your heart is simply tired of the old way of surviving.

You don't need another clinical checklist or a rigid set of coping mechanisms. You need a space where it is safe to completely drop your armor.

My journey toward becoming a Licensed Mental Health Counselor was significantly influenced by my graduate program at Rollins College, as well as by my undergraduate years at the University of Florida. Working with emerging adults, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community, affords me the opportunity to channel my life experiences into empathy for my clients. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I recognize that mental health and well-being are informed by having the confidence and courage to live as one's authentic self. I strive to help my clients do this within the framework of the identities they hold and experiences they've had.

I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) who offers caring, evidence-based medication management across the lifespan. I focus on treating ADHD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, panic disorder, and insomnia, and I work closely with each person to understand their unique experiences and goals.

I believe mental health care should be supportive, never rushed or judgmental. My approach is patient-centered and practical. I take time to listen, explain your options, and include you in every treatment decision. Whether you are starting medication, making changes to your current plan, or seeking more balance and clarity, I want you to feel heard and empowered.

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'm a seasoned clinical social worker licensed in New York and Florida who has worked with all ages. I have my Bachelor's degree from Russell Sage College Troy, New York in Sociology and Psychology. I received my Master's degree from The State University of New York at Albany with a focus on individual counseling. I've been a therapist for 16 years.

I specialize in depression, anxiety, PTSD,

obsessive compulsive disorder, addiction, panic attacks, trauma, grief and loss, geriatric issues, stress-related disorders, bipolar disorders and schizophrenia.