Hello, my name is Joel Polk, and I am a Florida-based Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with nearly a decade of professional experience. I support adults navigating stress and anxiety, depression, and a wide range of life, relationship, and identity-related challenges. I work with clients on concerns related to self-esteem, self-love, communication, motivation, and confidence, as well as relationship and family difficulties, including caregiver stress and fatherhood-related concerns. I also provide affirming support for LGBTQ+ individuals, including concerns related to sexuality and gender dysphoria.
My professional background includes experience in both telehealth and structured clinical environments, which has helped shape a calm, grounded, and thoughtful approach to therapy. Through this work, I developed strong skills in emotional regulation, pattern recognition, and clear communication, and I help clients manage anxiety, panic symptoms, control-related concerns, attachment patterns, and feelings of isolation or loneliness with greater clarity and stability.
My therapeutic approach is collaborative, strengths-based, and goal-oriented. I primarily draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and solution-focused practices to help clients identify unhelpful thought patterns, build practical coping strategies, and create meaningful, achievable change. I believe you are the expert on your own life, and my role is to support you in exploring life purpose, personal values, and meaning while developing tools that align with your goals. When relevant, I am comfortable addressing spiritual, faith-based, or existential concerns in a way that respects each client’s beliefs and worldview.
I work with adults and young adults facing issues related to relationships, family conflict, substance use, self-harm behaviors, workplace and financial stress, and the emotional impact of prejudice or discrimination. Whether you are seeking support around anxiety or panic attacks, navigating men’s issues, adjusting to adulthood, or integrating personal beliefs into your healing process, we will work together at a pace that feels right for you. Reaching out for support takes courage, and I’m glad you’re here.
Additional areas of focus: Abandonment, Attachment issues, Body image, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain, illness, and disability, Communication problems, Control issues, Drug and alcohol addiction, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Men's issues, Multicultural concerns, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Self-love, Sexuality, Workplace issues, Young adult issues
FL LMHC MH16189