Making the choice to seek counseling is a difficult one and I am happy you have decided to reach out. My name is Jessica Otton, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Florida. I earned my Bachelor and Master of Social Work degree from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2011. I have worked most of my professional career in medical social work . I also have experience working in substance abuse rehabilitation settings and also private practice.. I worked for 8 years at a local hospice, including in-patient, home and nursing home settings. I also have experience working in addictions / substance abuse, with both court mandated and voluntary clients. I have worked with all age groups, including infants, children, adults, and the elderly. I have worked with clients with a variety of personal issues such as, death/dying, grief/loss, life transitions, depression, anxiety/stress, family problems, and substance abuse addictions. My counseling style is a strengths-based approach, utilizing cognitive behavioral and solution focused techniques. My hope for us is that we are able to develop a strong and trusting, therapeutic relationship, in which you feel most confident in expressing yourself. We can work as a team to reach your desired goals...MY goal is to help you reach YOUR goals! I look forward to working with you.

My name is Lynette Maggs and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the state of Florida. I started my practice in a community mental health agency in the state of Florida gaining a wealth of knowledge and perspective of the scope of mental illness within our communities. This led me down the path to specialize in areas such as the welfare of children and families affected by trauma and its impact not only on the individual, the family but also the entire community. I have worked with families and individuals who have experienced anxiety, depression, abuse/neglect, parenting difficulties, addiction, stress, loss, and the day to day hurdles each of us face in life. I would describe my approach as empathetic, warm, goal oriented, and client centered. I use Cognitive Behavioral therapy, as well as Client Focused therapy as the basis to my therapeutic approach to help my clients set goals and objectives, work through their traumas, and feel empowered once they have met their goals. I earned my Bachelor Degree through attending universities in the eastern U.S as my family traveled with my husband in his Coast Guard career. My Master Degree from Liberty University, Virginia in Mental Health Counseling. I have been practicing in the field for the past 20 years with a wealth of training and experiences prior to this time. I believe humor is essential as we face our hurdles in life and this has been lent to me through the 36 years of marriage, a daughter and navigating this all through 20 years of military life.

My specialty & love are helping individuals at transition points of their lives, with a focus from Adolescence to Mid-life and beyond. These are times of dealing with many changes in one's life. These changes may include family, friends, and your role in community. This is also a time when we are surrounded with "Transition Myths" i.e.; How we SHOULD be feeling, acting and thinking. Some of these are Memory Loss, Depression, Anxiety, Physical Fitness, Sexuality, and being Neurodivergent! My goals are to educate and separate myth from fact while helping YOU ease life's transitions so YOU can continue YOUR life with new hopes and dreams, respect and dignity. Each person is UNIQUE! Issues are NOT AGE SPECIFIC and can impact ANYONE at ANY age! With advanced education & experience, I offer Memory Loss & Cognitive functioning assessments. Not all memory loss is permanent. Let me help you down this journey. And I promise, while some professionals may hand you a diagnosis and walk away, I will provide you with all the research and resources I have to offer and will help you look for more answers. People should never have to go through life and hardships alone. One of my newer areas of focus, which was a great unmet need, has been providing counseling for those who have lost a "4-legged" family member. This is an area that I receive referrals not only from veterinarians but also family doctors and OB/GYNs, "I am referring Mrs. Smith as she recently lost her only child...her child was her 20 year old cat, Roxie..." I offer counseling for Pet Grief & Loss. Some individuals have family members with 4 legs vs 2. Those losses are devastating as well and rarely understood by the general public. I have been providing counseling to individuals, couples and families from many races, religions, socioeconomic and educational backgrounds for over 30 years. I work with preteens to those over 100 years young. I have provided therapy in my office, in individual homes, in schools and in retirement communities, nursing homes and hospitals. I have provided instructional in-services on cultural awareness and aging issues. I have set up memory clinics and performed routine depression and anxiety assessments. For me, helping people live better lives has always been what I am about. It is a gift I share every moment of every day. As an older, more "SEASONED" therapist, I have been where many of you are and survived. It has not been easy. I can tell you that with each action comes not one but many reactions and in many areas. My father was the highlight of not only my life but all the lives he interacted with. He was a teacher and elementary school principal. He saw everyone with the same lens and stuck up for the kids picked on. After school, he would give no charge swim lessons to neighborhood kids who were in need. He had cancer in his 30's and only had a 5% chance of beating it, back then, but he did. He lived till age 45 and died suddenly during a vacation with my mother and my little 7 year old brother. I was 25. Even though it was summer break and most teachers and principals were on vacation, the mortuary was standing room only, inside and out. I have a little brother born when I was a senior in High School. Another highlight of my life. He was always athletic, going to the Hood River in Oregon, when he was a young teen, to compete in the Junior Windsurfing Olympics. He is now a full professor at a state college. He does research in cardiac and ultramarathons. My sister, 18 months younger than I was born blue and had seizures all her life. She died suddenly of seizure and heart attack before the age of 50. My mother was a highly educated strong woman who would never give up the fight. However after watching 2 husbands die, one suddenly in front of her, her youngest daughter die suddenly before she was 50 and then one by one, all of her other family members at home, Great Pyrenees and New Foundlands, died. After that, mom gave up the will to live and died within a few years of a broken heart (even though she would never admit it). I divorced my husband after 50 years, I experienced many areas of stigma, prejudice, shame, loss of friends and family and many other areas of life we often take for granted. Being married to 1 person for 50 years was not always easy, but we made it, just not to 51, good and not so good. I developed tools along the way to cope for me and us. Tools you may also need to develop for you and yours. It was a journey that has been heart wrenching but I can guarantee you that this event(the divorce) like the other traumatic events in my life and other successes in life, they have been identified, dealt with. The constant, "ON THE JOB TRAINING" allows me to offer a more empathetic and knowledgeable therapist for my clients. Not all relationships can be saved in the way we wish. Some need to be reevaluated and redefined. I am here to assist you in whatever way YOU CHOSE and support YOU IN YOUR DECISION. And yes, I have gone to therapy to have a neutral third party to help me navigate my future courses. True, I have the formal education and life experiences as well as a "Dr's Bag" full of information and skills, but sometimes all of us need someone on the outside to truly listen, validate and help us navigate through the storms. Take care and Keep in touch. Dr Michaela Hammer

I am licensed in Florida with 5 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, trauma, abuse, motivation, self-esteem, confidence, & depression. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I have worked as a mental health counselor for over 30 years. My locations of employment are Florida and Pennsylvania. I have worked in Residential Mental Health and Residential Substance Abuse. I was a school teacher for 16 years teaching students with learning differences, emotional issues, autism and developmentally delayed (adults, teens and children). While working as a a teacher I had a private practice in the evenings and weekends. I have knowledge in the area of Religious trauma syndrome and faith transitioning. In Pennsylvania. I worked in homes and day treatment facilities with children and adults. There were people of all ages during my private practice and working for agencies. There are different ways to address issues for each of us. What works for one may not work for another. Working as a team helps us all to deal with our issues to make our lives more peaceful and calm. There are many times we can make a few changes in our life to acquire these. Life is a journey. We have the opportunity to learn ways to cope with our lives. Change is a process on our journey. Many times we have control only of our actions and our response to these changes. Our critic can be our worst enemy and can be relentless in beating us up. Our critic was educated from childhood. My goal for my life for quite some time has been to disarm my critic and love myself. I am looking forward to working to build trust and make it safe environment for you to express your feelings without feeling judged.

My name is Nicole Bakewell, and I was born in New York City but grew up most of my life in the Pocono’s. Growing up, I always had a desire to help people. I have worked with children, couples, and families for over a decade. I have been fortunate to provide clinical services to clients in a variety of settings including community mental health as well as telehealth services. I am trained and use a variety of treatment approaches tailored to meet client needs. I see myself as a mechanism that can provide necessary support to help you reach life goals and overcome challenges you may face in your life. My philosophy is centered around Behavioral and Trauma Centered and Focused. By providing a warm, caring, non-judgmental approach you will be on the path to living a more balanced life. My primary availability for sessions is Monday through Friday 5 AM to 10 PM EDT and occasional weekend, however I am available to discuss additional options if that time does not work well for you., I look forward to learning more about you and helping you identify any improvement opportunities that you may be facing in.

Welcome to BetterHelp !! My name is Yvonne Ricketts. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with the State Board of Florida. I have been providing face to face and virtual psychotherapy to children and adults for over 13 years. My education is from Palm Beach Atlantic University where I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Ministry and a Master's of Science degree in Counseling Psychology. I have also been employed in various community agencies and have additional on the job training and experiences in various modalities. I am caring, empathic, and non -judgmental. My experiences across cultures and the ability to treat everyone as unique individuals, has allowed me to hone and master my skill of reaching the heart of my clients. I am competent in the areas of Trauma Outcome Process, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Parenting Skills education (Triple P Level 4 Standard Triple P, and level 5 Pathways Triple P certification). Prepare/ Enrich certification for (Couples that are preparing for marriage and enrich those who are already married) narrative therapy to name a few, are an asset to ensure my clients get the best care. I believe that anyone can find himself or herself in circumstances which can change their life for the better or worst. Should you find yourself in a situation where you need a competent, professional, caring person to help you navigate life’s challenges no further.

Resiliency means “bouncing back” from difficult experiences. I believe everyone is resilient. My passion is to help others learn to deal with difficult experiences and ‘bounce back’. My goal is to help you to have balance in your life (physically/intellectually/emotionally/spiritually) through skills, which you will learn about during our sessions, in a comfortable welcoming environment. Dealing with difficult experiences are what led me in the direction of becoming a helper for others. I am grateful to have learned about, and been able to help, individuals for the past twenty five years who have battled many types of experiences. I can help you learn skills to help with feelings associated with grief and loss, whether due to a trauma or the loss of a loved one. I also teach skills to help children learn to cope in the classroom environment. As you learn and practice these skills, you can expect to gain a sense of calmness and confidence. My belief is that “…suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5: 3-4. My goal is to try instill the belief in you, that there is always hope.

I am licensed in Florida with 22 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, trauma, abuse, sleeping disorders, & anger management. I also have experience working with depression. I have speciaIty training with certifications in EMDR (Level I and II) as well as HeartMath biofeedback (certification in trauma and biofeedback). I have for many years assisted clients and patients develop and implement a treatment plan that is integrative, meaning we address crucial areas of human flourishing and functioning such as sleep, movement, relationship, nature exposure, music/sound etc. and also mindfulness-based cognitive behavior therapy (MBCBT). Having lived and worked four years in South America, as well as following that time worked in federal native language (Spanish) programs, and previous graduate program in Anthropology and cross-cultural cognitive studies, I have a care, knowledge and experience that can be helpful for cultural dimensions that can positively impac our healing work. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling, healthier, and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am licensed in Florida with 3 years of professional work experience in inpatient and outpatient settings- helping clients with needs that range from help dealing with day to day stressors to help with symptom management for acute and/or chronic mental health needs. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am a fully bilingual in English and Spanish licensed in Florida with 21 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, coping with grief and loss, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

I am licensed in Florida with 10 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, coping with grief, coping with loss, motivation, self esteem, confidence, & depression. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

As a licensed therapist with over two decades of experience, I specialize in supporting individuals navigating life's complex emotional landscapes. My practice focuses on helping clients address depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, and personal growth. I bring a compassionate and nuanced approach to therapy, drawing from extensive clinical experience to create a supportive environment where individuals can explore their emotions, develop resilience, and cultivate meaningful personal transformation. My therapeutic style is deeply respectful and adaptable, recognizing that each person's journey is unique. I work collaboratively with clients across diverse backgrounds, offering personalized support that honors individual experiences and strengths. Whether you're struggling with life transitions, seeking to improve self-esteem, or working through interpersonal dynamics, I'm committed to providing thoughtful, empathetic guidance. I believe in creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can authentically explore their challenges and potential. My approach integrates evidence-based techniques with genuine human connection, empowering you to develop effective coping strategies and move toward your personal wellness goals.

As a licensed therapist with two decades of experience, I specialize in supporting individuals navigating complex emotional landscapes. My practice focuses on helping clients address challenges like depression, anxiety, relationship dynamics, and trauma with compassionate, personalized care. I bring deep expertise in supporting individuals struggling with self-esteem, social anxiety, and life transitions. My bilingual background in English and Spanish allows me to connect with diverse communities, creating inclusive and understanding therapeutic spaces. My approach centers on empowering clients to develop self-love, improve communication, and rediscover their sense of purpose. Whether you're dealing with workplace stress, relationship difficulties, or working through past experiences, I'm committed to walking alongside you with empathy and professional guidance. I believe in a collaborative therapeutic journey that honors your unique experiences and strengths. Together, we can explore healing strategies that help you build resilience, find meaning, and create positive change in your life.