Lori Miller
I’ve spent my life confined to a wheelchair, so I believe I have a unique understanding of just how challenging life can be and the strength it takes to ask for help. Whatever your struggles, I believe the first step to helping you overcome them is to build a connection with you based on commonly shared thoughts, feelings, and actions impacting how we feel, how we relate to others, and how we achieve our goals. Once you and I have identified any unhelpful thoughts, feelings, and actions standing in your way, we will work together on a plan to help you succeed by giving you the skills, confidence, and belief that your emotional well-being doesn’t depend on others or events you can’t control. While pursuing my Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of West Florida and licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), I have gained 12 + years of clinical experience helping adults, teens, children, and families heal from a variety of emotional wounds to include: PTSD, grief and loss, intimate partner violence, physical, sexual, emotional abuse, and neglect. I have worked with veterans, people dealing with substance dependence, homelessness, and chronic health problems. In sum, my approach is not to make you relive the past, but to help you recognize--and ultimately, change--the core hurtful beliefs and actions fueling your current anxiety, depression, anger, low self-esteem and relationship conflicts. I am ready to listen when you share, sit in silence when you need it, and best of all, cheer on your successes!
Judith (Judy) Durdan
Hi! My name is Judy Durdan and I am a Clinical Social Worker licensed in both Florida and Connecticut. I graduated with a Master's Degree in Social Work from Fordham University in 2001. I have extensive experience working with a variety of people in both inpatient and outpatient settings. I've worked with people who are diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness, forensics, homelessness, and veterans, as well as people who just want an ear to hear them and help guide them through the steps to feeling whole. My goal is to help adults in difficult times figure out how to address those issue through thoughtfulness and mindfulness, utilizing their own strengths and experiences, as well as, a few skills I have to offer. The treatment is an agreed upon approach created through support and understanding, and my approach being adjusted to your needs. Please contact me so that, together, we can find the most convenient and beneficial time that we can meet to tackle those issues. Enjoy your day!
Sherrie Kaelin
Welcome! My name is Sherrie Kaelin. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida and a Licensed Professional Counselor in New Jersey, Georgia, Arizona and Texas as well as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Nevada with over 24 years of experience. I enjoy working with other therapists and health care professionals to offer support given my my 25 plus years of experience and helping with compassion fatigue and stress. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including narcissistic abuse, emotional eating, ADHD, depression, anxiety, parenting problems, career challenges and coping with life changes. I also help people cope with hurricane stress and disaster fatigue. My counseling style is warm and interactive. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and I don't believe in stigmatizing labels. My approach combines cognitive-behavioral, client centered and solution focused counseling. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek for a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. If you are ready to take that step I am here to support and empower you. I look forward to working with you!
Tammy Horn
Hi! My name is Tammy. I am a licensed mental health therapist in Florida (US) with a positive and hopeful outlook! I have over 20 years of counseling experience. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, family conflicts, coping with grief and loss, parenting issues, social behavior, and crisis counseling. As well as trauma related issues, sexuality and work related concerns. I have a sense of humor and maintain a hope for the future. It is an honor to work with another person, to gain their trust and help them figure out what's going well, what is causing concern or distress, and to help them find small steps toward a resolution and personal growth. The first few sessions start out with a person-centered therapy approach. However, the information collected in the first few sessions may lead to a better suited theory. I feel that issues like depression or anxiety can be helped with cognitive behavioral therapy. CBT has also been great when working with adolescents who struggle with aggression and conduct disorders. I find dialectical behavior therapy techniques to be useful in a counseling setting as well. My counseling style and approach really depends on the client and what best fits the situation. Person-centered therapy, CBT, and DBT have been my main approach and style. My clients typically meet with me once weekly for 45 minutes. We begin by building rapport and learning about the issues that brought them to seek counseling. It is important to establish a trusting, ethical, therapeutic relationship by form of congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathy in the beginning. Sometimes a person-centered approach leads the client to discover the answers for themselves. My counseling style is primarily Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Brief Solution Focused Therapy so we can develop a plan to help you feel better as soon as possible. Most of the time you will have "homework", which will allow you to identify core beliefs and change the way you feel. We can do short extra sessions during the week, especially during your first month or two, to be sure you have a good foundation for getting your goals met. Whether you are seeking change for a healthier happier life, or just need a non judgmental ear to listen, I am here to support and empower you. I look forward to working with you! Getting to know yourself, take good care of yourself and live well day to day creates more of an ease in life, and affords you time and a place to resolve deeper issues or past trauma.
Juanita Riley
As a licensed therapist in Florida with over three decades of experience, I specialize in supporting individuals through life's most challenging transitions. My practice centers on helping clients navigate complex emotional landscapes, including relationship dynamics, personal growth, and healing from past traumas. I bring a compassionate, culturally responsive approach to therapy, drawing on extensive experience working with diverse populations. My expertise spans a wide range of areas, including women's and men's issues, life-purpose exploration, communication challenges, and support during significant life changes. My therapeutic style emphasizes empowerment, self-love, and holistic healing. I create a supportive environment where clients can explore their experiences, work through difficult emotions, and develop meaningful strategies for personal transformation. Whether you're dealing with workplace stress, relationship concerns, or seeking deeper self-understanding, I'm committed to walking alongside you with empathy and professional guidance.
Michael Brown
My passion is to help people heal at their deepest core levels. In my clinical practice I have worked with clients experiencing a wide range of symptoms using mindfulness based modalities including EMDR and IFS to optimize emotional and psychological functioning. EMDR and IFS are empirically based treatment interventions designed to access and transform prior emotional wounds. These trauma wounds are often at the root of present day suffering. Compassion, empathy, genuineness, unconditional acceptance and love of learning are a few of the personal traits that I bring to therapeutic work. My clients have experienced freedoms from Anxiety, PTSD, Panic, Depression, Self Esteem and Religious and Spiritual issues. I hold two Master’s degrees, with broad vocational and life experience. I offer you hope that with therapy your life can be transformed and you can live from a place of peace and freedom as you deepen your awareness of your authentic self.
Ginger Santiago
I am licensed in Florida with 10 years of experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with grief and loss, & depression. I believe that you are the expert of your life 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.
Dr. Shannon Holliker
Hello and Welcome! It is great to see that you have decided to take this step into further self-discovery, self-growth, and reflection. Therapy is a process, but doesn't necessarily require you to know exactly what type of support you might need. Actually, many people enter therapy to discover they have other things they also want to address. Sometimes, it's about the rewarding process to self-discovery that can be the motivation. Regardless of how you got here, my goal is to provide you with unconditional support. My approach is about honest dialogue. Too often there is a belief that saying 'certain things' in therapy is not acceptable. The reality is that it is the best place to have such discussions about feelings, thoughts, and approaches to challenges. It is also equally important to celebrate what may even feel like small victories. As we reach adulthood, we can tend to think that celebration is less important when it is super important. I hold a PhD in Public Affairs (Social Work Focus). This credential has provided me the opportunity to continue teaching college and doing research in critical areas of mental health. I have two Masters' degrees, in Social Work and Child Development and Education. I went back to pursue my second Master's in Early Childhood because one of my specialties is parenting and providing counseling support to very young children, supporting families affected by trauma or stress due to issues with their young child, and trauma response. I am passionate about helping parents with their own anxiety and depression (or other challenges), providing support to families affected by medical stress (a child with a chronic illness or in the NICU or a parent with medical concerns), assisting with support for intervention of developmental or behavioral concerns, fertility, and/or any concerns related to your family dynamics. My experience has also been in providing different therapy interventions to young children (0-5 years) with their family. I have assisted many families in identifying and addressing family challenges that could contribute to their young child's emotional or behavioral concern. Through this platform, our focus would be on your concerns or challenges in parenting and/or mental health or other areas, and we would work together for an end goal. I am also passionate about providing individual therapy to support anxiety, problem-focused depression, burnout, and effects of trauma. These challenges can present differently for different people and no feelings are 'wrong.' Our world is filled with a variety of unique cumulative stressors and this can make it sometimes difficult to identify the cause. Things such as, burnout, from the daily challenges can create more complex feelings of loss, confusion, and depression because they are often minimized by our own beliefs. I want to conclude by sharing that not everyone requires walking through their past to understand their current circumstances. There are lots of approaches to therapy as it is just a form of support. The duration of therapy also depends on many factors, but I believe that you and I should always form goals we can track progress. I'm happy you decided to stop by and that you are considering the process of therapy. I look forward to working with you!
Melissa Cooper
I am licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Florida with 15 years of professional work experience. I started as a School Counselor mostly working with middle and high school students and their parents and have transitioned to mental health. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, parenting issues, & 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!
Johnnie Terrell
I am licensed in Florida with 5 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, & anger management. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. 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.
Donna Williams Welch
I am licensed in Florida with 10 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, depression, trauma and abuse. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. 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.
Thomas Moore
I am retired Military therapist licensed in Florida with 27 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, coping with grief, coping with loss, anger management, motivation, self-esteem, & confidence. I also have experience working with depression and anxiety. I believe that change begins with building on the positives (actions and thoughts). And turning those positive vibes into real life positive momentum. I would love to walk with you on your counseling journey.
Patrickk McDonald
I am licensed in Florida with 3 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, trauma, abuse, eating disorders, motivation, self esteem, & confidence. I also have experience working with depression. 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!
Dr. Ravyn Rooney
Hi there! I am so glad you are here. Reaching out for support is not always easy, but it is a powerful first step and I am honored you are considering sharing part of your journey with me. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Florida with 5 years of professional experience helping individuals navigate life’s ups and downs. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress or anxiety, working through relationship challenges, grieving a loss, rebuilding your confidence, or adjusting to a major life change, you don’t have to do it alone. I’ve supported clients through: Stress & anxiety that just won’t quiet down Relationship struggles (romantic, family, or friendships) Grief and loss Life transitions and unexpected changes Motivation challenges Self-esteem and confidence building I truly believe this: You are the expert of your own story. You already have strengths, resilience, and insight within you and sometimes we just need a safe space to rediscover them. My role isn’t to “fix” you. It’s to walk alongside you, help you tap into your strengths, and support you in creating meaningful, lasting change. Therapy with me is collaborative, supportive, and empowering. We’ll work together to identify what’s holding you back and build tools that help you move forward with clarity and confidence. It takes courage to choose growth. If you’re ready to take steps toward a more fulfilling and balanced life, I’m here to support and empower you every step of the way. Let’s get started :)
*BetterHelp insurance availability, coverage, and cost may vary by state, plan, provider network, therapist availability, and deductible status.
Find a therapist near you in Polk City, Florida
Finding a therapist near you in Polk City, Florida starts with matching to a licensed professional who fits your needs, schedule, and goals. Florida is home to people with diverse mental health needs across urban, suburban, and rural communities, which can make it challenging to find care. BetterHelp connects you with a licensed therapist through tailored matching, so you can begin care from home or wherever works for you.
The network includes over 30,000 licensed therapists globally, and over 4 million people have used BetterHelp to find support through online therapy. During matching, 93% of user preferences are met, which helps you connect with a therapist suited to what you are looking for. Whether you are searching for help with anxiety, trauma, affordable or insurance covered therapy, weekend or flexible scheduling, or virtual sessions, you can find a therapist and get started when you are ready.
Why work with a licensed therapist near you?
Working with a licensed therapist near you gives you access to professional mental health support from someone trained to help you understand and manage what you are going through. A licensed therapist can offer evidence-based approaches, a steady space to talk, and guidance tailored to your situation. In Florida, online therapy can make that care more accessible, since sessions happen from home or wherever you are, without the need to travel to an office. This can help if your schedule is full, if travel is difficult, or if you simply prefer a more discreet setting. You can learn more about what a therapist does on the therapist role page.
Online therapy can be especially helpful for people living across Florida, where access to in-person mental health care may vary by location.
What concerns can therapists help with?
Therapists can help with a wide range of concerns, including anxiety and stress, depression, trauma and PTSD, self-esteem and identity, people-pleasing and fear of rejection, insomnia and racing thoughts, workplace stress and burnout, substance use, parenting and co-parenting stress, grief and loss, and relationship and family challenges. Therapists on BetterHelp may draw on approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), depending on your needs and goals. You can explore support for specific concerns on pages such as generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and eating disorders.
Please note that therapists on BetterHelp do not provide psychiatric medication management or formal diagnoses.
Online therapy vs. in-person therapy in Florida
Online therapy and in-person therapy both connect you with a licensed professional, and the main difference is how you meet. In Florida, online therapy through BetterHelp lets you have sessions by phone, video, or in-app messaging, so you can meet from home or on a schedule that fits your life. In-person therapy takes place at an office and may involve travel and set appointment windows. Online therapy may be more accessible for people with busy schedules, limited transportation, or a preference for a more discreet setting. Both formats can support meaningful progress, so the right choice often comes down to what fits your life.
Finding a therapist that accepts insurance in Florida
BetterHelp accepts insurance through many major insurance plans. Insurance availability and coverage may vary by state, plan, provider network, and therapist availability, and deductible status. Eligible members' copay is as low as $15, some pay $0.
You can check your in-network status on the BetterHelp site through the sign up flow. If you prefer to pay without insurance, BetterHelp subscriptions range from $70 to $100 per week, billed as an alternative way to access the same care, and you can use HSA and FSA funds toward the cost. For a full breakdown of how BetterHelp works with insurance plans, see BetterHelp insurance coverage.
How BetterHelp helps you find the right therapist in Florida
BetterHelp helps you find the right therapist in Florida through personalized matching that considers your needs, preferences, and goals. After you answer a few questions during the sign up flow, you can be matched with a licensed therapist from a network of over 30,000 professionals, and 93% of user preferences are met during matching. The search and location matching cover common near-me needs, including anxiety, trauma, affordable or sliding-scale support, weekend or flexible scheduling, and virtual sessions. If your first match is not the right fit, you can switch therapists at no extra cost. When you are ready, you can get started and begin the process.
Therapists near you in Florida
Below, you’ll find licensed therapists authorized to provide online therapy to adults across Florida, including residents in Polk City.
Each provider meets state licensing requirements and has experience supporting clients with a wide range of mental health concerns using evidence-based therapeutic approaches.
Please note: Therapists on BetterHelp in Florida do not provide psychiatric medication management or formal diagnoses.
Frequently asked questions about finding a therapist near me
How much does therapy cost near me?
Therapy costs near you can vary by provider, format, and payment method. With BetterHelp, subscriptions range from $70 to $100 per week, and you can use HSA and FSA funds toward the cost. BetterHelp also accepts insurance through many major insurance plans, and eligible members' copay is as low as $15 per session. Insurance availability and coverage may vary by state, plan, provider network, and therapist availability, and deductible status.
Does BetterHelp accept insurance?
Yes. BetterHelp accepts insurance through many major insurance plans. Insurance availability and coverage may vary by state, plan, provider network, and therapist availability. Eligible members' copay is as low as $15 per session. Check your in-network status on the BetterHelp site through the sign up flow. For a full breakdown of how BetterHelp works with insurance plans, see BetterHelp insurance coverage.
Is online therapy effective?
Online therapy can be an effective way to receive licensed mental health care for many common concerns. Research suggests that online therapy may support progress in ways comparable to in-person care for concerns such as anxiety and depression. On BetterHelp, you connect with a licensed therapist who can use evidence-based approaches such as CBT and DBT, and you can meet by phone, video, or in-app messaging.
Do I need a diagnosis to see a therapist?
No, you do not need a diagnosis to see a therapist. Many people begin therapy to work through stress, life changes, relationships, or personal growth without any diagnosis. Please note that therapists on BetterHelp do not provide psychiatric medication management or formal diagnoses. If you are looking for a starting point, personalized matching can connect you with a licensed therapist suited to your goals.
How quickly can I start therapy?
You can often start therapy within 24 to 48 hours of signing up with BetterHelp. After you answer a few questions during the sign up flow, personalized matching connects you with a licensed therapist, and you can schedule your first session once you are matched. This process is designed to help you begin care at your own pace, without a long wait.
Can I switch therapists if it’s not the right fit?
Yes. If you feel your therapist is not the right match, you can request to be matched with another licensed provider at no additional cost. You are able to do so through the BetterHelp user portal and select switch therapists if needed.
Is online therapy discreet?
Online therapy with BetterHelp offers a discreet setting where you can connect with a licensed therapist from the comfort of your home. Sessions take place by phone, video, or in-app messaging, so you can meet without going into an office. Your account and sessions are protected with strong safeguards, and you choose how and where you attend. This can make therapy feel more comfortable for people who prefer a discreet way to get support.
Find a Therapist in Polk City, Florida
Ready to begin? BetterHelp can match you with a licensed therapist serving Polk City and the surrounding FL area. When you are ready to take the next step, get started.