Dr. Rebecca McDonough
I am licensed in Florida with 32 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with lgbtq+ related issues, grief and loss issues, improving self esteem and self confidence, and coping with life changes. I also have experience working with professional and executive coaching, and am a Qualified Supervisor for LMHC Interns. I support my clients by creating 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 change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.
Maria Eijo
As a Mental Health Counselor with over 23 years of experience, I have worked with individuals with multiple life challenges. I am experienced in providing therapy across various platforms as well as face to face working with depression, anxiety, issues of self-esteem, and lack of confidence issues. I also have experience in assisting clients who are adult survivors of abuse, HIV, and end of life issues as well as grief and those individuals who are going through a serious illness. I have worked extensively with the LGBT community. As a therapist, my main focus is on helping individuals identify their strengths and promote wellness and understanding that the best is yet to come. Service offered: Phone therapy Online therapy
Teresa Horldt
Hello! My name is Teresa Horldt and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with 17 years of experience. I began my career working with victims of domestic violence and then progressed to working with crisis intervention issues in a very busy ER setting and then to inpatient and outpatient treatment centers for substance use and mental health issues. The past 15 years I have worked with those struggling with substance use and addiction, depression, anxiety and bipolar mood disorders, personality disorders, trauma and grief and loss. I currently work as a Program Manager with a community based mental health program that reach out to people with schizophrenia, schizoaffective and bipolar disorders along with dual diagnosed. I use an eclectic approach in counseling, to meet the diverse needs of each person. I use Dialectical Behavioral Therapy to help with personality disorders and people that want to address interpersonal effectiveness, crisis management, emotional regulation and coremindfulness. I utilize Motivational Interviewing and various recovery approaches (12 step; Refuge Recovery and Celebrate Recovery) to help those with addictions . I find that CBT is very effective with mood disorders, along with Solution Focused strategies. Mindfulness is my favorite approach to help with stress reduction and trauma. I don't believe one size fits all ! I treat all my clients with unconditional regard, respect, dignity and empathy. I feel that the judgmental world has done a lot of damage to our feelings of self worth and overall happiness, so my world view is one of absolute acceptance. I hope that you are able to find my therapy styles and experience something of interest to you. I believe that as a true partnership, I can help you achieve your goals and attain fulfillment and serenity in your life. I
Christopher Baird
Hi my name is Christopher, I have my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and i'm trained in EMDR as well as a Neurolinguistic Programming Masters Level Practitioner alongside Hypnotherapy and EFT. I am Kripalu Yoga 200/hr Trained Instructor as well as Reiki Master and Vedic Thai Massage practitioner. I am also a Transformational Breath® Facilitator in training. I am an Ontological Coach as well and a Transformational Coach. I am also a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. I have worked with a range of issues including Trauma, Mood Disorders, Depression and with a wide range of populations ranging from kids to adults. I believe that everyone is perfect whole and complete at their core and anyone can achieve anything that that set their mind to.
Tamela Stull-Drugan
I am licensed in Florida with over 22 years of professional experience in the field of substance abuse and mental health. I have helped others with stress management (work or personal), anxiety, learning how to live a sober life, relationship challenges, and dealing with the pressures of everyday living. I treat everyone with dignity and respect and believe we all deserve to be true to ourselves, find safe ways to make the changes we want, and continue our journey as a whole person. 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.
Susan Bramer
I am licensed in Florida with over 30 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, family conflicts, coping with grief and loss, & career difficulties. 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.
Ellen OMalley
I am licensed in Florida with 30 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, anger management, & 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 seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.
Darriah Arthur-Lazard
My name is Darriah Arthur-Lazard and it is nice to meet you! I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Florida with over 9 years of experience that includes roles within outpatient settings, inpatient hospitals, and managed care organizations. I specialize in substance-abuse counseling, relationship issues, mindfulness, anxiety and stress management, career, self-esteem and self-love, and depression disorders. My wit, tenacity, attention to detail and easy-going nature make me the ideal therapist. I possess strong interpersonal skills and I am able to easily establish rapport with others. I believe that this is a crucial, if not one of the most important interpersonal skills to have! My intrinsic desire to help others is what motivates me to succeed. I am a proactive individual who considers preemptive measures to take when solving problems. I look forward to working in partnership with you soon!
Ebony McCray-Holmes
As a licensed therapist in Florida, I specialize in supporting individuals navigating complex life transitions, relationship dynamics, and personal growth. My practice centers on empowering clients to develop deeper self-understanding, heal from past experiences, and cultivate meaningful connections. With extensive experience in trauma-informed care, I help clients address challenges related to self-esteem, family dynamics, workplace stress, and young adult transitions. My approach is compassionate and collaborative, focusing on communication skills, emotional resilience, and personal empowerment. I am particularly passionate about supporting women through transformative life stages, helping individuals overcome feelings of isolation, shame, and abandonment. By creating a safe, affirming space, I guide clients toward self-love, purpose, and healing from past wounds. My therapeutic work honors each person's unique journey, recognizing the strength and wisdom inherent in every individual's story. Together, we'll explore your experiences, build coping strategies, and create pathways toward meaningful, sustainable personal growth.
Pattra Dodd
As a licensed therapist with two decades of experience, I specialize in supporting individuals through complex emotional landscapes. My practice focuses on helping clients navigate challenges such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and life transitions, with a particular emphasis on supporting older adults, veterans, and young professionals. I bring a compassionate and nuanced approach to therapy, drawing from extensive clinical expertise in addressing communication difficulties, social anxiety, isolation, and self-esteem concerns. My work is deeply rooted in understanding each individual's unique journey and helping them develop meaningful strategies for personal growth and emotional well-being. My therapeutic approach is collaborative and person-centered, designed to create a supportive environment where clients can explore their experiences, develop resilience, and rediscover their inner strengths. I am committed to walking alongside my clients as they work towards healing, self-understanding, and positive life changes.
Andra Blackheart
My ideal client is either someone that has been having difficulty connecting to themselves with knowing who they are or what they want after a life-transition, a traumatic event, an Autism or CPTSD diagnosis, or maybe for the first time ever. Or someone trying to connect better to the people around them in building their friend group, their sense of community, their bond with their children, or their intimacy with their romantic partner. My specialty is helping neurodivergent adults feel connected to themselves and others and build intimate and sustainable lives. I offer therapy using primarily TF-CBT, Satir growth model, MI, and SFBT to help clients utilize their strengths, accommodations, and social support network well enough to fire me! If you're feeling disconnected from what's most important to you, want to build on the skills you already have, and are ready to move towards your goals, please reach out to me so we can create change together!
Dr. Dr.Claribel Perez
First step towards therapy takes courage and I am here to listen and help. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Certified Sexologist with over 20 years of experience. Prior to dedicating my career-life as a Mental Health Counselor, I dedicated over 30 years of teaching; being recognized in the state of Florida as a High Impact Florida Teacher to students in Seminole County. Simultaneously, I served as an Adjunct Professor to graduate level students and as a mentor to teachers and counselors from Saudi Arabia at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Foremost, as a clinical mental health counselor, I have worked with women, men, teens, parents and children, establishing a structured dynamic and intervention plan to enable healthy boundaries, effective communication, mindful focus and learning strategies toward wellness. I have trained individuals enduring issues of ADHD, Anger, Impulsivity, Anxiety, Depression, Sexual PTSD, Social Anxiety, Relationship Hardships, among other Emotional related challenges. I have volunteered with Seminole County Sheriffs and Homeland security in helping survivors of Human Trafficking, and I have worked with Youth and Teenagers at the Orange County and Osceola County Jails, at the Juvenile Detention Center, and the Juvenile Assessment Center. In my professional multifaceted experience, I implement targeted approach interventions to provide an optimal sense of wellness and direction. My clinical approach is eclectic and includes Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (MBCBT), Psycho-Education, Person-Centered Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Reality Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Sex Therapy (addressing psychological barriers that affect women who are experiencing biological or trauma-related sexual concerns). I tailor clinical approaches to each individual's needs, drawing from the work of Philosophers Carl Rogers (addressing concepts of Self and the Fully Functioning Person) and Albert Bandura (addressing Self-Efficacy and personal growth). I provide the mentioned evidence-based therapeutic interventions through Tele-therapy. During the first session, I identify the root of your concerns, identify your goals, and establish the therapeutic modalities that best support your needs. It is all about you. I explore your goals. Building trust is a significant part of this process; hence, I am here to understand you and help in a non-judgmental and safe demeanor. In the end, I will establish therapeutic strategies and develop a plan that best supports you. Stay well! ~ Dr. Claire
Rebekah Loe
Hi! I’m Bekah Loe. I am a trauma therapist located in Orlando. I specialize in working with queer trauma. I am passionate about helping my clients develop a deeper understanding of who they are and how they work. My goal as a therapist is to provide my clients with tools and insight that they can continue to use outside of therapy in everyday life.
Jacqueline Mcintosh
As a licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida, I specialize in supporting individuals and couples navigating complex emotional landscapes. My professional approach centers on helping clients develop resilience, self-understanding, and healthy coping strategies across various life challenges. My clinical expertise spans depression, anxiety, trauma recovery, addiction support, and anger management. I am particularly passionate about guiding clients through communication difficulties, social anxiety, and personal growth journeys. My therapeutic style emphasizes compassionate, culturally responsive care that honors each individual's unique experiences and strengths. Drawing from evidence-based practices, I create a supportive environment where clients can explore their emotions, develop meaningful insights, and cultivate self-love. My commitment is to walk alongside you, offering professional guidance and genuine understanding as you work toward healing and personal transformation.
*BetterHelp insurance availability, coverage, and cost may vary by state, plan, provider network, therapist availability, and deductible status.
Find a therapist near you in Punta Gorda, Florida
Finding a therapist near you in Punta Gorda, 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 Punta Gorda.
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 Punta Gorda, Florida
Ready to begin? BetterHelp can match you with a licensed therapist serving Punta Gorda and the surrounding FL area. When you are ready to take the next step, get started.