Why did you become a therapist, and what motivates you to continue?

I’m passionate about making mental health care accessible and affirming for those who’ve often been overlooked or underserved, particularly LGBTQ+ folks, people from low-income backgrounds, and communities of color.

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and have been in the social work field since 2015, providing therapy since 2020. Throughout my career, I’ve supported individuals and families navigating mental health crises, systemic injustice, and the legal system. My current work is especially grounded in supporting adolescents and young adults navigating trauma, identity exploration, and life transitions.

I became a clinician because I’ve always held a deep desire to help others live fulfilling lives, no matter the obstacles they face. Early in my career, I worked in child welfare, where I witnessed both the profound trauma children endured and the challenges parents faced in showing up for their families. Those experiences opened my eyes to the importance of healing, compassion, and support—not just for individuals, but for entire systems and communities. What continues to motivate me is seeing the resilience in people and being a part of their journey toward hope, growth, and restoration. Each time a client takes a step toward healing, it reaffirms why I chose this path and inspires me to keep showing up with empathy and dedication.

Hi, I’m LaTranette Long, LMHC-QS, LPC. I’m passionate about creating a safe, supportive space where you can explore challenges, build resilience, and move toward lasting growth. My approach is collaborative and compassionate, blending evidence-based practices like CBT, ACT, and interpersonal psychotherapy with a focus on your unique strengths. Whether you’re navigating stress, anxiety, life transitions, or deeper emotional wounds, I’m here to walk alongside you with empathy and guidance.

I chose this field to combine clinical expertise with compassionate care. I’m motivated by the impact thoughtful treatment can have on a person’s quality of life and by partnering with patients as they work toward stability and well-being.

Hello, I’m Dr. Francesca Derius, a psychiatric nurse practitioner dedicated to helping individuals achieve emotional balance and clarity. I offer personalized, supportive care grounded in clinical excellence, empathy, and respect for your unique journey.

My path to becoming a therapist wasn't just a career choice; it was rooted in the values I grew up with. I was taught a simple but powerful lesson early on: If you have the ability to help someone, you do it. Whether it was a smile, a hug, a piece of hard-won advice, or a shared resource, I learned that we are at our best when we are supporting one another. This "if you have it, share it" mindset is the heartbeat of my practice. I show up for my clients because I believe that no one should have to navigate their heaviest chapters alone when help is available. The Therapist as a "Detective" Beyond my drive to help, I have a lifelong fascination with how people work. I often see our sessions as a collaborative "detective" process. Every person is a complex, beautiful mystery. When we work together, I’m not just listening—I’m looking for the missing pieces of the puzzle: The Clues: We look at your habits, your physical sensations, and your recurring thoughts. The Connections: We investigate how a childhood experience might be "fingerprinting" your current relationships. The Breakthrough: There is nothing more rewarding than that "Aha!" moment when a client finally understands why they do what they do. Bridging Compassion and Curiosity It is incredibly rewarding to help someone become an expert on themselves. My role is to provide the resources I was taught to share, while using that "detective" lens to help you uncover your own strength. I don't just want to help you feel better; I want to help you understand the "how" and "why" of your life so you can take the lead in writing what happens next. When you truly know yourself, you are no longer a mystery to be solved—you are an author ready to create.

I believe your life is a book, and while the early chapters may be heavy, they do not define your whole story. You have the power to write what happens next. My Approach I view your life as a narrative shaped by everything you’ve carried—trauma, grief, and joy alike. While what you’ve been through matters deeply, it is not your identity. I offer a compassionate, down-to-earth approach to help you navigate your most difficult moments. In our work together, therapy becomes a safe space to explore how your past shows up in your present, especially within your relationships. By blending evidence-based tools with real talk, we’ll dive into the connection between your mind, body, and emotions to understand exactly where you feel stuck. My goal is to help you move from a place of surviving your history to intentionally authoring your future. How We’ll Work Together Healing is a journey of self-discovery—uncovering who you are and what you truly need. I hold our time together as sacred, providing a space for you to share both the positives and the negatives. Together, we will: Process Past Wounds: Ensure old traumas no longer dictate your future. Identify Patterns: Pinpoint the unhelpful cycles holding you back from genuine connection. Build Your Toolkit: Develop the skills to communicate needs and set healthy boundaries. Live Intentionally: Gain the courage to take deliberate steps toward a life of wholeness. My Commitment to You I provide compassionate and honest therapy for adults who want to change habits and perspectives that have been holding them back. I am here to empower you to truly know yourself, identify your needs, and gain the tools to express them. Your story is still being written. Let's make the next chapter your best one yet.

I became a therapist to support people through both their proudest moments and their most difficult challenges. The client–therapist relationship is uniquely powerful—offering a space that can be hard to find anywhere else. I strive to create an environment where clients feel safe showing up exactly as they are, free from judgment, and open to exploring what may be standing in their way. I was especially inspired by the ongoing need for accessible, compassionate mental health support. Navigating life’s most vulnerable moments can feel overwhelming and isolating, and no one should have to face those experiences alone. My goal is to ensure that my clients feel supported in every part of their journey—their pain, challenges, accomplishments, and growth, which is what motivates me to continue.

Haley is a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC) providing outpatient therapy to teens (16+), adults, and couples. She approaches counseling with the belief that every person has the capacity for growth, healing, and meaningful change. Through a collaborative and compassionate process, she works with clients to better understand the patterns, experiences, and ways of coping that may no longer be serving them. Haley integrates evidence-based approaches to support clients in exploring their internal experiences, strengthening their emotion regulation skills, and developing greater self-awareness and self-compassion. Haley is committed to creating a warm, empathetic, and judgment-free space where clients feel heard, respected, and supported as they work toward lasting and meaningful growth.

I became a therapist because I know what it feels like to carry trauma, and deep identity wounds. I’ve been through my own healing journey, and I want to help others find the hope, safety, and self-trust I’ve worked so hard to build. I offer a warm, compassionate space for adults to process pain, release old patterns, and reconnect with themselves. Helping someone reclaim their life and feel whole keeps me inspired every day. 

Hi, I’m Nina. I help adults overcome trauma, religious trauma, and complex relationship wounds using EMDR therapy. I provide a warm, compassionate, and relational approach to healing so you can reconnect with yourself, feel grounded, and move forward with confidence.

I became a therapist when I realized my passion for sitting with others in their discomfort. Growing up, I always felt compelled to go beyond the "how are you?" to the deeper places, the ones people usually shied away from. I value meeting fellow humans in these moments because not everyone wants to. I am continually motivated to being a therapist because each human I work with is unique and valuable and being a therapist that helps them discover or rediscover that for themselves in their life is satisfying to my life's work.

Hi there! My name is Colleen and I specialize in working with LGBTQ+ individuals and those who are pregnant and postpartum, ages 18 and up, experiencing depression, anxiety, grief, life transitions, and more. It is my privilege and goal to guide self-exploration with compassion and curiosity to support those who I work with to build a foundation of self-love and loving relationships in their lives.

I chose this work because I believe mental health is just as important as physical health, if not more. Physical problems can often be treated with straightforward medical solutions, but mental health reaches deeper. It affects how you see yourself, how you connect with others, and the quality of your entire life. Helping someone improve their mental health is not about masking symptoms so they can simply get by. It is about restoring quality of life. With Lumina Wellness, my mission is to do psychiatry differently. I want care to be both accessible and high quality, without forcing people to choose between the two. Every patient deserves time, compassion, and clear explanations so they can make informed decisions about their own care. What motivates me to continue is seeing people who have been dismissed or rushed finally feel heard, understood, and truly cared for. That’s the standard I hold myself to, and that’s what keeps me going.

Sean Kim, is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) who provides compassionate, evidence-based psychiatric care. As a PMHNP, he is licensed to diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe and manage medications, and provide ongoing treatment; with emphasis on whole-person, patient-centered care. He specializes in treating ADHD, depression, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD. Currently, serving patients in Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Torrance, and throughout Los Angeles County. For those outside the South Bay, He also offers secure tele-health appointments anywhere in California. His approach blends thorough psychiatric evaluation, thoughtful medication management, and integrative strategies to help you feel like yourself again, focused, balanced, and confident in your daily life. He created Lumina Wellness to transform psychiatric care by providing personalized, high-quality treatment that is both accessible and sustainable. He believes patients deserve more than rushed five-minute appointments; they deserve thoughtful, individualized care where their needs are heard and respected. By accepting insurance without compromising quality, we are changing the way medication management is done, making comprehensive mental health care available to everyone while maintaining the highest standards of compassion and clinical excellence.

I was born, raised, and have lived in Florida my entire life. My babies are my Pembroke Welsh Corgi and two cats. I have lived experience with mental health and know what it is like to sit on the other side of the couch. I had convinced myself for years that my ultimate goal was to strictly stay within the realm of medical social work. Opening my own private practice was never in the books for me until I started looking for a therapist myself. I found very few therapists who specialized in supporting healthcare workers or who had ever worked in a hospital setting. The need was there, but the options were limited. So, I decided to create the exact space I was looking for and here we are! Ta-da! In my free time, I co-host a podcast with my favorite Texas therapist, Nikita (Yee Haw!). Coffee shops and hot yoga classes are my two favorite places to be.

Hello! I'm Jennifer, a therapist with a casual and direct approach who is passionate about helping overwhelmed professionals achieve emotional balance. As the wife of a physician and someone who has worked closely with RNs, psychologists, and other healthcare professionals, I understand firsthand how emotional exhaustion and constant pressure can take a toll. I specialize workplace burnout, with a strong focus on helping healthcare professionals heal from compassion fatigue. As far as all of the fancy credentials go, I am trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), an evidenced based eye-movement based treatment for trauma. Additionally, I am a Master’s Level Certified Addiction Professional (MCAP) and have had formal training in Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT).I offer therapy sessions in-office or via telehealth in Florida. Additionally, I offer therapy services in Alabama and Maine (telehealth only).I am a laid-back therapist, so it’s not unusual for me to wear jeans or sandals at the office.

I became a therapist because my own therapy journey began at 18, where I learned powerful tools to understand myself and navigate my psychological challenges. Experiencing Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) for my own traumatic experiences was life-changing and deeply inspired me to offer this healing approach to others. I believe ongoing support is essential, and I feel honored to walk alongside clients in their healing process. My personal mental health journey is living proof that healing is not a final destination, but an ongoing, compassionate journey.

Cherish is a licensed mental health counselor located in Westchase, FL. She is dedicated to helping adults with trauma and emotional challenges connect, heal, and improve mental wellbeing using creative tools in therapy.