Sexual Abuse Therapists in Polk County, FL
I have a passion for issues such as childhood sexual abuse, trauma, relational struggles, stress, infertility, post-partum depression, and grief.
To know and be known. This is a core longing of all of ours. We deeply desire to understand our own brokenness and woundedness, and we yearn to be known and to have others walk with us in our sorrows and struggles. Counseling is a safe and empowering place to come as you are, to process your unique story, and to be deeply known in order to experience healing, growth, hope, and celebration.
I have a passion for issues such as childhood sexual abuse, trauma, relational struggles, stress, infertility, post-partum depression, and grief.
To know and be known. This is a core longing of all of ours. We deeply desire to understand our own brokenness and woundedness, and we yearn to be known and to have others walk with us in our sorrows and struggles. Counseling is a safe and empowering place to come as you are, to process your unique story, and to be deeply known in order to experience healing, growth, hope, and celebration.
You are feeling like you have lost control over your life. You look around and it seems like all your choices are being made for you and when you try to go after what you want, you feel defeated before you can even take the first step. It does not have to be this way. In my role as a therapist, I believe it is my job to clear the fog that clouds the path that you want to be on. I believe that everyone is the expert of their own life.
You are feeling like you have lost control over your life. You look around and it seems like all your choices are being made for you and when you try to go after what you want, you feel defeated before you can even take the first step. It does not have to be this way. In my role as a therapist, I believe it is my job to clear the fog that clouds the path that you want to be on. I believe that everyone is the expert of their own life.
Have you been stuck or struggling for so long that it's hard to imagine your life feeling any differently? Maybe you're not even sure why you're feeling the way you do? Or, you know why, but certainly feel like you can't say why out loud to anyone you know. I help adults with depression, anxiety, & trauma break out of dysfunctional patterns with compassion & scientifically proven strategies. Let's get your sleep, relationships, job, school, parenting, friendships, hobbies, health, eating, & happiness back on track without those pesky intrusive/racing thoughts, flashbacks, panic attacks, self-hatred, & dread.
Have you been stuck or struggling for so long that it's hard to imagine your life feeling any differently? Maybe you're not even sure why you're feeling the way you do? Or, you know why, but certainly feel like you can't say why out loud to anyone you know. I help adults with depression, anxiety, & trauma break out of dysfunctional patterns with compassion & scientifically proven strategies. Let's get your sleep, relationships, job, school, parenting, friendships, hobbies, health, eating, & happiness back on track without those pesky intrusive/racing thoughts, flashbacks, panic attacks, self-hatred, & dread.
My counseling style is warm and approachable. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I don't believe in stigmatizing labels. My specialty has been working with children, adolescents, and adults who have complex trauma that stem from abuse, neglect, or other life events. I have also worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, addiction, coping with the pandemic, relationship issues, parenting challenges, childhood trauma, career challenges, adjustment to life changes, women's issues, family conflict and grief/loss.
My counseling style is warm and approachable. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I don't believe in stigmatizing labels. My specialty has been working with children, adolescents, and adults who have complex trauma that stem from abuse, neglect, or other life events. I have also worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, addiction, coping with the pandemic, relationship issues, parenting challenges, childhood trauma, career challenges, adjustment to life changes, women's issues, family conflict and grief/loss.
As a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator and Parenting Coordinator, I am trained to assist families who wish to work out the terms of their divorce or parenting schedules without the heartache and cost of litigation. I also provide forensic evaluations that help the court determine what is in the best interest of the children with regard to custody determinations. Parental Alienation is often a factor in these cases and professional determine can often be a determining factor in the outcome of these cases. I also specialize in anxiety, trauma and PTSD, & find great reward seeing my clients find peace emotionally & physically.
As a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator and Parenting Coordinator, I am trained to assist families who wish to work out the terms of their divorce or parenting schedules without the heartache and cost of litigation. I also provide forensic evaluations that help the court determine what is in the best interest of the children with regard to custody determinations. Parental Alienation is often a factor in these cases and professional determine can often be a determining factor in the outcome of these cases. I also specialize in anxiety, trauma and PTSD, & find great reward seeing my clients find peace emotionally & physically.
Taking the step into therapy is brave, and I want to work with you to make it worth your time and investment. I believe in a holistic and multicultural approach that prioritizes uniqueness, respect, compassion, empowerment, and self-worth. I focus on who you are as a person above diagnoses. I would like to take the journey with you in fully understanding how you have developed into who you are and explore how you can be an even better version of yourself. Please call me if you need to discuss in-home sessions.
Taking the step into therapy is brave, and I want to work with you to make it worth your time and investment. I believe in a holistic and multicultural approach that prioritizes uniqueness, respect, compassion, empowerment, and self-worth. I focus on who you are as a person above diagnoses. I would like to take the journey with you in fully understanding how you have developed into who you are and explore how you can be an even better version of yourself. Please call me if you need to discuss in-home sessions.
I have a deep commitment to providing a safe, inclusive, and affirming space for all clients. My work is rooted in empathy, compassion, authenticity, and acceptance. I view the process of therapy through a neurodiversity-affirming, LGBTQIA+ affirming, and trauma-informed lens. As someone with lived experience in neurodiversity, I understand firsthand the importance of being validated for your unique experience. I strive to create an environment where there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach. My goal is to work alongside you, helping you navigate challenges, uncover your strengths, and empower you to live authentically.
I have a deep commitment to providing a safe, inclusive, and affirming space for all clients. My work is rooted in empathy, compassion, authenticity, and acceptance. I view the process of therapy through a neurodiversity-affirming, LGBTQIA+ affirming, and trauma-informed lens. As someone with lived experience in neurodiversity, I understand firsthand the importance of being validated for your unique experience. I strive to create an environment where there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach. My goal is to work alongside you, helping you navigate challenges, uncover your strengths, and empower you to live authentically.
I have been fortunate to have the majority of my referrals come through friends or family of prior clients. The passion I felt when entering the field of counseling 20 years ago, seems even greater today. More individuals and couples are genuinely motivated to seek deeper levels of understanding and self-awareness. Most behavior and thought patterns are learned early in our development. Many suffer due to repeated behavior and choices, involving friends, family, and relationships. Change in the choices we make, often results in positively altering the way we feel, perceive, and live life. Authentic change begins within oneself.
I have been fortunate to have the majority of my referrals come through friends or family of prior clients. The passion I felt when entering the field of counseling 20 years ago, seems even greater today. More individuals and couples are genuinely motivated to seek deeper levels of understanding and self-awareness. Most behavior and thought patterns are learned early in our development. Many suffer due to repeated behavior and choices, involving friends, family, and relationships. Change in the choices we make, often results in positively altering the way we feel, perceive, and live life. Authentic change begins within oneself.
Dr. Suzanne Lavelle is the founder of Lakeland Psychology. She and her associates provide comprehensive psychological evaluations and customized psychological treatment.
Dr. Suzanne Lavelle is the founder of Lakeland Psychology. She and her associates provide comprehensive psychological evaluations and customized psychological treatment.
Rebecca Elliott
Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern, MSW, RCSWI
Verified Verified
3 Endorsed
Lakeland, FL 33813
Hi There! Finding a therapist can an exciting and overwhelming event; but starting the search is the first steps to creating the life you desire to have.
My Name is Rebecca, I am a Registered Clinical Social Work Intern who is passinate about about helping children and adults navigate the many changes that can come within our lives. This can include adjustment concerns, such as life transitions, new schools/jobs or relationships, as well as emotional behavioral struggles such as stress, anger, depression, anxiety or ADHD.
Hi There! Finding a therapist can an exciting and overwhelming event; but starting the search is the first steps to creating the life you desire to have.
My Name is Rebecca, I am a Registered Clinical Social Work Intern who is passinate about about helping children and adults navigate the many changes that can come within our lives. This can include adjustment concerns, such as life transitions, new schools/jobs or relationships, as well as emotional behavioral struggles such as stress, anger, depression, anxiety or ADHD.
Andi Griffith
Marriage & Family Therapist Intern, RI MFT
Verified Verified
8 Endorsed
Lakeland, FL 33803
Tired of feeling stuck or repeating the same patterns without understanding why you can’t seem to break free no matter how hard you try? Sometimes we don't know how to move past or process the negative things in life on our own. Being able to talk to someone from an outside perspective, allows us to get curious about our behaviors and thinking patterns which helps us unlock the answers we have been seeking. Seeking help in these situations doesn't mean you are broken or weak, but rather human. It takes courage and strength to ask for help. Be proud of yourself.
Tired of feeling stuck or repeating the same patterns without understanding why you can’t seem to break free no matter how hard you try? Sometimes we don't know how to move past or process the negative things in life on our own. Being able to talk to someone from an outside perspective, allows us to get curious about our behaviors and thinking patterns which helps us unlock the answers we have been seeking. Seeking help in these situations doesn't mean you are broken or weak, but rather human. It takes courage and strength to ask for help. Be proud of yourself.
Meet Our Sexual Abuse Therapists
My ideal client is a parent, often homeschooling or not, feeling overwhelmed by balancing family, work, and personal well-being. They struggle with anxiety, stress, or self-doubt and seek to create harmony in their lives. They need emotional support, practical strategies, and a therapist who understands their unique challenges. Their goal is to reduce stress, improve family communication, increase coping mechanisms and prioritize their own mental health. They want a compassionate, multilingual counselor who helps them build resilience and foster a healthier, more fulfilling life for themselves and their families.
My ideal client is a parent, often homeschooling or not, feeling overwhelmed by balancing family, work, and personal well-being. They struggle with anxiety, stress, or self-doubt and seek to create harmony in their lives. They need emotional support, practical strategies, and a therapist who understands their unique challenges. Their goal is to reduce stress, improve family communication, increase coping mechanisms and prioritize their own mental health. They want a compassionate, multilingual counselor who helps them build resilience and foster a healthier, more fulfilling life for themselves and their families.
Evening and weekends appointments available! Wouldn't it be nice if you had someone safe to unburden your heart with? Someone who is not only well-trained, but cares deeply and respects you and your journey? Someone who can help you sift through old stories and patterns, helping you re-write them and uncover the best version of yourself that you always knew was there? Lets talk! I provide an environment that embodies empathy, non-judgment, and an objective viewpoint while pushing you when needed.
Evening and weekends appointments available! Wouldn't it be nice if you had someone safe to unburden your heart with? Someone who is not only well-trained, but cares deeply and respects you and your journey? Someone who can help you sift through old stories and patterns, helping you re-write them and uncover the best version of yourself that you always knew was there? Lets talk! I provide an environment that embodies empathy, non-judgment, and an objective viewpoint while pushing you when needed.
Are you finding it hard to cope with stress? Uncomfortable with uncertainty? Is your worry interfering with your ability to concentrate, leading to avoidance & procrastination? Maybe you've spent hours scrolling through Psychology Today profiles but froze when it was time to choose one. A part of you would do anything to avoid calling to book this appointment. I get it. But, your untreated anxiety or depression interferes with too many areas of your life—making it harder at work and in relationships. You're isolating because it all feels exhausting and overwhelming. Change is usually challenging for you, but this time, you're ready.
Are you finding it hard to cope with stress? Uncomfortable with uncertainty? Is your worry interfering with your ability to concentrate, leading to avoidance & procrastination? Maybe you've spent hours scrolling through Psychology Today profiles but froze when it was time to choose one. A part of you would do anything to avoid calling to book this appointment. I get it. But, your untreated anxiety or depression interferes with too many areas of your life—making it harder at work and in relationships. You're isolating because it all feels exhausting and overwhelming. Change is usually challenging for you, but this time, you're ready.
Brittany Cannioto
Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC, QS
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Online Only
Waitlist for new clients
First off, if you are reading this it means you are wanting to take some steps to better yourself and I commend you for that. I have two main specialties: trauma (in its many different forms) and addiction (both substance and behavioral in nature). I also have experience working with people struggling with depression, anxiety, stress from life changes, grief, toxic relationships, bipolar disorder, disordered eating and other struggles.
First off, if you are reading this it means you are wanting to take some steps to better yourself and I commend you for that. I have two main specialties: trauma (in its many different forms) and addiction (both substance and behavioral in nature). I also have experience working with people struggling with depression, anxiety, stress from life changes, grief, toxic relationships, bipolar disorder, disordered eating and other struggles.
My approach to therapy is integrative and geared toward each individual’s specific needs. I have worked in several outpatient and inpatient settings in primary care facilities providing services for children, teens, young adults and families, as well as adults. My aim is to help people of all ages feel more in control, resourceful and self- assured.
My approach to therapy is integrative and geared toward each individual’s specific needs. I have worked in several outpatient and inpatient settings in primary care facilities providing services for children, teens, young adults and families, as well as adults. My aim is to help people of all ages feel more in control, resourceful and self- assured.
Zoe Vizcarrondo
Pre-Licensed Professional, MMin, MS, (MHC), CPM
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Online Only
Welcome. I’m so glad you’ve taken the first step toward healing and self-discovery. My approach to therapy is deeply informed by my 16 years as an active law enforcement officer and my Master of Ministry (M.Min.). Through both of these experiences, I have learned how trauma, stress, and life transitions can shake our sense of self and leave us questioning our purpose. I know firsthand how challenging it can be to navigate difficult emotions, whether from the pressures of a high-stress career or a personal crisis.
Welcome. I’m so glad you’ve taken the first step toward healing and self-discovery. My approach to therapy is deeply informed by my 16 years as an active law enforcement officer and my Master of Ministry (M.Min.). Through both of these experiences, I have learned how trauma, stress, and life transitions can shake our sense of self and leave us questioning our purpose. I know firsthand how challenging it can be to navigate difficult emotions, whether from the pressures of a high-stress career or a personal crisis.
There may be times in your life when you feel as if you are surviving life instead of enjoying it. Now may be one of those moments. Survival is an instinct that drives many human behaviors and is completely acceptable. Moving beyond survival requires support. Life can be challenging at times and seeking help with those challenges can be intimidating. If you are seeking emotional wellness, self-acceptance, personal growth, or help in finding answers, I invite you to call for consultation and determine whether I am the right therapist for you.
There may be times in your life when you feel as if you are surviving life instead of enjoying it. Now may be one of those moments. Survival is an instinct that drives many human behaviors and is completely acceptable. Moving beyond survival requires support. Life can be challenging at times and seeking help with those challenges can be intimidating. If you are seeking emotional wellness, self-acceptance, personal growth, or help in finding answers, I invite you to call for consultation and determine whether I am the right therapist for you.
Let's face it, people are struggling mentally. Whether it be financial concerns, trauma, stress, or even the political client, people are finding it hard to rely on others, sometimes even our family members. I might be the first therapist to admit that even I have things I continue to work on. I can't pretend I know what you are going through, but I too am a regular person like you. Let me help you navigate these times.
Let's face it, people are struggling mentally. Whether it be financial concerns, trauma, stress, or even the political client, people are finding it hard to rely on others, sometimes even our family members. I might be the first therapist to admit that even I have things I continue to work on. I can't pretend I know what you are going through, but I too am a regular person like you. Let me help you navigate these times.
Hi there! Are past traumatic experiences impacting your life in negative ways and you have been avoiding talking to someone for fear it will be overwhelming? I understand. I have over 25 years in many different mental health and health settings helping clients overcome the ongoing effects of trauma. Or maybe you have tried to reach out for help before - but thinking about letting go of the ways you've learned to adapt and cope through the trauma and its after effects is a scary prospect! I get it, you want to feel better and to be healthier - mentally, physically and emotionally. But where can you safely turn for help?
Hi there! Are past traumatic experiences impacting your life in negative ways and you have been avoiding talking to someone for fear it will be overwhelming? I understand. I have over 25 years in many different mental health and health settings helping clients overcome the ongoing effects of trauma. Or maybe you have tried to reach out for help before - but thinking about letting go of the ways you've learned to adapt and cope through the trauma and its after effects is a scary prospect! I get it, you want to feel better and to be healthier - mentally, physically and emotionally. But where can you safely turn for help?
See more therapy options for Polk County
Sexual Abuse Therapists
How do therapists treat sexual abuse?
A good therapist will be nonjudgmental and possibly demonstrate active listening, repeating back what the client says to show that they have understood. These skills allow people to feel comfortable discussing their traumatic experiences openly. Some important treatment goals are to restore a sense of safety and to rebuild confidence. In addition to working one-on-one with the patient, a therapist might bring in supportive family members to assist the client.
Do you have to talk extensively about sexual abuse in therapy?
Survivors frequently find it difficult to describe what happened to them out loud. They can even still be in a state of denial if the sexual abuse occurred recently. It is important for survivors to acknowledge that what happened isn’t their fault and to challenge and reappraise any unhealthy feelings or thoughts as they arise. Art therapy and play therapy are useful non-verbal means of communication for some survivors.
How long does treatment for sexual abuse take?
Recovery from sexual abuse can be a long and difficult process. Some survivors are able to move on naturally on their own, given time, while others require the guidance of a trained therapist. Therapy needs vary and can range from a few sessions to months or even years. Healing from sexual abuse takes time, and everyone’s journey will look a little different.
Can trauma symptoms caused by sexual abuse come back after treatment?
As occurs in many cases of trauma, survivors of sexual abuse may experience PTSD-like symptoms long after the abuse has ceased or after an initial round of treatment has occurred. In such a case, there is evidence that prolonged exposure therapy is a useful treatment for survivors, and may be more efficacious than supportive counseling alone. While triggers may continue to cause distress, the idea is that, with time and repeated exposure, their power will fade, allowing survivors to move on with their lives.