Atoria Handford
I am a compassionate and dedicated healthcare professional with nearly 20 years of experience across diverse clinical settings, including critical care, mental health, and psychiatry. My background has allowed me to develop a strong appreciation for holistic, person-centered care and the importance of meeting individuals where they are.
My background in healthcare, mental health, and psychiatry has strengthened my ability to recognize the connection between emotional, behavioral, and physical well-being.
I am family-oriented, grounded, and passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of others. I approach my work with humility, empathy, and a genuine commitment to supporting clients as they work toward healing, growth, and improved overall well-being.
First session
In our first session, clients can expect a welcoming, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment. The initial session is an opportunity for us to begin building rapport, discuss what brings you to therapy, and explore your current concerns, symptoms, strengths, and goals for treatment. My goal during the first session is to help you feel heard, respected, and comfortable with the therapeutic process. Clients can expect empathy, professionalism, and collaboration as we begin working toward healing, growth, and meaningful change.
Strengths
My greatest strengths as a clinician are my ability to build rapport, create a safe and supportive therapeutic environment, and meet clients where they are with empathy and respect. I use a person-centered, collaborative approach that allows clients to feel heard, understood, and actively involved in their treatment. My background in healthcare, mental health, and psychiatry has strengthened my ability to recognize the connection between emotional, behavioral, and physical well-being. I draw from evidence-based interventions such as CBT, grief therapy, existential therapy, psychoeducation, and supportive counseling to help clients develop insight, improve coping skills, and work toward meaningful change. Clients often benefit from my calm, compassionate, and nonjudgmental style. I focus on helping individuals build resilience, increase self-awareness, improve emotional regulation, and identify practical tools they can use beyond the therapy session to support long-term growth and stability.
Ideal clients
I am best positioned to serve adolescents, young adults, and adults in an individual therapy setting. I enjoy working one-on-one with clients and value the opportunity to build a strong therapeutic alliance through trust, empathy, and consistent support. My clinical interests include helping clients navigate emotional distress, life transitions, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma-related concerns, identity development, relationship challenges, self-esteem issues, and difficulty with coping or emotional regulation. I am especially drawn to working with adolescents through adulthood, as I feel I am able to establish meaningful rapport, relate to their experiences, and create a safe, supportive space for personal growth.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I incorporate CBT by helping patients recognize negative or distorted thought patterns, challenge those thoughts, and replace them with more balanced and realistic perspectives. I also use CBT interventions to support the development of healthier coping skills, improve emotional regulation, reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms, and increase problem-solving abilities.
Grief Therapy
Grief therapy is important in my practice because it helps patients work through loss without feeling judged or rushed. My goal is to support patients as they gradually move toward acceptance, improved emotional stability, and the ability to continue functioning while carrying the meaning of the loss in a healthier way.
Existential
In my practice, I use existential therapy to help patients examine how their values, beliefs, and life experiences influence their current thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. I encourage patients to reflect on questions such as what gives their life meaning, what they want to change, what they feel responsible for, and how they can make choices that align with their personal values.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Licensed in
- FloridaLicense APRN11039181