(she/her)
Hola, I’m Paola Garcia, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida with over 15 years of experience. I earned my Master’s degree from Barry University and specialize in working with college students and young professionals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma-related concerns, and stress. I understand how overwhelming it can feel to balance school, career, relationships, and personal expectations—especially when you find yourself overthinking or feeling stuck. Using evidence-based approaches, I help you develop practical tools, gain insight, and feel more in control of your life. My goal is to create a warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where you can explore your thoughts and emotions while building confidence and resilience. I also offer therapy sessions in Spanish.
In our first session together, we’ll start with brief introductions and create a comfortable space for you to share what’s been bringing you in. We’ll explore the challenges you’re currently facing, as well as your goals for therapy, at a pace that feels right for you. I see you as an active participant in your healing journey. Together, we’ll begin identifying patterns, discussing helpful strategies, and building tools to support your growth and well-being. My goal is for you to leave the first session feeling heard, supported, and with a clearer sense of direction moving forward.
My foremost commitment is to create a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where you feel truly heard and understood. I recognize the courage it takes to seek help, and I prioritize building a strong, trusting therapeutic relationship from the very beginning. What sets my approach apart is my ability to combine empathy with practical, evidence-based tools. I don’t just listen—I help you gain insight, manage overwhelming emotions, and develop clear strategies you can apply in your daily life. I am especially skilled at helping clients who struggle with overthinking, anxiety, and feeling stuck to find clarity, build confidence, and regain a sense of control.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is a widely used psychotherapeutic approach that focuses on helping individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to their emotional distress and psychological issues. It is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected, and by changing negative thought patterns, one can effectively change their emotional and behavioral responses to different situations. CBT has been shown to be effective for a wide range of mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is often used in individual or group therapy settings and can be adapted for online or self-help applications.
Integrative
The goal of integrative therapy is to provide a tailored and holistic approach to address the unique needs and concerns of each client. Instead of adhering strictly to one specific therapeutic model, integrative therapists draw from multiple approaches to create a personalized and effective treatment. Integrative therapy can be particularly effective when dealing with complex or multifaceted issues. Some examples of issues that integrative therapy can address include anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship problems, substance abuse, and personality disorders.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness-based therapy incorporates various mindfulness practices, such as meditation, deep breathing, and body scanning. These practices help individuals become more aware of their thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations in the present moment without judgment. Clients are guided to accept their experiences and practice letting go of rumination and attachment to distressing thoughts. This can be particularly helpful for managing anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
Culturally sensitive therapy is essential to provide equitable and effective mental health services to individuals from diverse backgrounds. It helps to reduce disparities in mental health outcomes and ensures that clients receive support that is respectful of their unique cultural and identity-related needs.
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
REBT focuses on helping individuals identify and change irrational beliefs and thought patterns that lead to emotional and behavioral distress. It is based on the premise that our thoughts and beliefs strongly influence our emotions and behaviors.