Specializing in Child Therapy, Couples therapy & family sysytems
Ciana Nguyen, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Specialized training in play therapy, and trauma-informed care for children, couples and families
About Ciana
Ciana is a dedicated Licensed Clinical Social Worker passionate about helping children, adolescents, adults, and families find resilience, clarity, and healing. She believes therapy is a courageous first step and works to create a warm, collaborative environment where every client feels truly seen and supported. Whether working with young children through play therapy, guiding teens through transitions, or helping families strengthen their relationships, Ciana approaches each client with compassion and evidence-based care.
Credentials & Education
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) — Florida | License #SW24068
M.S.W. from the University of South Florida
Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Development
Trained in Play Therapy& Mindfulness-Based Techniques
Who Ciana Supports
Ciana works with:
Children navigating emotional and behavioral challenges — using play therapy to help young children process big emotions and experiences
Military-connected families — supporting active-duty service members, veterans, and their families through deployment stress, reintegration, and relational challenges
Teens navigating transitions — supporting adolescents through identity development, school stress, family conflict, or emotional struggles
Adults living with chronic pain and health challenges — using CBT for Chronic Pain to manage the emotional and psychological impact of persistent pain
Children and families processing complex trauma — addressing abuse, neglect, family separation, or adverse childhood experiences
Couples facing relational stress — rebuilding intimacy, improving communication, and navigating challenges together
Tampa and Sarasota clients—particularly military families and those managing chronic health conditions—value Ciana's warm, developmentally-sensitive approach and her deep understanding of the unique stressors they face.
Ciana’s Approach to Therapy
Ciana integrates evidence-based modalities with a trauma-informed approach. Her sessions are collaborative, compassionate, and tailored to each individual’s developmental stage and unique circumstances.
She focuses on:
Supporting children through play therapy — using child-centered, interactive sessions in a therapeutic playroom to foster emotional growth and self-expression
Helping adults manage chronic pain with CBT for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP) — addressing the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of living with persistent pain
Providing culturally competent care for military families — understanding deployment cycles, military culture, and the unique challenges of service-connected stress
Processing trauma with trauma-informed approaches for children, teens, and adults
Building resilience and coping skills through mindfulness-based strategies that enhance self-awareness, emotional regulation, and stress management
Strengthening family relationships with collaborative, developmentally-appropriate interventions
Ciana's background in early childhood development, school-based care, and VA healthcare settings shapes her ability to work effectively across age groups and diverse populations.
What Ciana Helps Clients With
Ciana supports Tampa and Sarasota clients experiencing:
Childhood emotional and behavioral challenges
Complex trauma and PTSD
Military family stress and reintegration challenges
Chronic pain and health-related psychological struggles
Anxiety and stress
Teen identity development and transitions
School-based emotional or behavioral concerns
Supervised visitation and family reunification support
Couples relational stress
Ciana’s Background & Training
Ciana has served diverse communities in Upstate New York and South Florida, including:
School systems providing therapy for children with emotional and behavioral challenges
Supervised visitation programs supporting families in transition
Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare settings working with veterans, active-duty service members, and military families
Community-based programs addressing complex trauma and family stressors
Her professional experience includes:
Providing trauma-informed care for children navigating abuse, neglect, or family separation
Working with veterans and active-duty service members addressing PTSD, chronic stress, and relational concerns
Her advanced training includes:
CBT for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP)
Play Therapy for child-centered emotional processing
Mindfulness-Based Strategies for emotional regulation and resilience
Trauma-informed care across developmental stages
Early childhood development expertise informing her work with young children
A Message From Ciana
"Taking the first step toward therapy is courageous, and my goal is to create a space where you, or your child, feel truly seen, supported, and empowered. Whether you're a parent seeking help for your child, a service member navigating stress, or someone managing chronic pain, you deserve compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to your unique journey."
Ready to work with Ciana?
We invite you to schedule a FREE CONSULTATION with us to begin your healing journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CBT for Chronic Pain and how is it different from regular pain management?
CBT for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP) addresses the psychological and emotional aspects of living with persistent pain, not just the physical symptoms. Chronic pain affects how you think, feel, and behave—leading to anxiety, depression, social isolation, and reduced quality of life. CBT-CP helps you identify unhelpful thought patterns about pain, develop effective coping strategies, improve activity pacing, and reduce the emotional suffering that often amplifies physical pain. It's not about denying pain is real—it's about changing your relationship with pain so it has less control over your life.
How does play therapy help children who can't express their emotions verbally?
Play is a child's natural language. Young children often lack the verbal skills or emotional awareness to articulate what they're feeling or experiencing. Play therapy uses toys, games, art, and imaginative play to help children express emotions, process difficult experiences, and develop coping skills in ways that feel safe and natural. Through play, therapists can observe patterns, identify struggles, and help children work through trauma, anxiety, family conflict, or behavioral challenges without requiring them to "talk about their feelings" in traditional ways.
What makes therapy different for military families?
Military families face unique stressors—frequent relocations, deployment separations, reintegration challenges, combat trauma, and the constant demands of military life. Therapy for military families requires understanding military culture, the impact of deployment cycles on children and spouses, the stigma around seeking mental health support in the military, and the specific challenges of transitioning between military and civilian life. Ciana's extensive experience with the VA and military-connected families allows her to provide culturally competent care that honors the realities of service.
Can you help with PTSD in veterans and active-duty service members?
Yes. Ciana has extensive experience working with veterans and active-duty service members through Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare settings. She provides trauma-informed, culturally competent therapy for PTSD, addressing symptoms like intrusive memories, hypervigilance, emotional numbing, and avoidance. Treatment is tailored to each person's experiences and comfort level, recognizing that seeking help in military culture can feel difficult due to stigma or concerns about career impact.
Do you work with children in foster care or families going through custody transitions?
Yes. Ciana has experience in supervised visitation programs and working with families navigating complex transitions, including foster care, reunification, custody arrangements, and family separation. She provides trauma-informed support for children experiencing placement changes or family disruption, while also working with caregivers to strengthen attachment and create stability during difficult transitions.
How do mindfulness-based strategies help with anxiety and stress?
Mindfulness-based strategies teach you to stay present with your experiences—thoughts, emotions, physical sensations—without judgment or reactivity. For anxiety and chronic stress, mindfulness helps interrupt the cycle of worry, reduces emotional reactivity, improves self-awareness, and builds resilience. These techniques are practical and can be used in daily life to manage overwhelming moments, regulate emotions, and create a sense of calm even in challenging circumstances.