St. Petersburg Therapist Specializing in Child & Family Therapy
Megan Midura, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor in St. Petersburg, Florida
Trained in Trauma-Focused Play Therapy, TF-CBT, DBT, and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy
About Megan
Megan employs a relationship-centered, strengths-based approach to supporting children and families. She is passionate about helping families identify and build on their existing strengths to navigate challenges effectively. Through collaboration and evidence-based strategies, Megan empowers clients to develop resilience, enhance problem-solving skills, and foster personal growth in a safe, supportive environment.
Credentials & Education
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) — Florida | License #MH26754
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut
Trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Trained in Trauma-Focused Play Therapy
Trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Video Introduction
Who Megan Supports
Megan works with:
Children learning to manage big emotions — helping young children develop healthy coping skills, express themselves appropriately, and advocate for their needs
Kids and teens with behavioral challenges — addressing oppositional defiance, disruptive mood dysregulation, risky behaviors, and school-related concerns
Children healing from trauma — using trauma-focused play therapy and TF-CBT to process difficult experiences
Young people with anxiety and depression — providing evidence-based treatment for emotional regulation and mood challenges
Children and adolescents with ADHD — supporting focus, impulse control, and executive functioning
Families navigating parenting struggles — strengthening parent-child relationships and developing effective parenting strategies
Parents seeking support — learning ways to foster healthy relationships with their children and manage challenging behaviors
Youth in crisis — providing stabilization and safety planning for children experiencing suicidal ideation or severe emotional distress\
Tampa and St. Petersburg families value Megan's ability to meet children where they are. Whether that's through play, art, games, or books, while supporting parents in becoming confident, connected caregivers.
Megan’s Approach to Therapy
Megan blends evidence-based modalities with a client-centered, relationship-focused approach. Her sessions are developmentally appropriate, playful, and tailored to each child and family's unique needs.
She focuses on:
Using play therapy and artistic mediums to understand and connect with children's inner worlds
Processing trauma using Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Trauma-Focused Play Therapy
Teaching emotional regulation and coping skills through child-focused Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Supporting children in learning socio-emotional skills through games, creative activities, and developmentally-appropriate interventions
Addressing crisis stabilization and risky behaviors with structured, evidence-based strategies
Empowering parents with tools to navigate challenging behaviors and foster healthy family dynamics
Megan recognizes that change can be difficult and prides herself on meeting clients exactly where they are, building on strengths to support meaningful growth.
What Megan Helps Clients With
Megan supports Tampa and St. Petersburg children and families experiencing:
Trauma and PTSD
Anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder
Depression and major depressive disorder
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD)
Behavioral challenges and risky behaviors
School-related concerns and academic stress
Emotional regulation difficulties and "big feelings"
Attachment challenges
Megan’s Background & Training
Megan's clinical experience focuses on children and families across various developmental stages, from early childhood to young adulthood.
Her professional experience includes:
Working across intensive outpatient treatment and community-based service settings
Providing crisis stabilization and safety planning for at-risk youth
Supporting families with parenting skills and caregiver-child relationship building
Treating children with ADHD, ODD, DMDD, PTSD, GAD, and major depression
Her advanced training includes:
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for children and adolescents
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Trauma-Focused Play Therapy
A Message From Megan
"Children communicate in ways that are unique to their developmental stage—through play, art, stories, and games. My job is to meet them in that space and help them make sense of their world while supporting you as a parent in building the skills and connection your family needs to thrive."
Ready to work with Megan?
We invite you to schedule a FREE CONSULTATION with us to begin your healing journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Trauma-Focused Play Therapy and how does it help children?
Trauma-Focused Play Therapy uses play—a child's natural language—to help them process traumatic experiences without needing to verbalize what happened. Children often can't articulate trauma the way adults can, so play therapy allows them to express, explore, and make sense of difficult experiences through toys, games, art, and storytelling. This approach is particularly effective for young children who may not have the developmental capacity for traditional talk therapy.
What is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)?
PCIT is an evidence-based treatment that strengthens the parent-child relationship while addressing behavioral challenges. Parents learn specific skills through live coaching during play and discipline sessions with their child. PCIT is highly effective for young children (ages 2-7) with oppositional behavior, aggression, or attachment difficulties. The focus is on building a warm, responsive relationship while setting consistent, effective limits.
How is therapy different for children with ADHD versus anxiety?
Children with ADHD benefit from structured interventions focused on executive functioning, impulse control, and behavioral strategies, often involving parents and schools. Anxiety treatment focuses more on identifying triggers, developing coping skills, and gradually facing fears. However, many children have both ADHD and anxiety, so treatment is tailored to address the interplay between inattention, impulsivity, and worry in ways that make sense for each child's unique presentation.
My child won't talk about their feelings. Can therapy still help?
Absolutely. This is exactly why play therapy, art therapy, and other creative approaches exist. Children often express emotions through their play, drawings, or stories rather than direct conversation. Megan uses these mediums to understand what's happening in your child's inner world and help them process emotions and experiences without requiring them to "talk about feelings" in the traditional sense.
What does DBT for children look like?
Child-focused DBT adapts traditional DBT skills (mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness) into developmentally-appropriate activities. This might include games, visual aids, hands-on activities, and age-appropriate language to help children recognize emotions, manage big feelings, and communicate needs effectively. DBT is particularly helpful for children with intense emotional reactions, self-harm behaviors, or difficulty managing distress.
How involved will I be as a parent in my child's therapy?
Very involved. Megan places strong emphasis on caregiver involvement because lasting change happens when parents have the tools to support their child between sessions. Depending on the treatment approach, this might include parent-only sessions, family sessions, or learning specific techniques to use at home. You're not just dropping your child off for therapy—you're an active partner in the process.