Couples & Trauma Therapist | EMDR & Gottman Method
Paris McDonald, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
U.S. Army Veteran with specialized training in complex trauma, PTSD, and couples therapy
About Paris
Paris specializes in helping couples rebuild connection and navigate life’s most challenging moments, including betrayal, communication breakdowns, and emotional distance. As a Gottman Method–trained therapist and U.S. Army Veteran, she brings a unique blend of evidence-based couples therapy and trauma-informed expertise, with a special focus on PTSD and the relational challenges faced by military personnel, first responders, veterans, and their families. Paris works collaboratively with individuals and couples to process difficult experiences, strengthen communication, deepen intimacy, and build long-term resilience within a safe, non-judgmental, and personalized therapeutic space.
Credentials & Education
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) — Florida | License #MH22725
M.S. in Applied Clinical Psychology from the University of South Carolina, Aiken
Trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD
Who Paris Supports
Paris works with:
Couples navigating communication breakdowns and conflict patterns — improving dialogue, breaking destructive cycles, and creating sustainable connection using Gottman Method interventions
Couples experiencing intimacy challenges and emotional disconnection — reigniting friendship, rebuilding emotional and physical intimacy, and addressing sexual concerns within the relationship
Military personnel, veterans, and first responders — addressing combat trauma, PTSD, moral injury, hypervigilance, and the unique challenges of service
Military and first responder families — supporting spouses and children navigating deployment stress, reintegration challenges, or the ripple effects of trauma
Individuals healing from complex trauma — processing abuse, neglect, or repeated traumatic experiences using evidence-based approaches
Adults struggling with PTSD and anxiety — reducing intrusive thoughts, emotional flooding, and hyperarousal through specialized trauma protocols
People experiencing depression and suicidal ideation — providing compassionate, structured support and safety planning
Individuals working through anger — understanding the roots of anger and developing healthier emotional regulation
Adults processing grief and loss — navigating bereavement, anticipatory grief, or complicated mourning
Couples addressing infidelity and trust ruptures — rebuilding intimacy, communication, and connection using Gottman Method interventions
Tampa clients, particularly those with military or first responder backgrounds, value Paris's lived experience, her deep understanding of service culture, and her commitment to empowering clients through their healing journey.
Paris’s Approach to Therapy
Paris integrates evidence-based trauma protocols with a collaborative, strengths-focused approach. Her sessions are empathetic, structured, and designed to help clients tap into their internal strengths for profound personal development.
She focuses on:
Working with couples, Paris uses the Gottman Method to help partners strengthen emotional intimacy, deepen friendship, and manage conflict constructively by reducing patterns like criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling.
Processing trauma and PTSD using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Supporting military personnel and first responders with culturally-informed care that honors the realities of service
Addressing anxiety and depression through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Strengthening couples relationships with Gottman Method Couples Therapy—improving communication, resolving conflict, and deepening connections
Working through anger, grief, and personality disorders with customized, evidence-based interventions
Paris's goal is to empower clients, helping them recognize their resilience and create meaningful change tailored to their unique circumstances and goals.
What Paris Helps Clients With
Paris supports Tampa clients experiencing:
Complex trauma and PTSD
Military combat trauma and moral injury
First responder trauma and critical incident stress
Anxiety and panic
Anger and emotional dysregulation
Grief and loss
Couples communication and intimacy challenges
Infidelity and trust repair
Sex therapy and sexual disconnection
Paris’s Background & Training
Paris's professional experience includes:
U.S. Army Veteran with lived experience in military culture and service-related challenges
Extensive work with first responders, military personnel, veterans, and their families
Specializing in complex trauma, PTSD, suicide prevention, and crisis intervention
Her advanced training includes:
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma processing
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for emotional regulation
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety and depression
Gottman Method Couples Therapy for relational repair and connection
A Message From Paris
"Whether you've served in the military, work as a first responder, or are navigating your own trauma and challenges, you deserve a space where your experiences are understood and honored. My goal is to help you tap into your resilience, process what's been weighing on you, and move forward with clarity and strength."
Ready to work with Paris?
We invite you to schedule a FREE CONSULTATION with us to begin your healing journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes therapy different for military personnel and veterans?
Military and veteran therapy requires understanding service culture, the unique stressors of deployment, combat exposure, moral injury, and the challenges of reintegration. As a U.S. Army Veteran, Paris brings lived experience that allows her to connect authentically with service members and veterans. She understands the stigma around seeking help, the "suck it up" mentality, and what it's like to navigate trauma while maintaining operational readiness. Therapy focuses on processing combat trauma, addressing PTSD, and rebuilding civilian life without the judgment or disconnect that can happen with providers unfamiliar with military culture.
What is Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and how does it help with PTSD?
CPT is an evidence-based treatment specifically designed for PTSD. It helps you identify and challenge unhelpful beliefs that developed after trauma—beliefs like "I'm not safe," "I can't trust anyone," or "it was my fault." Unlike EMDR, which processes trauma through bilateral stimulation, CPT uses writing and cognitive restructuring to help you examine how trauma changed your thinking and reclaim a more balanced perspective. It's highly structured, typically 12 sessions, and particularly effective for combat trauma, sexual assault, and other forms of PTSD.
Can EMDR help with military trauma or moral injury?
Yes. EMDR is highly effective for processing combat trauma, traumatic loss, moral injury (actions that violate your moral code), and the accumulation of critical incidents experienced in service. EMDR helps your brain reprocess traumatic memories so they no longer trigger the same intense emotional and physical responses. For service members and veterans, this can mean reduced hypervigilance, fewer intrusive memories, improved sleep, and the ability to be present with loved ones without being pulled back into combat or traumatic events.
Do you work with first responders and their families?
Yes. Paris has extensive experience working with first responders—police, firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers—who face repeated exposure to trauma, death, and critical incidents. First responder work creates unique mental health challenges including PTSD, compassion fatigue, moral injury, and difficulties separating work trauma from home life. She also works with first responder families navigating the ripple effects of trauma, shift work stress, and the emotional toll of loving someone in a high-risk profession.
How does couples therapy help after infidelity or betrayal?
Betrayal fundamentally breaks trust and emotional safety in relationships. Paris uses Gottman Method Couples Therapy to help partners process the trauma of betrayal, understand what led to it, rebuild honesty and transparency, and decide whether to repair or separate. This includes addressing the hurt partner's trauma responses, the betraying partner's accountability, and creating a new relationship foundation built on intentional connection. Healing requires both partners to engage authentically and can take significant time and effort.
What is DBT and who is it for?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches skills for managing intense emotions, tolerating distress, improving relationships, and staying present. Originally developed for borderline personality disorder, DBT is now used for anyone struggling with emotional dysregulation, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or impulsive behaviors. Paris uses DBT with adolescents and adults to build concrete skills—mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness—that create lasting change in how you respond to overwhelming situations.