Counseling & Therapy in Tampa, FL for Children, Teens, Couples & Adults
Tampa Therapy Office
Office location
550 North Reo St, Suite 240, Tampa, Florida
hours of operations
Mon - Sun 8:30am - 8:30pm
*By appointment only
Our Tampa Counseling Services
Discover our comprehensive mental health services in Tampa, designed to support individuals, couples, and families across Hillsborough County. Whether you’re seeking therapy for anxiety, relationship counseling, or specialized child and teen therapy, our licensed therapists in Tampa provide evidence-based care that helps you heal, grow, and reconnect.
Explore the links below to learn more about each specialty, serving the Greater Tampa area—including South Tampa, Westchase, Hyde Park, Carrollwood, Brandon, and nearby communities.
Learn more about what to expect from Tampa therapy at our Westshore office
Individual Counseling in Tampa
In Tampa, the pressures on individuals and families can feel intense—busy careers, high expectations, unpredictable schedules, and the weight of trying to keep everything together while still caring for your own wellbeing. At It Begins Within Therapy, our Tampa clinicians specialize in evidence-based, deeply personalized care for adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, grief, and the emotional strain of managing so much at once. Whether you're an executive, medical professional, parent, or student, our Tampa team provides grounded, compassionate support tailored to the challenges of life in our city. Each service below reflects the issues we most commonly help Tampa residents overcome—offering a clear, focused path toward healing, clarity, and long-term emotional health.
Couples Therapy & Marriage Counseling In Tampa
In Tampa, couples face pressures that can strain even the strongest relationships—demanding careers, nonstop schedules, blended family dynamics, and the emotional weight of trying to stay connected while life keeps pulling you in different directions. At It Begins Within Therapy, our couples program is led and supervised by Dr. Mary Perleoni, PhD, LMHC, a counselor educator and specialist in relationship repair, communication, and attachment-based healing.
Our Tampa team works with couples who want more than simple conflict resolution—they want to rebuild trust, restore intimacy or overcome mismatched libidos, strengthen friendship, and create a relationship that actually feels good again. Whether you're navigating marriage counseling, infidelity recovery, couples intensives, communication breakdowns, or sex and intimacy concerns, each service below reflects the issues most commonly faced by couples here in Tampa.
With evidence-based approaches and warm, practical guidance, we help couples move from disconnection and resentment toward clarity, closeness, and long-term stability.
Therapy for Children & Teens in Tampa
Families in Tampa face a unique blend of academic pressure, fast-paced schedules, digital overwhelm, and the everyday emotional challenges that come with growing up. At It Begins Within Therapy, our child and teen specialists provide supportive, developmentally attuned care that helps young people manage anxiety, ADHD, emotional regulation, behavior concerns, trauma, friendship struggles, and school-related stress.
Our approach combines evidence-based techniques with a warm, engaging environment that helps kids and teens feel safe, understood, and motivated to grow. Each service below reflects the most common needs we see among Tampa families—offering a clear path toward healthier coping skills, stronger confidence, and more peaceful daily life.
What Tampa Says About Us
Meet Our Tampa Counselors
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![Dr. Mary Perleoni, PhD, LMHC, trauma therapy and marriage counseling specialist in Tampa, FL]()
Mary Perleoni, Ph.D., LMHC
Specialties: Trauma therapy, Marriage counseling
About: Dr. Mary Perleoni is the Founder of IBWHC and specializes in trauma and marriage counseling, with training in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Gottman marriage therapy.
Education and Training: Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Central Florida. Trained in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Gottman Couples therapy.
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![Emma Groskind, MSW, LCSW, grief, anxiety, and trauma therapist in Tampa, FL]()
Emma Groskind, MS, LCSW
Specialties: EMDR therapy, Trauma-informed and strengths-based therapy for individuals and families, treatment of trauma, grief counseling
About: Emma creates a safe, non-judgmental environment for healing, focusing on evidence-based approaches to help individuals and families overcome trauma and distress.
Education and Training: Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) with a specialization in mental health from the University of Louisville. Certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and trained in EMDR and CBT.
Full Profile: here
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![Kelly Morrissey, MA, LMFT, LMHC, CAP, addiction and family counseling expert in Tampa, FL]()
Kelly Morrissey, MA, LMHC, LMFT
Specialties: Marriage Counseling, Couples Therapy, and trauma processing Utilization of Lifespan Integration Therapy, an evidence-based modern modality
About: Kelly provides tailored, client-centered therapy, focusing on leveraging strengths and supporting healing through a supportive, non-judgmental relationship, with ongoing training in Lifespan Integration Therapy.
Education and Training: Master of Arts in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from the University of South Florida, Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy from USF. Trained in Lifespan Integration Therapy and is a Qualified Supervisor in Florida.
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![Annie Mowbray, BA, life transitions and trauma counseling in Tampa, FL]()
Annie Mowbray, BA
Specialties: Person-centered counseling for clients navigating life transitions, interpersonal relationships, trauma, depression, anxiety, supporting individuals with disabilities, including chronic illness and invisible disabilities
About: Annie is.a pre-licensed clinician and creates a safe, non-judgmental space for open communication, using compassion and empathy to support clients through their unique experiences and goals.
Education and Training: Obtained her Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling and Disability Sciences from the University of South Florida. Trained in CBT, Gestalt, and trauma-informed care.
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![Samantha Kindler, MA, relationship and betrayal trauma therapist in Tampa, FL]()
Samantha Kindler, MA
Specialties: Individual counseling, Couples counseling and Family counseling
About: Samantha brings a relational, strengths-based approach, creating a therapeutic space where clients feel seen and supported, helping them navigate challenges like anxiety, trauma, betrayal, and relational conflict using Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Education and Training: Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Concordia University. Trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
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![Ciana Nguyen, LCSW, PTSD and family therapy specialist in Tampa, FL]()
Ciana Nguyen, MS, LCSW
Specialties: Individual counseling, Family counseling, Child and adolescent therapy, Postpartum, PTSD, complex trauma, and relational difficulties
About: Ciana is passionate about helping adults and children understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, using trauma-informed, developmentally-appropriate care and evidence-based approaches.
Education and Training: Master of Social Work and Bachelor of Social Work from the University of South Florida. Trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), CBT for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP), Motivational Interviewing, and Pain Neuroscience Education.
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![Tyler is recognized as the best therapist tampa fl]()
Tyler MacDonald, MA, LMHC
Specialties: Therapy for men and professionals seeking support for anxiety, self-esteem, grief, sexual performance, and life transitions.
About: Tyler helps clients uncover their natural strengths and remove barriers to growth through a trauma-informed, person-centered approach. He integrates motivational interviewing, Jungian, and existential techniques to balance each client’s personal motivations with the deeper, universal challenges we all face.
Education and Training: Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Central Florida. Clinical experience in residential, crisis, and inpatient settings supporting clients with anxiety, depression, and substance use challenges.
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![Drew supports couples in tampa couples therapy including christian and faith based counseling]()
Andrew “Drew” Decker, MSW
Specialties: Therapy for individuals and couples navigating grief, trauma, anxiety, life transitions, and faith-based challenges.
About: Drew helps clients find healing and direction through an integrative, compassionate approach. Grounded in the social work principle of “person in environment,” he considers the full context of each client’s life—family, community, and personal beliefs. Using CBT, DBT, and faith-informed counseling, Drew supports individuals and families in restoring balance, hope, and connection.
Education and Training: Master’s in Social Work (Clinical Concentration) from Florida State University; Experienced in residential, IOP, and PHP settings supporting individuals with trauma, grief, and mood disorders.
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![Paris McDonald, MS, LMHC, PTSD and couples therapy specialist in Tampa, FL & EMDR therapy for PTSD in Tampa Bay]()
Paris McDonald, MS, LMHC
Specialties: Counseling for first responders, military personnel, veterans, and their families, Treatment of complex trauma, anxiety, depression, anger, grief, couples therapy & infidelity counseling
About: Paris, a U.S. Army Veteran, brings military insight and specialized training to her counseling, focusing on resilience and community for holistic healing through a collaborative and empathetic approach.
Education and Training: Master’s degree in Applied Clinical Psychology from the University of South Carolina, Aiken. Specialized training includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) for adolescents.
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![Lauren Pankuch, MA, LMHC, child and adolescent trauma therapist in Tampa, FL]()
Lauren Pankuch, MA, LMHC
Specialties: Therapy for children, adolescents, parents, and individuals, Play Therapy and Child Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT)
About: Lauren promotes a non-judgmental counseling space, specializing in child and adolescent therapy with a strength-based, trauma-informed approach, and is trained in Play Therapy and TF-CBT.
Education and Training: Master of Arts in Counselor Education from the University of Central Florida. Formally trained in Play Therapy and Child Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT).
Tour Our Tampa Therapy Office
Why Tampa Chooses It Begins Within
Dr. Mary Perleoni is a therapist Tampa residents trust, and founded It Begins Within with the mission of establishing a standard for quality in mental healthcare. While obtaining her Ph.D., she developed a deep appreciation for the process of “gatekeeping” (i.e. only allowing qualified and capable aspiring clinicians to graduate from a program).
As a Counselor Educator, Mary has had the unique experience of training, evaluating and mentoring thousands of Clinicians - she’s used this expertise to ensure each and every clinician at It Begins Within is truly an expert in their respective area.
With a foundation of the most skilled clinicians in the Tampa area, combined with ongoing support and education, we ensure we are able to provide the highest level of mental health support for the Tampa community.
Therapy Tampa Professionals & Residents Rely On
Top-rated & specialized clinicians
Our convenient Westshore location
Evening & weekend appointment availability
Our focus on trauma-informed and responsive care
Frequently Asked Questions – Therapy in Tampa
How do I find the best therapist in Tampa for my needs?
Finding the best therapist in Tampa means clarifying what you want (e.g., couples work, trauma, parents, executive stress), checking credentials, practice style, and fit with your lifestyle. A top-performing Tampa therapist will offer the expertise you need (for example, licensed clinician, modalities like CBT, EMDR, somatic work), talk with you about goals, and ensure a skill-match. Look for local search terms like “best therapist Tampa” and read reviews, ask for a free consult, and trust that “best” means the right fit for you.
How does cognitive behavioral therapy in Tampa work for anxiety and depression?
CBT in Tampa is a structured, goal-oriented psychotherapy that helps you identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, replace them with more adaptive patterns, and actively practice new skills. In our Tampa practice, you’ll work with a licensed therapist to track thought patterns, challenge assumptions, and test new behaviors between sessions. Over time, CBT can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mood concerns.
What should I expect when seeking EMDR treatment near me in Tampa for trauma or PTSD?
When you pursue EMDR treatment in Tampa, your therapist will guide you through an evidence-based process (8 distinct phases) designed to safely process and reframe traumatic memories. Sessions include preparation, bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or tones), and grounding techniques. EMDR helps reduce emotional charge and physical reactivity so you can move forward without reliving the past.
What does Christian counseling Tampa look like and when is faith-integrated therapy appropriate?
Christian counseling in Tampa combines evidence-based therapeutic methods with faith-based principles if you wish. During Christian counseling, your faith, values, and spiritual identity are intentionally included alongside emotional or relational work. If you’re seeking therapy where scripture, prayer, and psychological care intersect, choose a Tampa Christian counseling practice that lists both mental-health credentials and faith integration.
What is somatic therapy in Tampa and how can it help me heal from trauma?
Somatic therapy in Tampa addresses the body-mind connection by helping you notice physical sensations, nervous-system patterns, and stored stress — not just thoughts. Unlike traditional “talk therapy,” this approach uses breath-work, movement, and felt-sense awareness to release trauma held in the body. Many Tampa therapists trained in somatic methods highlight how it supports deeper healing of PTSD, chronic stress, and burnout.
what is grief counseling in Tampa - and what should i expect?
Grief counseling in Tampa offers a compassionate space to process loss, understand the grieving process, and find meaning in life after bereavement. Your therapist will help you navigate sadness, guilt, and adjustment challenges while building tools to honor your loss and continue forward with resilience.
When should couples in Tampa consider premarital counseling, and what will we cover?
Premarital counseling in Tampa is a proactive way to build a healthy foundation before marriage. Sessions focus on communication, finances, conflict resolution, family expectations, intimacy, and shared goals. Couples often report stronger confidence and clarity heading into their wedding and future together.
How do I start therapy or book a counseling session in Tampa?
Simply contact IBWHC through our website or call our Tampa office to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. We’ll answer your questions, review your goals, and connect you with the right therapist for your needs.
Do you offer specialized therapy for professionals or high-achieving adults in Tampa?
Yes, we specialize in counseling for busy professionals, executives, physicians, attorneys, and entrepreneurs seeking expert support for stress, burnout, work-life balance, and mental health.
How do I choose a Tampa psychiatrist for medication management and mental health evaluation?
When selecting a Tampa psychiatrist, look for board certification, collaborative communication with therapists, and experience treating your specific condition. A good psychiatrist should evaluate your full health history, explore non-medication options when appropriate, and design a personalized treatment plan to complement your therapy.
What does behavioral health in Tampa include, and how is it different from traditional therapy?
Behavioral health in Tampa encompasses mental health counseling, psychiatric care, addiction recovery, and wellness services. It integrates therapy, medication management, and lifestyle support, creating a holistic approach to emotional and psychological wellbeing—especially helpful for clients managing multiple conditions.
How do I find reputable drug treatment in Tampa when I also need therapy for co-occurring issues?
When searching for drug treatment in Tampa, look for a program that offers integrated behavioral health support—addressing both addiction and underlying mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, or trauma. Dual-diagnosis programs and therapy-based treatment options are most effective for sustainable recovery.
Ready to Start Your Healing Journey with a Top Tampa Therapist?
We invite you to schedule a confidential consultation with one of Tampa’s best therapists. Whether you’re seeking CBT, Christian counseling, marriage therapy, or expert mental health support, our licensed counselors are here to help you make lasting change.