Patricia Searels, LPC, LCMHC - Therapist in Florida

About Patricia

Patricia Searels is a Licensed Professional Counselor who focuses on practical help for everyday challenges. She offers calm, straightforward support for issues like stress, anxiety, depression, parenting struggles, grief, trauma, and relationship concerns. Patricia writes and talks plainly and aims to make therapy feel like a clear, collaborative process.

Patricia brings 28 years of experience across universities, independent practice, and nonprofit centers. She has worked with college students, athletes, young professionals, and adults facing life transitions such as moving, job changes, becoming new parents, and divorce.

Background and approach

Her background includes helping people cope with adjustment, addiction-related concerns, mood conditions, and intimacy or self-esteem difficulties. Her counseling style is direct and caring. She builds a respectful, honest relationship and meets people where they are.

Sessions focus on practical steps and achievable goals rather than abstract theory. Patricia combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, solution-focused techniques, and motivational interviewing to create an individualized plan. She also uses elements of EMDR and mindfulness when appropriate.

The therapist and client decide together which tools fit best for the situation. She prefers some voice or face time in addition to text contact and keeps hours flexible to fit different schedules. Patricia emphasizes giving clients concrete tools to improve day-to-day functioning and to move toward a more fulfilling life.

Therapeutic approaches that work well online

Patricia uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help identify unhelpful thoughts and change small behaviors that add up to big improvements. CBT is often helpful for anxiety, depression, and stress by turning problems into manageable steps.

She also uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, for people who have distress from traumatic memories. EMDR involves focused memory processing combined with guided attention to reduce emotional intensity around those memories.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Patricia collaborates with each person to choose methods that match their goals, comfort level, and pace. She adapts techniques over time based on what helps most.

Online therapy with video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text messaging makes it easier to fit counseling into a busy life. These formats allow more flexible scheduling and make follow-up or brief check-ins possible between longer sessions. For many people, remote sessions remove travel time and let them use therapy tools where they live and work.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

EMDR

A structured protocol used with distressing memories, pairing recall with guided attention tasks. Some therapists adapt it for video sessions; whether that fits is worth asking about directly.

Gottman Method

A research-based framework for couples, focused on how partners argue, repair, and stay connected. Practical and structured, with exercises to try between sessions.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Patricia commonly address?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, parenting matters, grief, trauma, relationship and intimacy issues, self-esteem struggles, addictions, eating and sleeping problems, anger, career questions, and bipolar mood concerns.

What is her general therapy style?

The approach is direct, respectful, and cooperative. Sessions focus on clear goals, practical steps, and an honest therapeutic relationship.

How long has she been practicing?

She has 28 years of experience working in universities, independent practice, and nonprofit centers.

What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?

Patricia holds LPC and LCMHC credentials with licence numbers SC LPC 9683 and NC LCMHC 14995, and she practices from Florida.

Which languages are used in sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

Therapy is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging.

How are fees and billing handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How does someone begin working with this therapist?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Self esteem

Also works with

Addictions
Anger management
Bipolar disorder
Career difficulties
Coaching
Coping with life changes
Depression
Eating disorders
Family conflicts
Grief
Intimacy-related issues
LGBT
Parenting issues
Sleeping disorders
Trauma and abuse

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 28 years
Licensed: Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina
Languages: English

Next step

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