Learning the Difference: Mental Health Providers

By Jade Caswell, MA, LMHC

Deciding to seek mental health support can be a huge step towards prioritizing your well-being. After making this decision, it may be confusing to understand the difference between professionals within the field of mental health, and you may not know where to begin. Here at SMC, we decided to clear things up, and provide information on the roles of different professionals. Each professional is trained to provide support and help you make the best choices for your mental health, however, they each have different roles and often work in tandem to provide the best care! Read below for more information.

1. Mental health counselor:

A mental health counselor (or 'therapist') is a trained professional who helps people cope with emotional, psychological, and behavioral challenges through talk therapy. Counselors hold a master’s degree and must fulfill academic and training requirements. They may also be specialized in a particular therapeutic approach, such as CBT, DBT, EFT. Counselors do NOT prescribe medication. 

2. Psychologist:

A psychologist is a professional who studies the mind and behavior and helps people understand and manage mental health and behavioral challenges. Psychologists hold a doctoral degree and may provide talk therapy and in-depth assessments. Additionally, they often have a background in research, testing and assessment. Psychologists do NOT prescribe medication in the state of Florida.

3. Psychiatrist:

A psychiatrist is a medical Doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of mental health disorders. A psychiatrist holds a medical degree with advanced training and may prescribe medication. A psychiatrist is trained in the biological aspects of mental illness and may work closely with other members of a patient's care team, such a counselor, social worker or primary care physician.

4. Neurologist:

A neurologist is a medical Doctor who treats disorders of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and nerves. A neurologist holds a medical degree with advanced training and may prescribe medication and interpret tests like MRI, CT, EEG etc. Neurologists do not provide talk therapy.

Each mental health professional plays an important role in aiding patient wellbeing. Here at SMC, we aim to provide holistic counseling services with a wrap-around approach, incorporating a specialized care team for improved results. Need more information? Call us today at 813-335-9794! 

Anxiety: Effective Therapy for GAD That Can Help You Reclaim Control

By Sandra I. Beekmann, MS, NCC, LCMHC

Feeling anxious from time to time is a natural part of life. But if worry and fear are a constant presence—disrupting your sleep, relationships, or ability to focus—you might be experiencing Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The good news? You don’t have to live in a constant state of tension. Effective therapy for GAD is available and can help you feel more grounded, present, and in control of your life again.

What Is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

GAD is more than occasional nervousness. It’s characterized by persistent, excessive worry about a wide range of everyday issues—health, finances, work, relationships—often without a clear or logical cause. People with GAD often describe feeling "on edge," experiencing muscle tension, restlessness, fatigue, irritability, and trouble concentrating or sleeping.

Living with GAD can feel like carrying around a constant weight, but therapy can offer practical tools and real relief.

How Therapy Helps

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating GAD, but therapy offers a safe, supportive space to explore your anxiety and learn strategies to manage it. Here are some of the most effective evidence-based approaches:

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is considered the gold standard in treating GAD. It helps you identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with more balanced, realistic thinking. Through CBT, you can learn to break the cycle of worry and develop healthier ways of responding to stress.

Key tools in CBT include:

• Thought records

• Exposure techniques

• Relaxation training

• Problem-solving skills

2. Mindfulness-Based Therapy

Mindfulness helps you shift out of anxious thinking by anchoring you in the present moment. Practices like meditation, deep breathing, and body scans can reduce physiological symptoms of anxiety and train your brain to be less reactive to stress.

Mindfulness doesn’t mean ignoring your worries—it means learning to respond to them in a calmer, more intentional way.

3. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Rather than trying to eliminate anxiety, ACT helps you change your relationship with it. Through ACT, you learn to accept anxious thoughts and feelings without letting them dictate your actions. This approach encourages you to live in alignment with your values—even when anxiety shows up.

4. Integrative and Holistic Therapies

Some individuals find additional relief through complementary approaches like yoga, nutrition counseling, breathwork, or trauma-informed body-based therapies. When used alongside traditional therapy, these tools can enhance overall emotional regulation and wellbeing.

What to Expect in Therapy for GAD

At the heart of effective therapy is a collaborative relationship. A skilled therapist will work with you to understand your unique experiences with anxiety and tailor a plan that meets your specific needs. Over time, you’ll learn how to:

• Notice early signs of anxiety before it escalates

• Respond to stress in more empowering ways

• Let go of the need for constant control

• Create space for peace, clarity, and confidence

Reclaiming Control Is Possible

Living with GAD can feel overwhelming, but with the right support, healing is not only possible—it’s within reach. Therapy can help you reconnect with your inner strength and move through life with more ease and freedom.

If you’re ready to take the first step toward a calmer, more centered you, we’re here to help.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation and begin your journey toward reclaiming control from anxiety.

Wearing Three Hats: Therapist, Boss, Beekeeper

By Sandra I. Beekmann, MS, NCC. LCMHC-QS

People often ask how I manage to juggle being a mental health therapist, a business owner, and a beekeeper. My first response is usually a laugh, followed by, “Carefully—and with a lot of coffee.” But the truth is, these roles aren’t as separate as they seem. Over the years, I’ve discovered surprising parallels between therapy, leadership, and beekeeping. Each one requires presence, patience, and a deep respect for the process of growth.

Therapist: Holding Space for Healing

As a mental health therapist, my job is to sit with clients in their pain, their breakthroughs, their fear, and their hope. It’s sacred work. Every session is a reminder that healing doesn’t follow a straight path—it weaves, loops back, pauses, and sometimes surprises us. I’ve learned to trust the process, to honor the small wins, and to listen more than I speak.

What keeps me grounded in this work is the belief that people are incredibly resilient. Even when they can’t see it, I can. My role is to be a mirror, a guide, and sometimes just a steady presence when everything else feels shaky.

Boss: Nurturing a Practice, Not Just a Business

Running a group practice means I wear the boss hat, but I try to do it in a way that aligns with my values as a therapist. That means cultivating a work environment where clinicians feel supported, not micromanaged. I believe in creating a space where professionals can grow without fear of judgment, where collaboration is encouraged, and where mental health is valued—for both clients and therapists.

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about building trust, setting a vision, and knowing when to step in and when to get out of the way. Much like therapy, it’s about balance, boundaries, and believing in people’s capacity to rise.

Beekeeper: Lessons from the Hive

And then there are the bees. When I step into my backyard and open a hive, everything slows down. Beekeeping demands mindfulness. If I’m anxious or distracted, the bees know it. They respond not just to movement but to energy.

A hive is a superorganism—thousands of individuals working as one. There’s order, rhythm, and instinctive communication. It’s a living metaphor for community and collective wellbeing. Watching the bees reminds me that small actions matter: one bee gathering one drop of nectar doesn’t seem like much, but together, they create something golden.

Beekeeping has taught me patience, observation, and how to respond rather than react—skills that have made me a better therapist and a better leader.

Integration: Living with Intention

Balancing these three roles isn’t about compartmentalizing. It’s about integrating. Each one teaches me something I can bring into the others. Therapy reminds me of the power of presence. Leadership challenges me to stay humble and curious. Beekeeping connects me to nature and rhythm.

So, yes—it’s a lot of hats. But they all fit together more than you’d think.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from therapy, business, and the bees, it’s this: healing, growth, and success all take time. You can’t rush transformation, but you can create the right conditions for it to thrive.