Ellie Mental Health - Brandon, FL

08/12/2025

Struggling to set boundaries without feeling like the bad guy?

This podcast episode is for anyone who's ever struggled to say no, felt drained by unclear expectations, or wondered how to protect their peace without burning bridges.

Therapists Miranda Barker, LICSW, Letisha Harris, MA and Madison Wozniak, LCSW have an honest, practical conversation inspired by the book "Set Boundaries, Find Peace" by Nedra Glover Tawwab.

We explore:
🔹 What healthy boundaries actually look like in real life
🔹 How trauma and guilt can make boundary-setting harder
🔹 The difference between time, material, emotional, and internal boundaries
🔹 How we've grown (and stumbled) through boundary work ourselves

Whether you’re a therapist, a client, or just someone navigating the messiness of relationships, this episode offers tools and takeaways you can use right away. Here's the link to the episode on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/07cgH1wdmbfORDCfHiT0Bp?si=73TM0KZzQlSqSCGyreN-lg

Let us know what you think of this episode in the comments! ⬇

08/08/2025

Big emotions in little bodies can feel overwhelming-- for them and for us. Here’s how to respond without losing your cool. 💥➡️💞

08/05/2025

Back-to-school season is here and for many families, so is back-to-school anxiety.

Whether it’s the fear of new routines, separation from parents, or social pressure, the transition can bring up gigantic feelings for kids of all ages.

In this blog, therapist Miranda Barker, LICSW shares:
✅ Common signs of back-to-school anxiety in kids and teens
✅ Practical tools and coping strategies to try at home and in the classroom
✅ Book recommendations to support emotional wellness
✅ Simple morning and evening routines to ease transitions
✅ When it might be time to seek additional support

Let’s normalize school jitters and empower our kids with the tools they need to thrive (not just survive) the school year. 🍎🎒

📖 Read the full blog here:
https://elliementalhealth.com/calming-first-day-fears-a-parents-guide-to-back-to-school-anxiety/

Help kids conquer back-to-school anxiety with practical tips, calming routines, and coping strategies for a smooth transition.

08/04/2025

New Therapist Alert!!
Jourdin Hering is a Registered Clinical Social Work Intern and has been working in the mental health field for several years. She earned a degree in Social Work from USF. Jourdin started her career with a focus in substance-use and working with adolescents. Jourdin has experience working inpatient and outpatient. Jourdin has since worked with a variety of populations and specializing in DBT, solution focused, trauma, life changes, depression and anxiety. Jourdin focuses on an empathic and genuine approach in aiding clients to resiliency, confidence and obtaining daily tools for self-empowerment.

Call 727-513-2962 or go to www.gettherapy.elliementalhealth.com to schedule time with Jourdin!

08/01/2025

New Therapist Alert!!

Taylor is a Registered Clinical Social Work Intern working from our St. Petersburg clinic. With experience supporting individuals ages 5 and up, Taylor brings a compassionate and client-centered approach to therapy. As a former school social worker, she has a deep understanding of the challenges children, adolescents, and families face across all settings. She is dedicated to creating a safe, open, and unbiased space where clients feel empowered to be their authentic selves. Drawing from a variety of therapeutic techniques, Taylor tailors each session to meet the unique needs of the individual, fostering growth, resilience, and self-awareness, and is committed to walking alongside clients in their journey toward healing and personal discovery. Outside of work, Taylor enjoys fun workout classes and being at the beach/on the water!

Call 727-513-2962 or go to www.gettherapy.elliementalhealth.com to schedule time with Taylor!

07/31/2025

Therapist Spotlight: Jourdin Hering, RCSWI/Therapist

Jourdin Hering is a Registered Clinical Social Work Intern and has been working in the mental health field for several years. She earned a degree in Social Work from USF. Jourdin started her career with a focus in substance-use and working with adolescence. Jourdin has experience working inpatient and outpatient. Jourdin has since worked with a variety of populations and specializing in DBT, solution focused, trauma, life changes, depression and anxiety. Jourdin focuses on an empathic and genuine approach in aiding clients to resiliency, confidence and obtaining daily tools for self-empowerment

Jourdin is available at our Brandon location or via telehealth for anyone located in Florida! Don't wait, use our online scheduling tool to connect with an amazing therapist!

07/30/2025

Today, on , we hold space for the losses that changed us— the ones we speak of often and the ones we carry quietly.

Whether your grief is fresh or decades old, visible or invisible, your pain is real. We're thinking of you today.

Here are some tips and book recommendations from one of our therapists for helping kids navigate grief and loss.

07/29/2025

🚨Ellie in the News! 🚨

highlighted our free therapy that is available for uninsured and underinsured Florida residents. Since August of 2024, Alyssa has seen 24 people in need of mental health help and completed over 200 sessions. The program was such a great success that we're expanding it starting in August of 2025! We'll have more therapists involved and more clinics, both Brandon and St. Petersburg. Spots are limited and first come, first serve, but if you're interested in seeing if you qualify, please call 813-508-7866

https://bit.ly/3U5qMsl

Call it a win-win, with a new program at Ellie Mental Health.

07/28/2025

Ever zoned out during a meeting, driven somewhere and not remembered how you got there, or felt totally disconnected in a stressful moment?

These aren’t just quirks.... they can be signs of dissociation, a powerful and often misunderstood coping mechanism.

In therapy spaces, we talk about dissociation often. But outside of them, people may not recognize it or know what to do when it shows up. For folks with trauma histories, dissociation isn’t just occasional spacing out—it’s the nervous system protecting itself when things feel too overwhelming to process.

➡️ In this new blog post, Ellie therapist Miranda Barker, LICSW, breaks down:
- What dissociation actually is (and isn’t)
- Why the body uses it as a survival response
- How trauma-informed approaches like EMDR, parts work, and somatic therapy can help
- Practical grounding strategies that reconnect people to the present

Whether you're a clinician, a mental health advocate, or someone who’s felt disconnected and didn’t have a word for it—this is worth the read.

🔗 Check it out here: https://elliementalhealth.com/feeling-disconnected-a-therapists-guide-to-understanding-dissociation/

🎧 Bonus: Watch this related podcast episode featuring trauma therapist Amy Wilkerson, LICSW, for more insights. https://youtu.be/2Cxr5KB8Atg?si=p-mTzj5ZgGmwveOx

Explore how dissociation serves as a trauma coping mechanism and discover therapeutic approaches for healing.

07/27/2025

Therapist Spotlight: Kelly Hall, LCSW/Therapist

Kelly Hall, LCSW provides a healing environment, face to face and virtual, for clients to explore vulnerabilities and become better versions of themselves. Asking for help is hard and the hurt, frustration, and pain that brought you here are valid! Kelly uses an integrative approach encompassing techniques from CBT, DBT, EMDR, Trauma Focused-CBT, and Motivational Interviewing to create a customized treatment unique to each client. She possesses skills to help those, experiencing trauma, depression, anxiety, su***de, ADHD, and relationship issues. She provides a supportive and empathetic environment for clients to express their emotions but will also challenge unhealthy thoughts and habits to facilitate healing.

Katie is available at our Brandon location or via telehealth for anyone located in Florida! Don't wait, use our online scheduling tool to connect with an amazing therapist!

07/25/2025

Ever heard of DBT?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a powerful, evidence-based approach that helps people manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and build a life worth living.

Originally developed for borderline personality disorder, DBT is now used to support anyone struggling with:
💥 Big emotional swings
🧠 Anxiety or depression
🗣️ Conflict in relationships
🧍‍♀️ Feeling stuck in unhelpful patterns

DBT teaches skills in 4 key areas:
Mindfulness
Emotion Regulation
Distress Tolerance
Interpersonal Effectiveness

It’s not just about coping, it’s about thriving with tools that actually work.