Samantha Bickham, LMHC, EMDR Therapist

12/02/2025

We often talk about holiday cheer… but not the stress, sadness, and overwhelm so many people quietly carry this time of year.

Whether someone is struggling with grief and loss, difficult family dynamics, loneliness, or social anxiety, it’s important to remember that these experiences are valid and far more common than we talk about.

Calming Tides Counseling’s latest blog gently explores why the holidays can feel heavy. It reminds us that every emotional experience is valid, not just the merry ones.

✨ Read the full blog here: https://www.calmingtidesfl.com/blog/understanding-holiday-emotional-stress

If it resonates, feel free to share it with someone who might benefit from knowing they’re not alone.

Struggling this holiday season? Discover the common emotional challenges people face like grief, anxiety, burnout, and family pressure. & Learn why you’re not alone in feeling this way.

11/10/2025

What does it really mean to be trauma-informed?

It’s more than a therapy approach, it’s a commitment to safety, compassion, and empowering each person’s healing process.

In this blog, we explore how trauma-informed therapy helps you feel supported, understood, and safe enough to begin truly healing.

At Calming Tides Counseling, all of our clinicians are trauma-informed and passionate about helping you heal at your own pace.

If you’re looking for trauma therapy in Central Florida, we’re here to walk alongside you...one step at a time.

Read the full blog here!

Looking for trauma therapy in Central Florida? Learn how trauma-informed care empowers you to heal from the inside out with the guidance of a compassionate EMDR and trauma-informed therapist.

10/28/2025

So many people living with chronic pain carry not just physical discomfort, but emotional wounds too.

If you’ve ever felt:

☁️ Stuck in a cycle of pain and exhaustion

☁️ Like stress or trauma make your pain worse

☁️ Disconnected from your body or emotions

☁️ Frustrated by treatments that only focus on symptoms

…this post might bring a new perspective.

In Calming Tides Counseling's latest blog written by Jenelle Coolidge, LMHC CEDS QS, we share how EMDR therapy can help the brain and body release old pain patterns and support true healing.

Discover how EMDR therapy can help rewire the brain, ease chronic pain, and support emotional and physical healing from trauma by trauma therapist in Winter Park, FL.

10/20/2025

We’re so excited to welcome Sierra Collins to the Calming Tides Counseling family!

Sierra brings a compassionate and knowledgeable approach to therapy, with specialized training in EMDR and Gottman Level 1 Couples Therapy.

She has a passion for supporting individuals and couples navigating:
✨ ADHD & Autism
✨ Eating Disorders & Body Image Concerns
✨ Complex Trauma
✨ Relationship Challenges

Sierra’s calm, attuned presence helps clients feel seen, supported, and empowered as they work toward healing and connection.

We’re thrilled to have her on our team and can’t wait for our clients to experience her warmth and expertise.

Reach out to connect and learn more about sierra and her approach https://www.calmingtidesfl.com/sierra-winter-park-emdr-therapist

10/07/2025

Calming Tides Counseling is expanding!

We're looking for a trauma-informed LMHC or RMHCI who wants to be part of a grounded and supportive team here in Winter Park.

If you’re seeking a space to grow, connect, and do meaningful work, this could be a great fit!

Follow the link to learn more and apply —> https://www.calmingtidesfl.com/were-hiring

10/01/2025

✨ We’re Growing at Calming Tides Counseling! ✨

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Jenelle Coolidge MS, LMHC CEDS QS ! If you’ve spent time in the eating disorder community, chances are you’ve already heard her name. We’re so excited for you to get to know her even more as she continues to expand and grow with the Calming Tides team.

🔅Jenelle specializes in supporting those navigating chronic pain and illness, complex trauma, eating disorders, and medical trauma.

🔅She uses EMDR, ACT, and DBT to help clients move toward healing with compassion and clarity.

🔅She’ll be seeing clients in-person in Winter Park as well as virtually across Florida.

We’re thrilled to have her on the Calming Tides team! Feel free to reach out if you’d like to connect with Jenelle or know someone who could benefit from her support. https://www.calmingtidesfl.com/jenelle-winter-park-emdr-therapist

09/11/2025

✨ We’re Hiring a Therapist in Winter Park, FL! ✨

At Calming Tides Counseling, we believe in creating a safe, welcoming space where healing and growth can truly take root. We’re looking for a warm, grounded, trauma-informed therapist who is excited to join our supportive community of clinicians.

What makes this role special:
🔅W2 employee position with steady referrals (no need to market yourself!)
🔅Competitive pay: $50–$80 per session
🔅Manageable caseload (20–25 clients per week)
🔅Flexible scheduling so you can keep balance in your life
🔅Furnished office in beautiful Winter Park
🔅Weekly supervision by a Qualified Supervisor(if applicable)
🔅All overhead covered (billing, EHR, marketing, supplies)
🔅A close-knit team that values collaboration, connection, and growth 🌿

We’d love to meet you if you are:
🔅Licensed in Florida or an RMHCI
🔅EMDR-trained or currently in training (IFS, ART, or Brainspotting are a plus!)
🔅Passionate about trauma-informed, inclusive, and ethical care
🔅Excited to work independently while still being part of a supportive team

If this sounds like your next chapter, we’d love to hear from you!

📍 Based in Winter Park, FL
📩 Apply at https://www.calmingtidesfl.com/were-hiring

08/25/2025

Big things are happening at Calming Tides Counseling!

We’re thrilled to share that we’re moving into a brand-new office space in Winter Park, FL and will begin seeing clients there starting September 1st. Our new location has been designed to feel welcoming, calming, and supportive of deep healing and we can’t wait to share it with you!

Our trauma-focused team is passionate about supporting those navigating complex trauma, eating disorders, and maternal mental health struggles. With our recent expansion, we’re grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the community in a bigger and more meaningful way.

Stay tuned—we’ll be introducing our newest clinician soon and can’t wait for you to get to know them. We’re so excited about the additional care and expertise they’ll bring to our team!

Learn more about us at www.calmingtidesfl.com

08/13/2025

It was such an amazing experience being a guest on the Tragically Beautiful podcast! Check out the new episode and let me know your thoughts! 🤩

✨ “Core values help you step into your power, especially when coming from narcissistic or abusive relationships where the goal is a power-control dynamic.”

This insight from my recent podcast guest, serves as a powerful reminder that reclaiming our values is a crucial step towards healing and empowerment after an abusive relationship. 🌱 Because when in an abusive relationship, the abuser strips away your authentic values, leaving you to live by theirs.

Such a powerful revelation!

To hear more, listen to Episode 047 on your favorite podcasting platform!

What core value are you embracing today? Share in the comments! 💬.

07/18/2025

✨ New Blog Post ✨

"Recognizing the Signs of Unresolved Trauma"

Sometimes trauma doesn’t look how we expect it to. It can show up in our bodies, in our relationships, in the way we react to everyday stress—and we may not even realize it’s connected to something deeper.

In this post, I share some of the more subtle emotional and physical signs of trauma and how therapies like EMDR can help support healing in a way that feels safe and empowering.

If you've ever wondered “Why am I reacting this way?” or “Is it just stress—or something more?” this might offer some clarity and validation.

💬 I'd love for you to read, reflect, and share with anyone who might need to hear it.

🧠🌿 Because healing is possible—and no one should feel like they have to do it alone.

👉

Learn how to recognize emotional and physical signs of unresolved trauma. Discover how EMDR therapy with a Winter Park trauma therapist can help you heal.

07/11/2025

⭐️”Do I have to remember every detail for EMDR to work?”⭐️

This is something almost everyone asks at some point in therapy.

You don’t have to remember every moment of what happened to experience relief or healing.

EMDR works by helping your brain process the parts of the memory—thoughts, feelings, body sensations—that are still “stuck,” whether or not you have a clear picture of the whole event.

Sometimes memories come up in pieces. Sometimes it’s more like a feeling in your body than a story in your mind.

This is all okay, and it’s all workable within EMDR.

If you’re worried about whether you “remember enough,” know that you’re not alone—and it doesn’t mean you can’t heal.

Reach out to learn more! ♥️

07/03/2025

You don’t have to be an artist to be creative. 🌟

Every one of us has a creative side—yes, even you. Tapping into it can help us process emotions, build self-understanding, and bring more compassion into our healing journey.

I just wrote a blog all about how creative expression—like journaling, collage, and art—can support trauma recovery, body image healing, and self-worth.

If you’re curious how this might fit into your own journey, take a peek here— https://www.calmingtidesfl.com/blog/healing-through-creative-art-in-therapy

✨ And if you’re longing for a space to explore this work alongside others who truly get it, our Creative Expressions Therapy Group for young adults is starting in August. No art experience needed—just come as you are.

Discover how creative expression can support your healing journey. From journaling to collage, tapping into your creative side can help process emotions, build self-compassion, and move through trauma. Written by a Winter Park trauma therapist, this guide explores why creativity belongs in therapy.....