Samantha Bickham, LMHC, EMDR Therapist

03/15/2026

Spending some time outside the therapy room together 🐶

At Calming Tides Counseling, we believe connection and team culture matter. Taking time to laugh, move, and do something fun together helps us show up more grounded for ourselves and the people we work with.

And honestly… if puppy yoga is an option, we’re saying yes every time.

03/15/2026

Substance use often starts as a coping tool.

For many people it begins as a way to quiet anxiety, numb emotional pain, or get a break from overwhelming thoughts.

Over time the thing that once felt like relief can slowly become something that feels harder to control.

Understanding the pain underneath the coping is often where real healing begins.

If you or someone you care about is struggling with substance use, support is available and you do not have to face it alone.

03/14/2026

Sometimes the things we judge ourselves for are actually trauma responses.

Overthinking everything. Feeling on edge when nothing is wrong. Shutting down when things get emotional. Waiting for the other shoe to drop.

These patterns are often your nervous system trying to protect you based on what it has learned before.

The hopeful part is that our brains are capable of change. Through something called neuroplasticity, the brain can form new pathways and learn safety again. With the right support, those automatic reactions can start to soften over time.

Healing does not mean your past disappears. It means your nervous system no longer has to live there.

03/12/2026

Many people living with chronic pain have heard things like “your tests are normal,” “maybe it’s just stress,” or “you just need to push through it.”

Over time, those kinds of messages can make people question their own bodies and experiences.

Finding the right professional can make a meaningful difference. Working with someone who understands the complexity of chronic pain and creates a space where you feel believed, supported, and safe to explore what your body is experiencing can be an important part of the healing process.

Approaches that consider the role of the nervous system and the mind–body connection can help people begin to understand their pain in new ways and build tools for managing it.

If you’re living with chronic pain, you deserve care that listens, understands, and supports your healing.

03/10/2026

Living with chronic pain can feel really lonely.

In this short video, Jenelle Coolidge shares a little about her own experience with chronic pain and how Pain Reprocessing Therapy has helped shape the way she supports clients.

For many people, simply being believed and understood can be the first step toward healing. Jenelle brings both compassion and lived insight into this work, and it’s something our clients deeply appreciate.

If you or someone you love is living with chronic pain and looking for support, we’d love to help.

You can connect with Jenelle and learn more about working with us through the link in our bio.

03/02/2026

As testing season approaches for students across Florida, many are starting to feel the pressure build.

Our clinicians at Calming Tides, frequently hear about this struggle from the adolescents and college students they work with.

💭 Racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating, fear of disappointing others, and that overwhelming feeling of your mind going blank during an exam are more common than many realize.

In therapy, we support students by helping them understand their triggers, build practical coping strategies, regulate their nervous systems, and strengthen confidence before high-pressure situations.

The good news is that test anxiety is manageable with the right awareness and tools.

We recently shared a blog that breaks down common triggers behind test anxiety and practical strategies to help students feel more prepared, confident, and in control during exams.

If you work with students, have a child navigating academic pressure, or remember what that stress felt like yourself, this may be a helpful resource.
Feel free to read and share with anyone who might benefit.

Learn what causes test anxiety, how to identify personal triggers, and practical strategies to manage exam stress. Discover tools to build confidence, improve performance, and feel more in control during high-pressure academic situations.

02/26/2026

As clinicians, we know how powerful a strong therapeutic connection can be.

The relationship between client and therapist truly matters and often plays a significant role in the progress someone makes in therapy.

That’s why we believe it’s so important for people seeking therapy to feel prepared and informed.

Knowing what to look for, how to gather referrals, and what to expect during a consultation can make the process feel much less overwhelming.

We recently put together a blog on how to find the right therapist and what to expect along the way.

If you or someone in your network is considering therapy, we hope this feels helpful. 🩵

What do you think matters most when choosing a therapist?

Feel free to take a look and share with anyone who might benefit.

Learn how to find the right therapist, where to get trusted referrals, how to make your decision, and what to expect during a therapy consultation so you can feel confident taking the next step.

02/25/2026

It’s Eating Disorder Awareness Week 🦋

Eating disorders don’t discriminate. They impact people of all ages, genders, body sizes, and backgrounds — even though harmful stereotypes still suggest otherwise.

Too often, people are overlooked because they don’t “look” sick enough. Weight stigma, cultural bias, and misinformation delay support and keep many struggling in silence.

Awareness matters because early support changes outcomes. Recovery is possible, and no one should have to navigate it alone.

If you or someone you love is struggling, our team at Calming Tides Counseling is here to help. You can connect with us through the link in our bio to take the first step toward support.

02/18/2026

Jenelle Coolidge, a therapist at Calming Tides Counseling, often sits with clients who are living with chronic pain and feeling discouraged after having tried so many different treatments.

She recently created a blog on fibromyalgia and how chronic pain can be driven by the nervous system, not just structural damage.

She explores how Pain Reprocessing Therapy offers a research-informed approach that focuses on retraining the brain’s pain response and restoring a sense of hope.

If you or someone you work with is navigating fibromyalgia or persistent pain, I hope this resource feels both validating and informative.

Feel free to read and share with anyone who may benefit. 🩵

Learn what fibromyalgia is, why chronic pain can persist without structural damage, and how Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) helps retrain the brain to reduce symptoms and restore quality of life.

02/13/2026

How do you know when it is time to start therapy?

It is a question many people sit with quietly for a long time.

Maybe you have been feeling overwhelmed more often.

Maybe the same patterns keep showing up in your relationships.

Or maybe you are holding it all together on the outside but feeling worn down on the inside.

In this blog, our team share's some of the signs that therapy might be a helpful next step and what beginning the process can actually look like.

If you have been wondering whether additional support could make a difference, we hope this offers some clarity and reassurance.

Feel free to read and share with anyone who might need it.

Wondering if therapy is right for you? Learn the common signs it may be time to start therapy, how counseling can help you build coping skills, set boundaries, and improve relationships, and what to expect when taking that first step toward support.