Mental Health Therapy in Vero Beach

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Therapists in Vero Beach

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Dr. Michaela Hammer

Vero Beach, Florida - Clinical Social Worker
Online
In Person

My specialty & love are helping individuals at transition points of their lives, with a focus from Adolescence to Mid-life and beyond. These are times of dealing with many changes in one's life. These changes may include family, friends, and your role in community. This is also a time when we are surrounded with "Transition Myths" i.e.; How we SHOULD be feeling, acting and thinking. Some of these are Memory Loss, Depression, Anxiety, Physical Fitness, Sexuality, and being Neurodivergent! My goals are to educate and separate myth from fact while helping YOU ease life's transitions so YOU can continue YOUR life with new hopes and dreams, respect and dignity. Each person is UNIQUE! Issues are NOT AGE SPECIFIC and can impact ANYONE at ANY age! With advanced education & experience, I offer Memory Loss & Cognitive functioning assessments. Not all memory loss is permanent. Let me help you down this journey. And I promise, while some professionals may hand you a diagnosis and walk away, I will provide you with all the research and resources I have to offer and will help you look for more answers. People should never have to go through life and hardships alone. One of my newer areas of focus, which was a great unmet need, has been providing counseling for those who have lost a "4-legged" family member. This is an area that I receive referrals not only from veterinarians but also family doctors and OB/GYNs, "I am referring Mrs. Smith as she recently lost her only child...her child was her 20 year old cat, Roxie..." I offer counseling for Pet Grief & Loss. Some individuals have family members with 4 legs vs 2. Those losses are devastating as well and rarely understood by the general public. I have been providing counseling to individuals, couples and families from many races, religions, socioeconomic and educational backgrounds for over 30 years. I work with preteens to those over 100 years young. I have provided therapy in my office, in individual homes, in schools and in retirement communities, nursing homes and hospitals. I have provided instructional in-services on cultural awareness and aging issues. I have set up memory clinics and performed routine depression and anxiety assessments. For me, helping people live better lives has always been what I am about. It is a gift I share every moment of every day. As an older, more "SEASONED" therapist, I have been where many of you are and survived. It has not been easy. I can tell you that with each action comes not one but many reactions and in many areas. My father was the highlight of not only my life but all the lives he interacted with. He was a teacher and elementary school principal. He saw everyone with the same lens and stuck up for the kids picked on. After school, he would give no charge swim lessons to neighborhood kids who were in need. He had cancer in his 30's and only had a 5% chance of beating it, back then, but he did. He lived till age 45 and died suddenly during a vacation with my mother and my little 7 year old brother. I was 25. Even though it was summer break and most teachers and principals were on vacation, the mortuary was standing room only, inside and out. I have a little brother born when I was a senior in High School. Another highlight of my life. He was always athletic, going to the Hood River in Oregon, when he was a young teen, to compete in the Junior Windsurfing Olympics. He is now a full professor at a state college. He does research in cardiac and ultramarathons. My sister, 18 months younger than I was born blue and had seizures all her life. She died suddenly of seizure and heart attack before the age of 50. My mother was a highly educated strong woman who would never give up the fight. However after watching 2 husbands die, one suddenly in front of her, her youngest daughter die suddenly before she was 50 and then one by one, all of her other family members at home, Great Pyrenees and New Foundlands, died. After that, mom gave up the will to live and died within a few years of a broken heart (even though she would never admit it). I divorced my husband after 50 years, I experienced many areas of stigma, prejudice, shame, loss of friends and family and many other areas of life we often take for granted. Being married to 1 person for 50 years was not always easy, but we made it, just not to 51, good and not so good. I developed tools along the way to cope for me and us. Tools you may also need to develop for you and yours. It was a journey that has been heart wrenching but I can guarantee you that this event(the divorce) like the other traumatic events in my life and other successes in life, they have been identified, dealt with. The constant, "ON THE JOB TRAINING" allows me to offer a more empathetic and knowledgeable therapist for my clients. Not all relationships can be saved in the way we wish. Some need to be reevaluated and redefined. I am here to assist you in whatever way YOU CHOSE and support YOU IN YOUR DECISION. And yes, I have gone to therapy to have a neutral third party to help me navigate my future courses. True, I have the formal education and life experiences as well as a "Dr's Bag" full of information and skills, but sometimes all of us need someone on the outside to truly listen, validate and help us navigate through the storms. Take care and Keep in touch. Dr Michaela Hammer

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Free Mental Health Resources in Florida

NAMI Florida provides advocacy, education, and support, including Certified Recovery Peer Specialists and Workplace Mental Wellness. NAMI Connection is a support group led by trained leaders, and Family Support Group is for family members to gain insight into the challenges and successes of others facing similar experiences.
The Coalition is dedicated to improving the lives of Black transgender individuals by addressing disparities in health, housing, and employment. Services include assistance with emergency food, public benefits applications, and legal identity documents. They provide support to access inclusive healthcare and offer financial aid for medical expenses.
Provide Services for
BIPOC LGBTQ Disability
This peer support program for first responders offers confidential, free mental health support across 20 counties. Call 211 and identify as a first responder or family member. You will be connected with trained peer specialists. They ensure accessible support tailored to the unique challenges faced by first responders and their loved ones.
Provide Services for
Men Women First Responders
The Disaster Distress Helpline from SAMHSA offers 24/7 crisis counseling and support if you experienced emotional distress because of a natural or human-caused disaster. Services include counseling, coping strategies, and referrals to local disaster-related resources. They provide support in multiple languages and are accessible if you have a hearing impairment.
Provide Services for
Depression PTSD Anxiety Grief
The college provides a comprehensive list of hotlines that cover areas such as alcohol and substance abuse, domestic and sexual violence, eating disorders, sexual health, and mental health conditions. Various grief support hotlines are available for those who have lost a loved one to substance use, drunk driving, or violence.
This mental health initiative offers a free, confidential support line that connects you with immediate care. The website features a comprehensive directory of mental health providers, including services like juvenile assessment centers and various outpatient services. You can filter providers based on telehealth availability, insurance, in-person consultations, and immediate care options.
The program oversees a statewide system of prevention, treatment, and recovery that addresses mental health and substance use disorders. Available services include detox, treatment, and recovery support for adults and adolescents. They involve community-based programs, crisis services, and partnerships with local providers to ensure accessible care to Florida residents.
This group of organizations has partnered with the government to provide mental health and primary care to uninsured and underinsured residents. The county offers free prescription discount cards, enabling residents to save on medications not covered by insurance. These initiatives aim to improve healthcare accessibility and affordability in the community.
This group provides comprehensive mental health and addiction support to veterans and their families. Recognizing that certain mental health disorders are more prevalent in military personnel, the department emphasizes the importance of overcoming stigma to seek help. Resources are available to help promote veterans’ mental and emotional well-being and recovery.
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Men Women Seniors Veterans Disability First Responders Depression PTSD Anxiety Grief Substance Abuse
They provide a comprehensive array of resources and training to address mental health, smoking cessation, trauma, and more in individuals from youth to adults. Services include education, coping strategies, and access to support networks. They collaborate with organizations to ensure you have resources tailored to meet diverse needs.
They provide mental and behavioral health care for uninsured children through adults. Their annual Legacy of Champions luncheon raises essential funds to support critical mental health programs. The luncheon brings together community leaders and recognizes exceptional community members. The luncheon raises funds to meet the escalating mental health needs in the community.
Provide Services for
Teens & Students Men Women
The Northeast Florida AIDS Network provides meals, case management, education, housing assistance, nutrition therapy, and help with health insurance premiums. They partner with local businesses and hold fundraising events to support services. The food pantry is open to anyone living with HIV/AIDS, and the partner pharmacy provides one-on-one specialty care representatives.
Provide Services for
Teens & Students BIPOC LGBTQ Men Women Disability Depression Anxiety Grief Substance Abuse
​JASMYN provides free, affirming mental health services tailored to LGBTQIA+ youth in Jacksonville. Programs include ongoing individual counseling, drop-in sessions, a creative space for arts and crafts, and mental health discussions. Services are available to teens and young adults, focusing on inclusivity and addressing challenges unique to the community.
Provide Services for
Teens & Students BIPOC LGBTQ Men Women Disability
SunServe provides comprehensive services that support South Florida's LGBTQ+ community. They provide mental health counseling, youth programs, transgender services, women's initiatives, housing case management, and a senior day center. They also offer substance use disorder case management, training, and education programs. The services promote well-being and empowerment within the community.
Provide Services for
BIPOC LGBTQ Seniors Disability
Comprehensive case management for LGBTQ+ youth age 13 to 24 addresses physical, psychosocial, and support needs. Case managers are trained in cultural competencies and programs provide financial support to assist with GED programs, community college, career and technical schooling, and scholarships at the University of Central Florida.
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Teens & Students BIPOC LGBTQ Men Women
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