Outpatient Counseling

Trauma does not wait for a convenient time to surface. It shows up in classrooms, in relationships, in the middle of the night, in the body's refusal to feel safe even when the danger has passed. Residing Hope's outpatient counseling program brings evidence-based, trauma-focused therapy to children and families in their own communities — at three Florida locations that together serve Central Florida, the Tampa Bay area, and the greater Orlando region.

Residing Hope's outpatient counseling services are delivered by licensed clinical professionals at offices in DeBary (Volusia County, 386-668-4774), Plant City (Hillsborough County, 813-752-1200), and Kissimmee (Osceola County, 407-846-2711). The program provides individual therapy, family therapy, and group therapy for children and adolescents who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, or the disruption of family instability. The primary evidence-based treatment modality is Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) — a components-based psychotherapy developed by Drs. Cohen, Mannarino, and Deblinger and validated in more than 20 randomized controlled trials. TF-CBT is designated as a well-supported, efficacious treatment by SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices and is recommended as a first-line treatment for childhood PTSD by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the World Health Organization.

TF-CBT is delivered in parallel sessions with the child and a non-offending caregiver over 12 to 25 sessions. The PRACTICE components — Psychoeducation, Relaxation, Affective modulation, Cognitive coping, Trauma narrative development and processing, In vivo mastery of trauma reminders, Conjoint child-parent sessions, and Enhancing safety and future development — are delivered in sequence, with each component building on the previous one. Research consistently shows that children whose non-offending caregivers participate actively in TF-CBT show significantly greater symptom reduction and maintain gains more durably than children who receive individual therapy alone. Caregiver involvement is not optional in Residing Hope's counseling model — it is the standard of care.

Residing Hope's counseling program accepts Medicaid at all three locations, making evidence-based trauma treatment accessible to families who might otherwise be unable to afford mental health care. Sliding scale fees are available for families who do not qualify for Medicaid but face financial barriers. The intake team works with each family to identify the most appropriate funding source and minimize out-of-pocket costs. The program also accepts referrals from the Florida Department of Children and Families, community-based care lead agencies, schools, courts, pediatricians, and private sources.

Residing Hope's therapists work closely with schools, courts, child welfare agencies, pediatricians, and other community partners to ensure that the children and families they serve receive comprehensive, coordinated support. School consultation — communicating with teachers and school counselors about a child's therapeutic needs and progress — is a standard component of the treatment model. Court testimony and documentation for dependency and family court proceedings are provided by Residing Hope's licensed clinicians as needed. If you are a parent, guardian, or caseworker seeking mental health services for a child who has experienced trauma, contact the office nearest to you to schedule an intake assessment.