Penelope Surber , LMHC

Penelope Surber is a trauma-informed therapist who brings a compassionate, person-centered approach to adult recovery work. Recently licensed in Florida, she pairs a warm and interactive style with extensive experience in a recovery center setting, supporting people through depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, career transitions, mid-life challenges, and stress. Her background includes focused work with low self-esteem, abandonment and attachment issues, codependency, addictions, and a range of trauma and abuse histories.

She has helped many women address childhood trauma and all forms of abuse, and she routinely supports clients facing grief, motivation struggles, empty-nest transitions, and parenting or caregiver stress. Penelope also assists those coping with divorce and separation, family-of-origin problems, first responder concerns, and the effects of natural or human-caused disasters. Her practice attends to complex experiences such as dissociation, guilt and shame, forgiveness work, and communication or control issues.

Penelope describes her style as respectful, sensitive, empathetic, and free of stigmatizing labels. She draws on a range of therapeutic methods - including cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, dialectical behavioral, psychodynamic, gestalt, solution-focused, and rational-emotive approaches - to tailor dialogue and treatment plans to each individual’s needs. She views seeking help as an act of courage and aims to empower clients through transformation and growth. She looks forward to supporting those ready to take that step.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Penelope commonly integrates client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) into her online practice. Client-centered therapy focuses on building a trusting, empathetic relationship and helps clients explore their values and goals in a supportive atmosphere; it is helpful for improving self-esteem, relationship concerns, and life transitions. CBT examines the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and provides practical skills to manage anxiety, depression, and problematic coping patterns. DBT emphasizes emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, making it useful for clients who experience strong emotions, self-destructive behaviors, or difficulty managing crises.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Penelope works collaboratively with clients to identify methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. She tailors interventions over time so treatment remains responsive and relevant.

Online therapy with Penelope offers flexible access through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, which can make scheduling easier around work, family, or mobility constraints. These options allow clients to engage in consistent care from varied locations and in formats that fit their communication style, supporting steady progress toward personal goals.