Find a therapist in Gainesville, FL — covered by insurance

You don't have to have everything figured out to be here.

I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida, and I’ve been helping people work through meaningful change since 2011.

I support clients navigating anxiety, depression, life transitions, and addiction, with a focus on building resilience and a stronger sense of self. I especially enjoy working with LGBTQ+ individuals, those navigating recovery and the HIV/AIDS community. I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts from Southern Methodist University and my Master of Arts in Counseling from Webster University.

Because trauma and pain often originate in relationships, they can be effectively healed and overcome in relationships. I want to help you to process and resolve the issues that are preventing you from feeling better, accomplishing your goals, and becoming the best version on yourself.

Life can feel overwhelming when you're carrying anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship stress, or the emotional weight of a chronic health condition. You may be tired of overthinking, feeling stuck, or pretending you're okay when you're not. I enjoy workin with teens, adults, and couples who are ready for honest conversations, practical solutions, and real progress. You'll get compassion, straightforward feedback, and even a little humor along the way because healing doesn't have to feel heavy all the time.

I have more than 30 years of experience in the behavioral health field and have been in private practice since 2003. I work with adults, older adults, adolescents, individuals, and families who are navigating anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, grief, stress, relationship challenges, ADHD, anger, impulse control, substance use concerns, cultural or ethnic issues, and major life transitions. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Psychology in Cuba in 1982 and later completed my Master’s degree at Florida International University in 1998. My background has shaped a warm, culturally sensitive, and practical approach to therapy.

I understand that reaching out for support can feel difficult at first. My goal is to help clients feel safe, respected, and supported as they take that courageous first step toward feeling better and becoming a healthier version of themselves.

I am a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) with over 22 years of experience supporting individuals and families through a wide range of mental health challenges. I take a client-centered approach that emphasizes trust, connection, and positive reinforcement. I have extensive experience addressing behavioral concerns rooted in childhood experiences and helping clients understand how early patterns continue to impact their lives today.

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 24 years of experience helping adults navigate trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use, and difficult life experiences. I also work with relationship concerns and men who may be struggling with stress, emotions, or major transitions.

My goal is to help you feel understood without judgment while creating real, lasting change. Whether you’re trying to heal from the past, improve your relationships, or simply feel more in control of your life, we’ll focus on where you are now and where you want to go.

Growing up in the Bronx as a first-generation Dominican American shaped how I think about mental health — and who I became as a therapist.

I'm Yesenia Aponte, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and psychotherapist. I've spent 8 years working with adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and the specific weight of living between cultures. I work with clients from all backgrounds, but I have a particular connection to clients from immigrant families, Latinx communities, and anyone who's ever felt like a therapist didn't fully understand their world.

I got into this work because mental health support wasn't always visible or accessible in communities like the one I grew up in. Beyond my practice, I'm involved in community outreach and advocacy to make mental health less stigmatized and more reachable — especially for people who've been told it's not "for them."

I also offer therapy in both English and Spanish.

Therapy with me is very human and genuine. I don’t just focus on what’s painful or stuck but help to highlight the ways in which my clients overcome life's punches. While I take this work seriously, I believe laughter can be healing and disarming in therapy.

I earned my Master’s degree in Counselor Education from Florida International University and have worked in a variety of settings, including the foster care system, residential treatment, and community mental health. My background includes supporting individuals navigating trauma, persistent mental health conditions, substance use, eating disorders, and major life transitions. I’ve also worked with veterans, individuals who are unhoused, and LGBTQIA2S+ clients.

In my practice, I work with clients experiencing anxiety, panic, depression, trauma, identity exploration, relationship challenges, and life transitions. I also support clients with PTSD, some OCD presentations, and concerns related to gender, sexuality, and queer identity. My work is trauma-informed, affirming, and rooted in helping clients feel both emotionally safe and genuinely understood.

I am currently accepting new clients. If you’ve been carrying a lot for a long time, you don’t have to sort through it alone. I work with adults of all ages to address past experiences, current concerns, and future goals in a welcoming, collaborative, and supportive space. If you’re looking for care that feels thoughtful, steady, and genuinely personal, we’ll create a path forward together.

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Doctorate in Social Work, specializing in trauma-informed care, anxiety, depression, and relationship stress. My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and grounded in helping you feel genuinely understood.

I have extensive experience working in crisis intervention and community mental health, supporting individuals facing overwhelming emotions, life transitions, and high-stress situations.

Whether you’re feeling lost, overwhelmed, or simply ready to better understand yourself, therapy with me is a space where we work together at your pace. I believe healing happens through safety, insight, and healthy relationships.

I am committed to supporting survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence, as well as other mental health professionals seeking clarity, encouragement, and a safe space to explore.

Clients should know that I am deeply committed to creating a space where honesty, healing and emotional safety can exist without judgment. I understand that coming to therapy often requires courage, especially when life feels overwhelming, complicated, or uncertain. My approach is grounded in respect, authenticity, and clinical integrity. I value the therapeutic relationship and believe that meaningful change happens when clients feel seen, heard, and understood - not rushed, dismissed, or judged.

I bring both professional expertise and real-world understanding into my work. Due to having worked in a forensic psychiatric setting for over 16 years, I have experience working with complex emotional, behavioral, and trauma-related challenges. I approach each client with the belief that behavior is often a response to pain, and healing begins when we understand the story behind the behavior.

Clients should also know that I am direct, compassionate, and intentional in my work. I will support you, but I will also gently challenge patterns that may be keeping you stuck. My goal is not just to help you cope, but to help you grow, heal, and move toward a more grounded and peaceful version of yourself. I deeply respect each client’s pace and process. You are not expected to have everything figured out when you arrive. Therapy is a space for exploration, reflection, and growth.

Above all, I believe that healing is possible, change is achievable, and no one is too far gone to begin again.

Hello! As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) for 30 years working with children, adolescents and adults, my passion is helping individuals struggling with life's challenges and trauma. I am EMDR Certified and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Additionally, I am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavorial Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and Somatic Therapy. Treatment areas include depression; anxiety, trauma; childhood and adult abuse, PTSD, grief, ADHD, parenting, relationship challenges and life transitions.