LGBT therapists in Lakeland, FL

I am a licensed mental health counselor providing individual therapy in-person and virtually. I earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Florida and completed my master’s degree in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from the University of South Florida.

After completing my undergraduate degree, I worked at a domestic and sexual violence center for three years, providing crisis and individual support to survivors and their children. During graduate school, I gained experience providing counseling in medical clinics and worked alongside adolescent and pediatric physicians. I am passionate about working with teens (13+), young adults, college students, LGBTQ+, and survivors of intimate partner violence and childhood abuse.

Drawing from twenty years of experience in education and principal of therapeutic schools, I have developed the art of conflict resolution with reticent learners, with parents, with couples and individuals. I have the skillset to support people and transform their perceptions of self to cope with communication issues, anger, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and trauma. My empathetic approach offers people to find positive and creative techniques. I am highly gifted in working to establish and enhance relationships between parent and child/husband and wife using conflict resolution to create opportunities. As a clinician of almost ten years, I interact exceedingly well with individuals and couples to support positive communication and achieve personal growth whether it be in a marriage, parenting/school skills, or within oneself. My understanding, compassion, and acceptance of people when they enter therapy create a safe and trusting environment to unpack problems and develop strategies that enhance well-being, stability, and alternative perspectives on how to address struggles/conflicts.

Taking the first step toward therapy can feel overwhelming, especially when you're carrying anxiety, depression, mood changes, or emotions that seem difficult to manage on your own. I believe everyone deserves a space where they feel heard without judgment and supported through life's challenges. Whether you're navigating ADHD, bipolar disorder, anger management concerns, trauma, grief, relationship struggles, identity questions, or simply feeling stuck, my goal is to help you better understand yourself while building the tools you need to move forward. I work with both adolescents and adults, recognizing that every stage of life brings unique experiences and obstacles. Together, we'll create a supportive, collaborative environment where you can explore what's weighing on you, discover your strengths, and work toward meaningful, lasting change at a pace that feels right for you.

If you keep finding yourself in the same arguments, the same shutdowns, or the same loop of feeling more reactive than you want to be, you are not broken. There is often a younger version of you driving the bus in those moments. I work with teens, adults, and women navigating relationship strain, family of origin patterns, anxiety, and grief, including the kind that does not involve a death. Clients describe me as warm, steady, and easy to talk to, and they often say I notice what they did not realize they were sharing.

Hello! My name is Hunter Soens and I am very excited for the opportunity to work together. I have had training experiences primarily working with college students, in a hospital setting for eating disorders, and working with individual athletes and teams. I received my undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of South Florida, my master's degree in sport and performance psychology from the University of Denver, and my doctorate in counseling psychology from Springfield College. I specialize in anxiety, depression, trauma, men's issues, and disordered eating, and I take an LGBTQIA+ affirming approach with every client. When working with me, expect a warm, direct, and humorous conversation rather than a lecture.