Bipolar disorder therapists & psychiatrists in Lithia, FL

You don’t have to navigate this alone.

I’m a Licensed Mental Health and ART trauma therapist passionate about helping adults and teens manage the overwhelming challenges of life—whether it's anxiety, depression, trauma, or simply feeling stuck.

Everyone deserves a space where they feel heard, valued, and empowered to grow. As a licensed mental health therapist, I’m dedicated to creating that space for my clients, fostering a journey of healing and transformation.

Originally from the Midwest, I found my heart and home in Florida when I moved here for school in 2014. The sunshine, warm community, and opportunities to grow professionally made me stay! When I’m not working, I love spending time with friends and family—movie nights, game nights, and afternoons at the park with my nephew are some of my favorite ways to recharge and stay connected.

With over five years of experience, I’ve worked closely with children, adolescents, young adults, and families to address a wide range of challenges, including anxiety, PTSD, grief, sexual trauma, childhood trauma, self-esteem struggles, bullying, and LGBTQ+ issues. I also have experience supporting individuals with autism, antisocial personality disorder, and schizophrenia.

One of the most empowering factors in my life has been spending 32 years as an Air Force Military Spouse. This empowered me to grow and learn through lived experiences in diverse groups. I’ve been a clinical social worker and prior substance abuse counselor for 30+ years working in a public agency, private practice, and with the US Army at Fort Carson, Colorado and at SHAPE, Belgium. I work across all ages to include both adults and children. In addition to my MSW in clinical social worker, I have an advanced graduate degree in Infant and Early Childhood Special Education Leadership and a doctorate degree in Curriculum and Diversity Studies.

I offers a warm, non-judgmental therapeutic experience grounded in genuine connection and collaboration. I work with adolescents and adults, and I am especially passionate about supporting you in deepening self-understanding, fostering harmony within yourself and in your relationships, and building a life that reflects your values and sense of purpose. I bring experience from many years of working in multiple levels of dual-diagnosis care. I have been a registered yoga teacher for 10 years, and enjoy incorporating mind–body practices into therapeutic work.

If you are seeking an alternative to traditional psychiatric care — especially after feeling broken, unheard, or powerless — I want you to know that change is possible. Life can feel like turbulent waves, and surface-level symptom reduction is rarely enough. Together, with or without medication, we will explore how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors interact, helping you replace external control with inner direction and discover the calm beneath the waves. My goal is to guide and empower you until I am no longer needed.

Tara Payne is the owner and founder of Payne Influential Mental Health. She is a board-certified

Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner (PMHNP). She obtained her Master of Science in

Nursing from the University of South Alabama. Tara has been a Registered Nurse for almost 20

years in which she has been devoted to helping and treating patients with a variety of conditions.

She has specialized in critical care, mental health, and several other acute care specialties. Tara is a Perinatal Mental Health provider through PSI (Postpartum Support International) as well as a Trauma Certified provider. Tara has learned how vital mental health is when it comes to treating a patient as a “whole” person. This has driven her passion to help serve the mental health community and those in need of mental health management.

If you visit our company website or visit us on Psychology Today, a up to date list of insurance companies listed is provided.

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida who has been practicing for twelve years after receiving my Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. My clinical area of expertise is treating survivors of abuse and trauma.

Hi! I am a fully licensed mental health therapist. I have been in the business of helping people for over 15 years. I am direct and solution oriented, but will not rush the process.