Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in North Miami Beach, FL

Hola, I’m Mercedes. I’m a bilingual (English | Spanish) psychotherapist who supports individuals navigating Anxiety, Trauma, and significant life transitions. My approach incorporates somatic principles to help you develop greater Self-Awareness by listening to what your body is communicating.

I understand how easy it can be to lose touch with yourself when you’ve spent so much time surviving, adapting, or staying strong. My goal is to create a space where you can slow down, feel truly understood, and reconnect with yourself so you can make decisions that feel more aligned with who you are and where you want to go.

Thank you for stopping by and for considering me to walk alongside you on your journey toward healing and restoration.

Life can bring seasons of challenge, anxiety, family conflicts and relationship issues that leave us feeling weary. If you’re seeking a safe and compassionate space to process your concerns, strengthen your faith, and gain practical tools for daily living, I’m here to help.

As a Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, my approach is both clinically grounded and faith based, if requested —guided by the belief that true healing touches mind, body, and spirit.

I believe in creating a non-judgmental and empathic environment where my clients feel safe and free to examine their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

I completed my undergraduate studies at Florida International University. I obtained a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling at Nova Southeastern University and completed both a master’s and doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Albizu University. I gained predoctoral internship training at University of Central Florida and a postdoctoral fellowship at Jackson Health System in affiliation with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Hi, I’m Renée Rivers, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in South Florida. I specialize in working with individuals, couples, teens, and families navigating trauma, identity, and major life transitions. As a first-generation Haitian-American woman, I deeply understand the cultural and intergenerational layers that shape how we relate to ourselves and others. My clinical work is grounded in empathy, accountability, and authenticity, I create a space where you don’t have to explain “everything” because I hold space for complexity. I am especially passionate about helping clients unlearn survival patterns that no longer serve them and redefine success, connection, and rest on their own terms.

I’ve worked in school settings, community mental health agencies, and now lead my own private practice, Reflective Rivers Therapy & Consulting. I hold a master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Counseling with a specialization in Couples and Family Therapy.

“We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves or more deeply engrossed in anything than when we are playing”. -Charles Schaefer. Play is vital for children to express themselves and learn about their surroundings and general environment. In addition to exploration, it is essential for their development. Allowing the space for them to play freely generates the possibility of understanding their world and their motivation. Instead of the traditional format of communication, we often learn more about a child's thoughts, feelings, motivations, and struggles by watching them play.

To be able to give a child power, motivation, and confidence will set the foundation for a successful life. Often times when dealing with a traumatic situation and learning to deal and cope with it effectively, allows a child (or anyone for that matter) to become the best versions of themselves and learn to move forward.

Play Therapy sessions with a Licensed clinician that cares and helps create a safe place. I guide my clients and their parents every step of the way and implement various methods to help them develop new attitudes towards all of life’s most complex matters. The works I do benefits children coming from abusive homes and dealing with some of those challenges.

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.