Obsessive-compulsive disorder therapists & psychiatrists in Panama City, FL

With over 10 years of experience as a licensed clinical social worker, I’ve supported individuals through some of the most challenging moments in their lives—including anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and substance use.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure where to start, you’re not alone. I provide a supportive, nonjudgmental space where we can work through what’s going on and begin finding a path forward that feels realistic and manageable.

My background in healthcare settings has given me experience working with both mental health and medical challenges, allowing me to take a more holistic view of what you’re going through.

Congratulations on your courageous decision to seek help! Self-awareness is the first step to change and I go above and beyond to help those like you who choose to actively help themselves. Understand that the path to self-discovery and growth is not easy. It involves commitment, personal investment, and a desire to delve into the process of growth, healing, and self-love.

I started my career in New York City then moved my practice to the sunny state of Florida. My experience over the past 15 years is working with adults navigating everything from everyday stress to deeper emotional wounds. Life gets complicated sometimes, but you don't have to do it alone! Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside people through their most vulnerable moments—and watching them rediscover their strength, gain clarity and build confidence.

Finding a therapist who truly gets your life can feel like a long search. One who sees more than a diagnosis, who doesn't need you to explain yourself before you can get to work. If you're part of the LGBTQ+ community, that search often comes with an extra layer: the quiet work of figuring out whether this therapist is actually safe, or whether you'll spend your sessions educating them. With me, you won't have to do that work.

I'm a licensed therapist with more than 22 years of experience in mental health and addiction treatment. I've worked in community mental health centers, psychiatric hospitals, correctional settings, and private practice. I've sat with people in some of the hardest moments of their lives and know how to meet them there without flinching.

My primary focus is LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. That includes navigating identity, coming out at any stage of life, relationship dynamics unique to queer and same-sex partnerships, internalized stigma, minority stress, and everything that comes with living authentically in a world that doesn't always make that easy. I also work with anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, substance use and dual diagnosis, men's issues, and stress and burnout.

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.

Heather Pepe brings a wealth of knowledge with over 25 years of experience in mental health. Heather utilizes a holistic and self-actualized approach to treating anxiety, depression, and PTSD and is EMDR-certified. Heather is also a qualified supervisor committed to fostering growth in both clients and the next generation of clinicians.