Penelope Surber, LMHC

Penelope Surber is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) based in Florida with eight years of experience supporting adults through difficult transitions. She brings a calm, conversational style to sessions and focuses on practical steps people can use right away. Penelope aims to create a respectful and empathetic space where clients feel heard and understood.

Before licensure in Florida, she spent six years working as an adult trauma therapist at a recovery center. That work involved helping people manage depression, anxiety, stress, and the aftermath of different kinds of abuse. She also supported clients facing addictions, midlife transitions, career shifts, and relationship difficulties.

Her style is warm and person-centered. Sessions tend to be interactive, with an emphasis on real-world tools and skills. She avoids stigmatizing labels and shapes conversations around each person’s goals and values.

Penelope uses a mix of approaches to match what a client needs. She draws on cognitive-behavioral techniques to address unhelpful thinking, dialectical strategies to teach emotional regulation, and client-centered work to center the individual’s experience. She also integrates ideas from emotionally-focused and Jungian perspectives when helpful.

People who reach out can expect a tailored plan that focuses on meaningful change. Penelope highlights collaboration and practical strategies so clients can make steady progress. If someone is ready to explore changes or cope with a midlife crisis, she offers supportive guidance through that process.

How her approaches translate to online work

Penelope combines client-centered care with cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavior tools to address practical problems and emotional regulation. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following the client’s lead to build trust and clarity; it helps people voice what matters and decide next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets unhelpful thoughts and behaviors with concrete techniques, which can help with anxiety, depression, and stress. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches specific skills for managing strong emotions and improving coping during crises.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Penelope collaborates with each person to pick techniques that match their goals and comfort level. She adapts exercises and homework so they fit into a client’s daily life, and she checks in regularly to see what’s helping.

The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people use written or verbal exercises between meetings to reinforce new skills and track progress over time.