Welcome to the Practice of Dr. Bethany R. Russell, Ph.D., LMHC, RPT, NCC

About Dr. Russell

Hello, I'm Dr. Bethany R. Russell, and I am passionate about supporting children, adolescents, and families through their mental health journeys. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling at Florida Gulf Coast University, I bring both clinical expertise and academic insight to my practice.

I maintain a virtual private practice based in Babcock Ranch, Florida, where I provide comprehensive mental health services tailored to meet the unique needs of each client and conduct research. My approach integrates evidence-based therapeutic strategies with genuine care and understanding, creating a supportive environment where clients can connect, feel capable, understand their significance, and find the courage to make meaningful changes.

Specialized Services I Provide

Clinical Therapy Services

• Individual Therapy for children, adolescents, and adults

• Family Counseling utilizing family systems approaches

• Play Therapy as a Registered Play Therapist (RPT), using the child's natural language of play to promote healing and growth

• Trauma-Informed Care for clients experiencing various forms of trauma

• Support for Sensory Processing Sensitivity in children and adolescents

Specialized Assessments

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Assessments - I am ADOS-2 and MIGDAS certified, providing comprehensive diagnostic evaluations

• Social Investigations for court-related matters

• Immigration Mental Health Evaluations supporting individuals navigating immigration processes

Areas of Expertise

I specialize in treating a wide range of concerns including:

• Anxiety and mood disorders

• Behavioral challenges

• Family conflict and relationship issues

• Grief and loss

• Life transitions

• School-related difficulties

• Self-esteem concerns

• Chronic illness adaptation

• Personality disorders

My Therapeutic Approach

My therapeutic philosophy centers on promoting increased awareness while encouraging clients to explore their authentic selves through experiential activities, mindfulness practices, and meaningful connections between past experiences and present challenges. I utilize culturally sensitive approaches, incorporating Adlerian principles, expressive arts, and play therapy techniques as appropriate for each client's needs.

When working with children, I honor their natural communication style through play therapy, allowing them to express feelings and identify areas for growth in developmentally appropriate ways. For adolescents and adults, I integrate various evidence-based modalities to support their unique therapeutic goals.

Research and Academic Contributions

As an educator and researcher, my scholarly work focuses on:

• Change mechanisms in play therapy interventions

• Integrated behavioral health approaches in pediatric settings

• Applications of artificial intelligence in mental health treatment

• Evidence-based practices in child and family therapy

I currently serve as President of the Florida Association of Counselor Educators, reflecting my commitment to advancing the counseling profession through leadership and mentorship.

Please visit our Research & Clinical Trials page for more information about our internal Institutional Review Board sponsored research

Contact Information

I accept private payment including via Crypto Currency (Bitcoin and Ethereum), Credit Card, Check, and various insurance plans including Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, CCA Referrals, Medicare (please note: not Medicaid), Optum, and UnitedHealthcare. I also offer a free 15-minute consultation to determine if we might be a good fit for your therapeutic needs.

If you have questions or would like to schedule a consultation, please don't hesitate to reach out. I am committed to providing a supportive environment where you can begin your journey toward healing and growth.

Brief Biographical Sketch of Dr. Bethany R. Russell

DrBethany@RussellMentalHealth.com        Telephone: 239-427-1635