About Our Tampa Counselors

Learn About Us and How We Can Help. *Currently offering Online Sessions*

YOU’VE DEDICATED YOUR LIFE TO ACHIEVING WHAT YOU THOUGHT WOULD MAKE YOU HAPPY…AND NOW YOU’RE WONDERING WHAT IT WAS ALL FOR

Now providing confidential online sessions to fit your schedule

You’ve always been the one to go above and beyond and work any number of hours needed in order to accomplish the tasks you have been given. You learned early on that your work ethic and achievements would open doors to the success you wanted. But something has you considering seeing a Tampa counselor.

Maybe you’re noticing you haven’t been able to apply your drive to strive to your relationships. This disconnection and discontent have been leaving you lonely, depressed, and anxious.

You may be dealing with the painful memories and anxiety of past trauma, and you are insecure, scared, and hopeless about the possibility of living your most full life.

Sometimes, you find yourself focusing on everything outside of yourself so that you don’t have to tune into all of the turmoil, anxiety, or depression you’ve been trying to ignore. The difficulties you’re having with building a life worth living has you feeling like a failure.

If the insecurities and feeling inadequate weren’t enough, you’ve been fixating on the ONE THING you can’t get in line with your vision…and judging yourself harshly.

You may be feeling anxious about the direction of your life, but you’re not ready to give up.

I’m Mikela Hallmark, founder of this Tampa counseling practice.

It is my joy to walk with you and help you see what’s possible: That you CAN have fulfillment at any stage of life. I have an extensive background in several mental health settings, as well as experience in the business world: This means that you will benefit from someone who understands both mental health and the corporate structure.  I am trained in EMDR (trauma therapy), Gottman Method Level 3 (couples therapy) with additional training in the treatment of affairs in couples, ERP, Motivational Interviewing, and more. I love working with high achievers who tend to be busy, perfectionistic, go getters who struggle with tuning into their emotions, setting boundaries, staking time to process difficulties, or are just too hard on themselves or others. I’ve become very busy in my practice, and that has provided the wonderful opportunity to bring on another Tampa counselors who value the same excellent care and support that I do. Read more about our counselors below.

This is Where our Tampa Counselors
Partner with You:

We do not judge you-ever.  We help you identify and heal any wounded places that are contributing to your confusion about your worth and lovability.  Through our work together, you will be able to identify any unhelpful ways of thinking as well as differentiate between your perception of others’ expectations and the expectations you have of yourself.  You can choose what serves you and what you want to let go of.

With their extensive training, you can rest assured that our Tampa counselors are equipped to help you.  Some modalities they may use include (but are not limited to):

  • Gottman Method
  • Eye-Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing [EMDR]
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Reality Therapy

Using this training, our Tampa counselor can help you challenge the beliefs and unhelpful patterns you have that are keeping you from the satisfying relationships to yourself, your loved ones, and your ambition.

Meet Our other Tampa Counselors:


Hi, I’m Lorianna Kardok, MS, LMHC.
Do you feel stuck in the same patterns that don’t yield the results you want? Do you find yourself asking “why does this keep happening?” or “why do I always…”? Or maybe you struggle to even connect with what you need or want. You’re used to thinking about what everyone else wants or needs, but when it comes to your own emotions or needs you don’t even know how to begin connecting with them.

You are tired of living this way but have no idea how to change. Life seems out of your control and you just go through the motions every day. You try to articulate how you feel or what you need and struggle to find the words. All these emotions can be overwhelming and finding a place to unpack it all can feel daunting. My goal in therapy is to meet you right where you are and walk alongside you as we find the place you’d like to be.

Whether you’re a mom who feels she has lost herself, an achiever who always feels they need more, or a people pleaser who is tired of overlooking themselves, I will help you discover what is missing. I will work to create a nonjudgmental and safe space for you to honestly explore and recognize areas of needed growth and provide the steps necessary to create real and lasting change.

I have been a therapist for over 14 years and I love what I do! I enjoy going through this process with each of my clients and will tailor (I wouldn’t use the word treatment. It doesn’t make sense to clients. Instead I might say something like ‘my work with you to fit what you need’. treatment based on each person’s needs. My style as a therapist is supportive and empathetic but I will not shy away from giving honest feedback that will provide you the tools necessary to reach your goals. It really is an honor to help you achieve what you want out of life and be a part of this journey with you. If this resonates with you and you feel we would make a good fit please reach out and schedule an appointment today. As far as my training and background, I’ve served as a therapist in private practice, outpatient treatment, and residential treatment, working with mental health and substance abuse. I have also served as a Clinical Director, managing other therapists, in residential and outpatient settings. I have training in REBT, DBT, Trauma Informed Care, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. I am licensed in the states of Florida, Virginia, and Ohio.


Karen Michael - Tampa and Florida Counselor providing virtual counseling
Karen Michael, MA, APC, CCH  – Call or Contact us For Appointment        

 You deserve to experience connection, love, purpose, and peace in your life.

 As a therapist and a fellow traveler on life’s journey, I believe each of us deserves and can benefit from therapeutic support to help navigate the challenges of life and clear out the obstacles that stand in our way.  If you have experienced, or are currently experiencing, difficult or painful life experiences, including anger, anxiety, career dissatisfaction, depression, low self-esteem, relationship issues, substance use issues, unresolved trauma, unhealthy behaviors, or other life transitions – You do not have to do it alone! You and I can create a therapeutic partnership and plan that is tailored specifically to you, for you and with you.

 My work is holistically based, integrating body, mind, and spirit, and focuses on helping clients learn to love and treat themselves with the care and compassion they offer others. Clearing out negative beliefs, healing emotional wounds, and reducing toxic influences help clients live more authentic and empowered lives. Emotional pain, traumatic experiences, or being stuck in self-defeating patterns can make life and relationships feel hard or even unbearable. I see adult clients, both individually and as couples, and specialize in anxiety, relationships, and trauma, having advanced training in each of these areas. I have a humanistic orientation and most closely adhere to a client-centered approach which means the focus is placed on the client, not the therapist, as key to the healing process. 

 Being a therapist is my second career after having a successful career in Human Resources Leadership. I believe my decades of experience in a high-profile and demanding career puts me in a unique position to offer my clients the extra benefit of a therapist with first-hand experience of the struggle it can be to balance professional and personal life, to navigate the pressures of a high-powered career, and to avoid burnout.

If you would like to hear more about my background and credentials, I earned a Bachelor of General Studies in Communication, Management and Psychology at the University of Michigan- Dearborn and a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the School for Professional Psychology at Argosy University in Atlanta. Further, I am a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist (CCH) and have advanced training in my areas of specialty including:  Gottman Method (through Level 2) which assists me in my work with couples, Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP) which is the gold standard treatment for Anxiety and OCD, and I am currently working towards a post-master’s certificate in Trauma Stress Studies from The Trauma Research Foundation.  I am a member of the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), the American Counseling Association (ACA), and the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia (LPCGA).  Lastly, I am a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (APC) working under the clinical supervision of Brandy Rogers, LPC, RPT-S, CPCS, CFMHE, and I am a registered telehealth provider in the State of Florida.

 My commitment is to treat you, as my client, with great care, to be both a safe haven where fears and challenges can be discussed and a therapeutic partner that helps clarify goals, challenges and supports you in your growth and healing and in recovering the balance, connection, joy, and success you desire.

Remember, you do not have to do this alone! Please reach out… You can schedule a virtual session with me by contacting us via email or phone.

 

 

What to Expect from Tampa Counseling

When you hold yourself to high standards, your emotions might feel like a hindrance to your goals. In our Tampa counseling office, we help you learn that your feelings are actually signals and communication about your needs. We want you to know that honoring your emotions actually enhances your ability to connect to yourself, your relationships, and your goals.

Many people who contact us identify as perfectionists. We work with you to help you learn to let go of control…but at your pace. You have worth outside of what you produce, or how often you show up, or whether you feel as though you let someone down. And we are here to help you recognize your inherent value.

Counseling can also help you reconnect with your partner. Using the Gottman Method, your relationship will be assessed and a unique treatment plan formed for you based on your specific strengths and vulnerabilities. You will learn to improve communication and deepen your intimacy.

Your counselor is also equipped to help you navigate the impacts of depression or trauma using a variety of therapeutic tools. Counseling seeks to change any negative beliefs you have about yourself and the world around you and provide tools for coping and increasing resilience. Sessions with Lorianna Kardok are $175 and are 50 minutes long. Sessions with Mikela Hallmark are $200 and are 50 minutes long. To read more about our Privacy Policies, HIPAA and the No Surprises Act, click here

If you are ready to eliminate your anxiety and move forward into the life you’ve worked hard to create, we’d love to meet you. Reach out to set an appointment today.