Barbara Olszanski, Marriage Counselor in Lake Mary, 32746

Barbara Olszanski MA, LMHC, CHt

Profession(s):
Marriage & Family Therapy, Mental Health Counseling, Psychotherapy
License Status:
I'm a licensed professional.
Primary License:
Licensed Mental Health Counselor - MH9751

My Approach to Helping

I bring deep compassion and insight along with years of training and experience to my work in supporting and challenging clients to make the positive changes they are seeking. My holistic approach, including mind, body, heart and spirit, allow for profound integration of all that is learned in the therapeutic setting. I am certified in hypnotherapy, which is the most effective approach I know to help clients heal old wounds from childhood and create the life they love. Often those unhealed areas of our young life remain in the unconscious and affect our relationships and ourselves in self-destructive behaviors including: addictions, depression, anxiety, job dissatisfaction and broken hearts. Getting unstuck and moving forward is essential to emotional and mental health and I can help. Call today for an appointment to get started on your path to a happier you!

More Info About My Practice

My office is conveniently located off of Lake Mary Blvd, not far from the I-4 Lake Mary Blvd. exit. I have evening hours and am flexible in meeting your needs for appointment times. Currently, I do not sit on any insurance panels but am considered an out-of-netwok provider, which means that some insurance companies will reimburse you directly a portion of my fee. Call or email me with any questions and to schedule an appointment. Remember that expecting things to change without doing anything about the problem only keeps the unhappiness alive. Regain your hope and learn the skills to find that inner peace of mind and relief you so deserve.

What I Love about Being a Psychotherapist

I think that my passion as a therapist is a reflection of my personal desire to probe the mysteries of life - the how and why of things. So philosophy, psychology, metaphysics and spirituality have been a deep interest for as long as I can remember. I worked for several years in Hospice organizations supporting terminally ill patients and their families, and sat with dying patients and helped them face their fears and anxieties as they approached their death. How does a person heal when they are facing death? How does one confront their life full of regrets and make peace in the end? So many questions… Somewhere along the way, I found that I could sit with others’ pain and not get swallowed up in it and not take responsibility for it and that they benefitted from my presence. I have learned to hold the space for clients to feel the depth of their emotional feelings and not falter. My intuition has sharped as I trust that part of myself more fully, and I listen, stay present and witness the growth. Being so conscious in the moment seems to be where the magical, healing stuff is – the stuff of forgiveness, tolerance, self-worth, self-love, compassion and joy. People will ask, from time to time, if I don’t burn out with the work that I do and the things I see and hear and deal with in the course of the day. And I say that when you do what you love, the rewards are great. – all the way around.

On the Fence About Going to Therapy?

Usually, things have gotten pretty stressful by the time most people call for an appointment and often we find ourselves in some sort of crisis; a partner has threatened divorce, one of the kids has a drug problem, or addictive behaviors have gotten out of control, to name a few. And because we believe that we should be able to take care of our own problems, and it is a sign of weakness to ask for help, and we really don’t know how to go about starting therapy, we wait and do nothing. We sit on the fence a little longer hoping to feel better tomorrow. And then tomorrow comes…. It is a very wise person who notices when things are breaking down and takes action sooner rather than later. But all kinds of excuses get in the way of finding the relief we desperately want. The biggest one I hear is “how is talking to some stranger possibly going to help? Fair enough. But if you’ve got a good friend, you know how much better you feel when you get things off your chest. When someone listens to you as you vent about your boss or the kids or your spouse, it makes you feel that you are heard and valued and supported. But some issues are beyond the scope of even your best friends or family and may exceed your own psychological resources and those closest to you. Whatever has caused you to be reading this now, please know, you don’t have to go it alone. There really is help out here for you. You have the power to improve your life. Just do it.