Dr. Cheryl D La Rotta, Ph.D, Licensed Mental Health Counselor

St. Petersburg, Florida

VerifiedTelehealth Available

Professions: Mental Health Counselor, Hypnotherapist, Other

Languages: English

My Approach to Therapy

In my years of specializing in trauma and abuse, I have found that the most successful individuals often feel the most isolated by their experiences. My philosophy is simple: You should not have to choose between your professional excellence and your personal healing. I believe that a traumatic eventwhether it be a single crisis, a history of abuse, or a profound lossis an extraordinary experience that requires a specialized, clinical response to become "normal." My approach is to meet you at the intersection of your high-functioning life and your most difficult moments. By combining the structure of grief recovery with the depth of hypnotherapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), we create a space where your history can be processed with dignity, discretion, and profound expertise. Healing is the ultimate high-performance act. You are used to being the most capable person in the room, but trauma does not respond to willpower. If a crisis, loss, or history of abuse has begun to compromise your focus and well-being, you need more than just "talk therapy." I provide a sophisticated, clinical approach to help high-achievers normalize and integrate traumatic events. With a Ph.D in Counseling Education and Supervision, I specialize in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), hypnotherapy, and grief loss recovery. My expertise covers the spectrum of traumaincluding intimate partner violence (IPV), domestic violence, and abuseoffering a discreet, expert-level space to stabilize your nervous system and reclaim your edge. Let's move past "coping," and get back to operating at your full potential.

What I Love about Being a Psychotherapist

Why I Love This Work People often ask what draws me to the world of psychotherapy, especially when working with the complexities of trauma and high-level performance. For me, the answer is simple: I believe in the profound power of the human spirit to rewrite its own story. There is a unique kind of magic that happens when a driven, goal-oriented person decides to turn that same determination inward. I love being a psychotherapist because: I witness the "Unburdening": There is nothing quite like the moment a high performer realizes they don't have to carry their past as a shield or a weight anymore. Watching that tension leave a client?s shoulders as they reclaim their energy is a true honor. I believe in Resilience: I am constantly in awe of the capacity we have to face traumatic events and, with the right support, transform that pain into a new kind of wisdom and strength. I value the Partnership: I don't see myself as the "expert" on your life; I see myself as a seasoned guide. Walking alongside you as you navigate the path from "surviving" to "thriving" is the most rewarding work I can imagine. I am inspired by Growth: Whether it?s helping a client reach a personal breakthrough or watching a Registered Intern find their clinical confidence in our Gainesville office, being a witness to growth is why I show up every day. Being a therapist isn't just my profession?it is my way of contributing to a world where people feel empowered to lead lives defined by their dreams, not their wounds.

Why Going to Therapy Does Not Mean You are Weak or Flawed

Strength in the Struggle: A Different Perspective on Therapy In a world that prizes "grind" and "resilience," it is easy to mistake seeking support for a sign of weakness. However, for the high performer, therapy is not a sign that you are flawed; it is a sign that you are courageous. True strength is not the absence of struggle?it is the willingness to confront it. Think of therapy as the ultimate "performance review" for your inner world. Just as an elite athlete works with a coach to refine their form or a CEO hires a consultant to streamline their business, therapy is a strategic choice to refine your mental and emotional wellbeing. Why Seeking Support is an Act of Power: The Weight of History: Carrying the weight of a past traumatic event takes an immense amount of energy. Choosing to process that trauma isn't "giving up"?it?s deciding that your energy is better spent on your future than on your survival. The Limits of Willpower: You cannot "willpower" your way through a nervous system response. Acknowledging this isn't a failure of character; it?s an understanding of human biology. The Pursuit of Excellence: High performers go to therapy because they refuse to let anything?including their past?limit their potential. You aren't here because you are "broken." You are here because you are ready to be whole. Why this resonates: Reframing: By using metaphors like "performance reviews" and "elite athletes," you speak the language of a high achiever. De-stigmatization: It shifts the narrative from "clinical pathology" to "personal optimization." Empowerment: It validates that their current "stuckness" is a biological response to trauma, not a flaw in their drive or ambition.

Expertise & Specialties

Age Groups I Work With

TeensAdultsElders

Groups I Work With

I like to work with clients who are diverse in their cultures, careers and lived experiences. Working Together we can reclaim your momentum. You have always been someone who moves with purpose. You set goals, you meet them, and you strive for excellence in everything you do. But lately, things might feel different. Perhaps there is a weight youve been carryinga recent experience or a shadow from your pastthat has begun to feel like an anchor. For a high performer, the frustration of "knowing" what you want to do, but feeling "blocked" by the echoes of trauma, can be exhausting. Maybe you are feeling like an imposter in your own body stopping you from moving forward. I specialize in supporting individuals just like you. I work with the driven, the goal-oriented, and the resilientpeople who are ready for deep, meaningful change but realize that their past is currently dictating their pace. My approach is designed to honor your strength while providing a safe, calm space to process the events that have held you back. Is this you? The Driven Professional: Youre used to winning, but a past event is creating invisible barriers to your next level of success. The Goal-Oriented Soul: You have a vision for your life, yet you feel a sense of "stuckness" that your usual willpower cant seem to fix. The Change-Seeker: You are tired of the past having a seat at the table and are ready to reclaim your narrative. Our work together isn't about fixing what is "broken." Its about integrating your experiences so they no longer act as a hurdle. Its about clearing the path so you can return to what you do best: leading your life with clarity, power, and peace.

Therapy Services & Specialties

Clinical SupervisionCounseling for OffendersFamily Therapy Individual Therapy & CounselingLegal DocumentationMarriage, Couples, or Relationship CounselingPsychological EvaluationTelehealth

Concerns & Challenges Addressed

AbandonmentAbuse / Abuse Survivor IssuesAcademic ConcernsAdjusting to Change / Life TransitionsAggression and ViolenceCaregiver Issues / StressCommunication ProblemsDivorce / Divorce Adjustment

Therapeutic Approaches & Evidence-Based Methods

Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)Gottman MethodHypnotherapyInternal Family Systems (IFS)Mindfulness-Based InterventionsSchema TherapySomatic Psychotherapy

Industries & Communities

Entertainment IndustryFirst Responder/Medical ProfessionalsLGBTQ+Military/Law EnforcementProfessional SportsSelf-Employed and Freelance Professionals