Coral Springs, Florida Therapists

An Overview of Mental Health in Coral Springs, Florida

The 133,000 residents of Coral Springs, Florida benefit from warm weather, sunny skies, good schools, a diverse population and a low crime rate. With the Everglades in their backyard and stunning beaches a short drive away, Coral Springs residents live in a beautiful and idyllic part of the country. With its central location near Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, there are many job opportunities nearby. Although some people may lament that there is not much to do in the Broward County town – even the popular Butterfly World is technically in neighboring Coconut Creek, Florida – everything you need is just a short drive away.

While there are many benefits to living in Coral Springs, sunny skies do not make this city immune to major life challenges such as divorce, depression, anxiety, mental illness, eating disorders, chronic illness, substance abuse, trauma or grief. Some challenges specific to this region include:

• Career Competition: Residents in relatively affluent communities often feel pressure to keep up and continue succeeding professionally. These career difficulties can lead to stress, anxiety, burnout and other long-term health problems.
• Long-term Illness: Broward County has higher rates for HIV and infectious syphilis than the state and nation overall. Managing these long-term illnesses presents unique mental health challenges.
• Wealth Disparity: While the median household income is $67,702, the per capita income is $30,444. This indicates a notable wealth disparity and studies have shown a high correlation between poverty and depression.
• Integration: The latest census shows that 28% of residents were born in another country. This makes for a wonderfully diverse city with multiple languages spoken, but these residents may encounter difficulty with the transition to a new country and culture.
• Suicide: The suicide rate in Florida has increased around 20% over the past ten years. Within Broward County, the highest rate of deaths by suicide are in the 45 to 54 category, followed by 35 to 44 and 55 to 64.

Also, one of the most horrific acts of violence in recent US history occurred less than 10 minutes away from Coral Springs. The shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in neighboring Parkland, Florida in February 2018 shocked the nation and was especially traumatic for residents in nearby cities. The grief and trauma related to this tragedy is likely to require long-term, specially-trained mental health care.

The Challenge of Finding a Suitable Therapist in Coral Springs

One of the biggest challenges to finding a therapist in Coral Springs is a lack of health insurance and state aid. The uninsured rate for Broward County is higher than that of the US. Further, there is little assistance available at the state level. Florida provides only $39 per resident in mental health funding. Despite the state ranking it at 50^th in the nation in terms of mental health funding, the budget continues to be slashed.

Unfortunately, counseling services can be expensive without insurance, especially for the 10.3% of residents living in poverty. Some counselors offer non-conventional counseling services such as telephone or video sessions or know of non-profits which provide counseling on a sliding scale which could help with payment difficulties.

Mental Health Resources in Coral Springs, Florida

For anyone dealing with mental health challenges personally or who has a loved one who is suffering, be reassured that there is hope. Coral Springs has many resources available including licensed mental health counselors (LMHC), licensed clinical social workers (LCSW) and licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT). There is a wide range of service providers whether you are seeking a private practice, community counseling, detox center or long-term care facility.

Counselors in the area have extensive experience helping clients through grief, coping with chronic illnesses, career challenges, relationship and parenting difficulties, persistent mental illnesses, substance abuse recovery and physical, sexual and emotional trauma. They use a variety of methods including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), trauma-focused CBT, goal-based counseling, solution-focused therapy and motivational interviewing. Their approaches are non-judgmental, safe and customized to help each client live a more fulfilled life.