This is a question that has come from the medical model. which says that people have an “illness” and receive a “treatment” or a cure for that illness. Psychotherapy, and psychology in general, has long struggled with this concept.

My stance, and those of my colleagues who do psychoanalytic forms of therapy, is that we ALL have difficulties in living. Sometimes those difficulties can impact our relationships, our daily activities, and even the very definition of our selves. We humans are complex creatures, and we all have differing reactions and capacities for change and growth.

There is not yet any one procedure or technique that can “cure” what we humans go through on our journeys through life. A psychoanalytic form of therapy CAN lead to great improvements in a person’s view of themselves, their situations, and their relationships with others. If you have been thinking about therapy, chances are you are ready for it.

Yeah, nice try. I’ve heard that one, too.

Here are some people who made their most important contributions after age 50:

Diana Nyad swam from Cuba to Florida, age 64

Colonel Sanders started Kentucky Fried Chicken, age 65

William Ivy Baldwin Tightrope Walk Across a Canyon, age 82

John Glenn went to space at age 77

Peter Roget invented the thesaurus at age 73

Oscar Swahn earned an Olympic medal at age 72

Grandma Moses started painting at age 76

Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa, age 75

Noah Webster completed his American Dictionary of the English Language, age 70

Christopher Plummer won his Oscar at age 82

Benjamin Franklin signed Declaration of Independence, age 70

Theodor Mommsen, Nobel Peace Prize in Literature, age 85

Ronald Reagan entered politics, age 55

Arnold Schwarzenegger became governor of California, age 56

And there are many more.

It’s never too late to make changes, to rediscover your creativity, to live your best life.

(Source: Accomplishments After Age 50 )

Yes, I get that. That’s why I work with professionals and creatives to explore at the beginning what is getting in the way of finding a time for yourself. We will talk about how to find time in your schedule for this important journey in your life.

Yep, I get that, too. I often use the example of the oxygen mask instruction when on an airplane: “In the event of the loss of cabin pressure, a yellow oxygen mask will deploy from the compartment above you. Please secure your own mask before assisting others around you.”

It may feel as if things will fall apart if you’re not there. Or that taking time away is selfish or indulgent. It’s a similar thought corner to planning time for vacation.

But think of the alternative: You are the best one in an emergency to help others. But you need to be able to feel secure in yourself…to have a space to breathe and think…so that you can help them in the best ways you know how. That’s not selfish. It is providing a model for healthy, creative living.

No doubt about that. No argument from me. Been there, done that.

What I can offer are the comments from so many who have engaged in a psychoanalytic psychotherapy.

They say that the investment in yourself, finding a space and time for full expression of your thoughts and dreams, without restriction, can allow passion and creativity to flow again.

People find that with the released creative energy, new ideas and ventures open to them. Opportunities are recognized. Energy is available to follow those opportunities and dreams.

They feel productive again, but in a relaxed, inspired, authentic way.

The investment goes far beyond the time and money, to bringing alive again the very core of their intuitive being.

For more information, see my Fees for Services page. Also contact me for more information.

Please follow the links on the drop downs below to learn more about psychoanalytic psychotherapy and brief therapy in my practice.

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy page.

Psychotherapy for Professionals and Creatives page.

Brief Individual Therapy page.

Telehealth is the use of an electronic medium for conducting medical or mental health appointments. (NOTE: I use only online video platforms and occasionally telephone for telehealth appointments.) The client and the therapist are considered “remote” from one another, or in two different locations.

I am a fan of Zoom. It is secure and compliant with the medical and mental health industry standards for privacy and security.

I do, from time to time, use the good old telephone for therapy. However, I recommend to clients that we primarily meet in-person (if you live near Lakeland, Florida) or online such as on Zoom (if you live in other parts of Florida). We can use the telephone if the online platform isn’t working, or if you are in a place where the platform cannot support video.

These forms of contact for psychotherapy have not been proven to be effective. In addition, they present substantial concerns for privacy (what if someone intercepts something you didn’t want them to see?) and security (what if your phone is stolen, or email is hacked?). For those reasons, I do not conduct therapy over text or email.

I do you text and emails, at your permission, for information such as scheduling appointments. I also encourage clients to use text or email if they are running late, and I do as well. We discuss this at the beginning of our work together.

I am available for consultation to licensed mental health professionals who are interested in learning about psychoanalytic psychotherapy.

Please contact me if you want to learn more about a psychoanalytic approach to therapy. Follow the link below to learn about my approach.

Consultations to Therapists page.

I am a qualified supervisor for mental health counseling interns with the Florida Department of Health. I have trained several masters and doctoral level clinicians during my career.

If you are a mental health counselor intern, have a current caseload of clients in your practice, and are specifically interested in supervision in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, feel free to contact me. If I am not available, I can refer you to one of my local colleagues who are psychoanalytically oriented and may be able to help with your intern training.

This is one of the most common questions I get. The basic answer is that a psychiatrist is a medical doctor, an M.D., and prescribes medications. (However, psychologists are gaining prescription privileges in some states).

A psychologist has earned a doctoral degree from a graduate school (a Ph.D., a Psy.D., or an Ed.D.), and is trained in the broad field of psychology, and typically in one or more specialties areas of psychology. At this time, we psychologist mostly do not prescribe medications.

Both psychologists and psychiatrists can perform psychotherapy, although many M.D.s (except for those who are psychoanalytically trained) no longer provide therapy beyond support and assessment for medications.

Social workers and mental health counselors also have graduate degrees. Many of them have the master’s degree, and then additional training after their degree in providing psychotherapy of different forms (i.e., behavioral, cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, humanistic, existential, psychoanalytic, and a whole host of other forms) or to different ages (i.e., children, adolescents, adults, senior adults), or for different presenting issues. Some social workers and mental health counselors, like psychologists, have doctoral degrees in their fields.

Psychologists are known for their expertise in psychological testing and assessments, as well as their training in psychotherapy. We often are program administrators, researchers, and teachers, as well as therapists.

Due to the confusing differences among practitioners, it is good to ask any prospective therapist about their approach to therapy and their training and credentials. To learn more about both of these for my practice, you can visit these pages:

About My Approach

My Credentials

Vision, Mission, Values

Kim Carpenter Portraits in Lakeland, Florida.

Woman Looking at Sunset by Ross Sneddon on Unsplash

Man Looking into Sunset by Joshua Earle on Unsplash

Crowd of People by Timon Studler on Unsplash

Three Women by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

People Seated in Group by Jason Goodman on Unsplash

Picture by Paweł Wielądek on Unsplash

Depression page person by water photo by Yoal Desurmont on Unsplash

Life in Balance page rock photo by Deniz Altindas on Usplash

Glasses and book photo by Emmanuel Phaeton on Usplash

Shoes in sand photo by Joan MM on Unsplash

Man with Suitcase by Mantas Hesthaven on Unsplash

You may have noticed that there are therapists who offer telehealth services to Florida residents but live in another state. What is that about?

During the pandemic, the State of Florida Department of Health offered a "telehealth certificate" to out of state medical and mental health providers. Please note, this is not a license to practice in this state but is granted to professionals in other states to do telehealth with residents in Florida. Some of these therapists have never even been to Florida!

There are situations in which it may be very helpful to have a therapist or consultant who lives in another state. For example, Florida is known for our "snowbirds", or people who live a part of the year here and a part of the year elsewhere. This is a unique aspect of living in Florida. We love our residents no matter how long they are here! Being able to continue therapy with one consistent therapist who knows you is a relief for sure.

Same goes for being in Florida. At times, people would prefer to have a psychotherapist who lives in Florida, knows what it's like to be a Floridian, who is familiar with the unique culture of Florida. This is where I can help.

You won’t have to explain to me what a drive on I-4, I-75, or I-95 is like, especially in the winter. I know that “The Panhandle” is not a kitchen item and “The Keys” are not for starting a car. Bolts, Bucs, Rays, Jags, Magic, Seminoles, Gators, Bulls, and Knights pride, I get all that.

AND…I especially understand what preparing for and cleaning up after hurricanes is all about, and why after all of that I still would not live anywhere else.

I live and work in the Sunshine State. Let’s talk more about your life and work here.