Joel Neild, MA, RMHCI, CPT, NCC, FP-C

I’m a pre-licensure mental health counselor, under the supervision of Stacy O’Mara (LMHC), specializing in working with first responders and LGBTQIA+ clients. Before becoming a counselor, I spent over 30 years as a firefighter-paramedic, working in high-intensity environments where people’s worst days were “just another call” for the crew.

I know what it’s like to compartmentalize, to joke through pain, and to keep going even when you’re running on fumes. I also know that at some point, that strategy stops working.

How I Work

My approach is collaborative, direct, and compassionate. I draw from:

• Gestalt therapy – focusing on what you’re feeling and experiencing in the present moment

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – helping you move toward a values-driven life, even when pain is present

• DBT-informed strategies – building skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and healthier relationships

You won’t get a cold, clinical experience with me. You’ll get a real person who respects your lived experience, your culture, and your resilience. We’ll work at your pace, with space for both heavy and lighter moments.

My Values as a Counselor

• Respect: You are the expert on your life; I bring tools, not verdicts.

• Cultural humility: I continually learn about the communities I serve, rather than assuming I “know.”

• Inclusivity: All identities, bodies, relationships, and backgrounds are welcome here.

• Practicality: Insight is important—but so are strategies you can actually use between sessions.

If you’re used to being the helper, it can feel strange to ask for help. Therapy can be the one place where you don’t have to be “on” and don’t have to take care of anyone else.

Individual Counseling (Adults 18+)

• 50–60 minute sessions

• In-person in Orlando and/or telehealth throughout Florida

Common concerns I work with:

• Work-related stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue

• Trauma and post-traumatic stress reactions

• Moral injury and guilt/shame related to work decisions or experiences

• Identity development (including LGBTQIA+ identity)

• Anxiety, depression, and grief

• Relationship stress and communication difficulties

I work with:

• Firefighters/paramedics and EMS personnel

• Law enforcement

• Dispatchers and call-takers

• Nurses and other frontline medical professionals

Together, we might work on:

• Processing difficult calls and cumulative trauma

• Navigating station/agency culture, stigma, and peer dynamics

• Reconnecting with purpose when the job wears you down

• Building a life outside of the uniform

I provide affirming care for people who are:

• Exploring gender or sexual identity

• Navigating coming out or family dynamics

• Facing discrimination, minority stress, or internalized shame

• Building authentic relationships and communities

Fees & Payment

• Standard session fee: $40 per 50 minute session

• As a pre-licensure counselor intern, I'm able to offer a lower fee than many private practice therapists. I've intentionally kept my rate affordable because I believe cost shouldn't be the reason someone doesn't get support. You're not getting lesser care — you're getting a lower rate.

• Insurance: I accept many of the large insurance companies in Florida including, Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Florida, Cigna.

• Payment methods: Venmo, Credit Card

Please contact me if cost is a barrier; I’ll do my best to work with you or provide referrals.