Carolyn McNulty
Carolyn McNulty
Downtown St. Petersburg Office and Sarasota
Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Guardian Ad Litem
I am often asked how I do what I do, and my answer is simple: I’m motivated and passionate about helping others. I am blessed to guide and help others navigate through life’s challenges. Counseling clients in their most vulnerable time is comparable to artwork; my clients are the masterpieces…a perfect piece of art ….a completed puzzle! When clients arrive in my office, their puzzle is scattered and sometimes missing a piece or two, and taking a fresh perspective can help place that final piece into place.
- Anxiety Disorders
- Grief/Trauma
- Divorce and Separation – Men and Women
- Parent/Child Relationships
- Depression
- Self-injurious Behavior
- Gender Identity
- Men and Women
- Adolescents
- LGBTQ+
Your mental health is determined not only by the number of great moments and milestones we experience but also by how we manage through the more difficult ones. I directly equip my clients with practical strategies for coping, healing, and creating balance. My goal for my clients is to be the best version of themselves and create life-giving moments. I typically combine CBT with holistic psychology as an approach to therapy. Cultivating mindfulness, expressing gratitude, and changing the negative thought-habit loop while encouraging lifestyle changes and healing past hurts are just a few ways to re-balance your life. Because I am so active and enjoy being in nature, I also offer my clients Therapy in Motion or Walk and Talk therapy. It’s a great way to get a daily workout while receiving the powerful benefits of therapy and nature. Clients report an elevated mood and sense of well-being when we take our therapeutic session outside and walk!!
So, when I’m asked, “Why do you do what you do? How do you maintain your energy?” it’s because I get to change lives. I have an opportunity to inspire hope again, and in doing so, I get to create a new masterpiece!
I graduated from USF, receiving both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. I’ve been serving my clients and students for 25 years. Initially, I was a Certified Guidance Counselor for the state of Florida, grades K-12. I served over 18 years as a Guidance Counselor in both the public and private schools in Pinellas County. I was a lead member of the County Crisis Team, where I utilized crisis counseling techniques in dealing with trauma, sudden deaths, and suicides, and I still serve as an active Crisis Counselor. Currently, I volunteer as a court-appointed Guardian Ad Litem for the 6th Judicial Circuit Court system, where I advocate for the best interest of abused, abandoned, and neglected children. I am a member of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and the American Psychological Association. I have served in various capacities at The Alpha House and passionately support the Children’s Dream Fund, St. Vincent De Paul, and Hospice. I attend workshops and conferences, read professional journals, and stay up to date with research on the latest approaches to managing anxiety, grief, and trauma.
Identifying the right therapist is life-changing, and I’m confident I can assist you in viewing life’s transitions as an opportunity for growth and personal development. Together, let’s place the right pieces together.
My early life brought frequent feelings of anxiety. Worrisome thoughts became so paralyzing that, at times, they impacted every area of my life. My anxiety would invoke panic attacks, sleepless nights, and feelings of frustration. Fast forward to today. My anxiety is manageable because I’ve recognized that anxiety is a lifestyle change and that you can reduce and manage anxiety and change your brain with the proper skill set. I love treating anxiety!! I’m constantly researching the latest techniques to assist my clients in treating anxiety, and most recently, I have become a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP). Because I have experienced anxiety firsthand, I provide my clients with various strategies for coping and breaking the cycle of negative thoughts, intrusive thoughts, and rumination. (You know, those worrisome thoughts that trap us and interfere with our capacity to enjoy life!)
In addition, I’m equally passionate about treating clients who have experienced relationship loss. Grief can be debilitating. Everyone experiences grief differently, and how you grieve is unique to you. I experienced loss with my parents’ death when I was young. Because of that loss, I understand pain, which I realized prepared me to be a better therapist to help others in their distress and navigate their journey towards healing. I’ve come to realize that setbacks in life are sometimes set-ups for greater things. I’ve also recognized that grief takes many forms and can also be experienced in losing any relationship. With that being said, I also specialize in working with women and men experiencing grief over losing a relationship due to divorce or separation. I provide clients with a proper skill set to cope with the complex emotions associated with divorce while focusing on rebuilding their lives after losing a relationship.
- I own a teal saxophone (a gift from my oldest son Travis), and I will learn how to play it one day. It’s been on my bucket list! I have no clue how to play it yet, and in fact, I have no clue how even to put it together, but I know that I want to be able to play it eventually.
- I love laughing – my husband and my sons provide me with ample opportunities to belly laugh frequently. When I go to work, I listen to Joel Osteen on the radio for a spiritual boost, and on the way home after a long day, I listen to Comedy Central. My favorite comedians are Jim Gaffigan, Steven Wright, and Will Farrell (who can forget the “little Debbie SNL skit”? and Mitch Hedberg.
- I love to travel with family and friends. Recent travels took us to Ireland, Spain, and Iceland, where my husband and I celebrated 30 years of marriage and then renewed our vows. My younger son, Ryan, surprised me on another trip and flew me first class (the first time in my life riding first class, might be the last time) to NYC and booked us for an array of Broadway shows. He even flew Travis up to surprise me. Unforgettable and so appreciated. Locally, one of my favorite places is Longboat Key/St. Armand’s circle!
- I love to play games with friends and family! Heads Up, Sequence, Cards Against Humanity (still don’t understand 1/2 of the deck), Apples to Apples. My favorite game is the lighted golf ball contests we play on Christmas Eve!
- I LOVE food!! Seriously, it’s my favorite thing. I love enjoying food for all it has to offer. That said, I’m not a good cook; my husband is. I am good at making reservations. And by the way, I’m not a fan of vegetables!!