When you start looking for help online, therapist profiles can blur together. Most promise warmth, experience and a safe space. The details that actually matter, such as who is licensed, what they are trained in, and how sessions really work, are often harder to find.

This article sets those details out plainly. It explains what the LMHC credential means in Florida, how to check any therapist's license, and what working with Richard Forde as your online therapist in Florida looks like from the first call onward.

What does "LMHC" mean in Florida?

LMHC stands for Licensed Mental Health Counselor. It is the main license Florida issues to professional counselors who provide psychotherapy on their own.

To hold it, a counselor must complete a graduate degree in counseling, finish a period of supervised clinical experience, pass a licensing exam, and keep up continuing education. Florida LMHCs are regulated by the state's Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling. 

Other states use different titles for similar licenses. You may see LPC in Georgia or Virginia, or LCMHC in North Carolina. The title changes from state to state, but what matters is that the license is active in the state where you are.

How to check a Florida therapist's license

Before booking with anyone, look them up on the Florida Department of Health license verification tool. Search by name or license number and confirm three things:

  1. The license type (for example, LMHC)
  2. That the status is clear and active
  3. Whether any public disciplinary action is listed

Richard's Florida license number is MH26196. It is listed on his About page so you can check it yourself.

Meet Richard Forde

Richard has been a licensed counselor since 1999, which gives him more than 25 years of clinical experience. He earned his Master's in Counseling at Georgia State University and also holds a Diploma in Christian Counseling from Richmond Graduate School.

Beyond Florida, he is licensed in Georgia, Virginia and North Carolina. His practice is fully online and focused on adults.

 

What Richard helps with

Richard's work centers on three connected areas:

  • Trauma: single events such as accidents, assault or loss, as well as childhood and complex trauma that built up over years
  • Anxiety: constant worry, panic, and a nervous system that rarely feels at rest
  • Codependency: people pleasing, difficulty with boundaries, and relationships that leave you depleted

These often overlap. Anxiety and codependency frequently grow out of earlier experiences that never fully settled, which is why trauma focused methods sit at the core of his approach.

How Richard works: EMDR first

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is Richard's primary method for trauma. It is a structured, eight phase therapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they stop driving present day reactions.

EMDR is recommended for PTSD by the World Health Organization's 2013 guidelines on stress related conditions and by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense. Research on delivering EMDR by video is newer and smaller, but a 2021 study in Frontiers in Psychology found distress reductions in video sessions similar to earlier in person studies.

Sessions follow a careful order. Early work builds stability and coping skills. Memory processing only begins when you feel ready.

Where faith fits

Richard offers Christian counseling at your invitation. If you want faith to be part of therapy, prayer or scripture can be used for grounding. If you do not, it stays out entirely, and the clinical work is the same. Clients carrying hurt connected to a church are welcome too, and that experience is treated with the same care as any other trauma.

What working with an online therapist in Florida looks like

Here is the path from first contact to regular sessions.

  1. Free 15 minute consultation. A short call to talk about what brings you in and whether the fit feels right.
  2. First session. Richard gets to know your history, your goals and what you want from therapy.
  3. Preparation. You build grounding skills and a sense of safety before any trauma processing.
  4. Ongoing sessions. Most clients meet weekly for 50 minutes. Some choose 3 hour EMDR Intensive blocks for more focused time.

All sessions take place over secure, HIPAA compliant video. You need to be physically in Florida during each session. 

Setting up for success

  • Find a private room with a door that closes, and use headphones.
  • A laptop or tablet works better than a phone for EMDR.
  • Leave a little quiet time after each session before getting back to your day.

Online therapy across Florida

Florida is a long state, and specialist trauma care is concentrated in a few metro areas. Online sessions let clients in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Jacksonville, Tallahassee and smaller towns work with the same counselor, without a commute. If you have been searching "online therapist Florida" because nothing suitable is close by, location no longer has to limit your options.

Fees

Richard Forde Counseling is a self pay practice. New clients are accepted on a self pay basis only, at $145 per 50 minute session.

OptionFormatFeeStandard session50 minutes$145 per 50 minute sessionEMDR Intensive3 hour block$435 per blockConsultation15 minutesFree

For a full breakdown, read what EMDR therapy costs in Florida, or see why Richard chose a private pay practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is an LMHC the same as a psychologist? No. Both provide therapy, but psychologists hold a doctoral degree and can do certain types of psychological testing. LMHCs hold a master's level counseling license and focus on counseling and psychotherapy.

Can I work with Richard if I live in Florida part of the year? Yes, as long as you are physically in Florida, Georgia, Virginia or North Carolina during each session.

Do I need to be Christian? No. Faith integration is offered only if you ask for it.

What happens in the free consultation? It is a relaxed 15 minute call. You share a little about what is going on and what you hope to change, ask any questions about EMDR, fees or scheduling, and get a sense of whether Richard feels like the right person to work with. There is no obligation to book.

How soon can I start? Availability varies. A free consultation is the best way to discuss current openings and determine whether we're a good fit.