Hi, Thank you for reaching out for help. I know that can be the most difficult step in the counseling process. My name is Jennifer Baird. I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in the state of Florida. I absolutely love the work that I do to help others. I have been in the social work field for 10 years. I started working with children and families, then had a career shift and moved to working with adults with mental illness and substance abuse issues. I have been providing counseling for the last 5 years. I am very experienced working with people who have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia and those with substance use disorders. I also have extensive experience working with people who have co-occurring disorders (i.e. a mental illness and substance use disorder.) I have also worked with the families and loved ones of people who have experienced these things. My counseling philosophy is that the client is the expert on their own lives (even when it does’t feel that way.) It is not my job to give you advice, but to help you on this journey of life. Life, as we know, is extremely hard. We are balancing different roles such as boss, colleague, employee, husband, wife, daughter, son, etc., and dealing with the pressures of living, loving, working, and society in general. All of this can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, and much more. My role is to help you navigate those stressors and learn to make the best of what life has handed you. I openly admit that I do not have a magic wand and cannot make your life better with the wave of a hand, but I do care about each person that I encounter and want to see you succeed. I strive to be real, honest, and authentic with my clients. You are experiencing something that you need help with, and I would like to be that person to help. Whatever you may be facing, I am here to listen and talk. The anonymity of being behind a computer may make it easier for you to open up. If not, I am available to do live video, phone, and chat sessions…whatever makes you most comfortable. I check my messages multiple times a day with Wednesdays being my only day with limited availability. If you are looking for a time that is not on my schedule, please reach out to check with me about the possibility of it being available. I am very flexible with my schedule and want to support my clients as best that I can.