Big Cypress Counseling

Peter Letendre is a licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and a Master’s Level Certified Addiction Professional (MCAP) with over 35 years of experience in the field. Peter is also a Qualified LMHC Supervisor for the state of Florida.  Peter obtained both a Master’s Degree and an Advanced Graduate Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Rhode Island College. In 1988, he began his career working in prevention programs with at-risk youth and has worked in a variety of inpatient and outpatient behavioral health settings throughout his career. In addition, Peter has designed and implemented successful national treatment programs and has held significant leadership positions including Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer at a national behavioral health organization. He has maintained a thriving private psychotherapy practice since 2006. Peter relocated to Florida in 2018 and established Big Cypress Counseling to provide counseling services to the Naples community and surrounding areas.

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Peter enjoys working with adults with a wide range of clinical concerns including mental health challenges, family dynamics, substance use, and addictions. He utilizes Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing to assist clients in the change process. Peter enjoys training and supervising developing mental health professionals and welcomes the opportunity to provide supervision to Registered Mental Health Counseling Interns (RMHCI’s).

Michael has many years of experience working with people who are struggling with mental health and addiction issues. He creates a trusting relationship with each client by establishing a safe, nurturing environment that allows individuals to comfortably process their thoughts and feelings.

​Mr. Nicholson utilizes a variety of therapeutic techniques, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Person Centered Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).

Hi, I’m Katelynn Morris, LCSW. I’m a licensed clinical social worker who’s passionate about helping children, teens, and adults find hope and healing when life feels overwhelming. For the past five years, I’ve worked with people navigating depression, anxiety, trauma, and addiction—guiding them toward greater balance, self-understanding, and peace of mind. My goal is to create a warm, welcoming space where you can be yourself, feel supported, and start making meaningful changes at your own pace.

I take a holistic approach to therapy, believing that healing happens when we care for both the mind and body. I draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you build healthier coping skills, strengthen self-awareness, and reconnect with what truly matters to you. Whether you’re working through past pain, managing daily stress, or seeking recovery from addiction, I’m here to walk alongside you every step of the way.

As Albus Dumbledore wisely said, “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” I believe we all have that light within us—sometimes we just need a little help finding the switch. If you’re ready to take that next step toward healing and growth, I’d be honored to walk with you on your journey.

Ben is an experienced Licensed Professional Counselor with over 22 years of expertise in mental health and substance abuse treatment. He is licensed in several states, including Florida, and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgia College and State University and a master’s degree in mental health counseling from Fort Valley State University.

Throughout his career, he has contributed his skills in community mental health centers, prisons, jails, and psychiatric hospitals. He specializes in creating a safe and non-judgmental space to facilitate personal change, insight, and healing. 

Drawing from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Reality Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing, Ben empowers clients to explore the impact of thoughts, feelings, and actions on their environment, fostering personal safety and fulfillment. His therapeutic style is approachable, humorous, and open-minded, tailored to meet individual client needs and he embraces a non-judgmental stance and prioritizes client-identified needs.

Ben has a wide range of clinical specialties, including depression, anger management, anxiety, dysfunctional relationships, trauma reaction/PTSD, substance abuse, dual diagnosis, psychosis, LGBTQ+ issues, men's issues, aging, life purpose, and stress management.

Maribel is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Qualified MSW Supervisor in Florida. She earned her BA in Psychology (2005) and MSW (2009) from Florida International University. She also holds an Infant Mental Health Endorsement (IMH-E®) from the Florida Association for Infant Mental Health.

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Maribel has dedicated her career to supporting individuals through life’s emotional challenges, with a strong focus on maternal mental health, parenting stress, and family well-being. She began her

professional work helping families overcome prenatal and postnatal depression, navigate domestic abuse, and manage the emotional demands of parenting. Over time, her practice expanded to include helping teens and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, relationship difficulties, and major life transitions.

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For more than six years, Maribel has collaborated with parents and early learning centers to promote

children’s social-emotional development. With a strong foundation in maternal and child health care,

she guides in strengthening parent-child relationships, building healthy routines, supporting self-regulation, and creating balanced lives that nurture both caregiver well-being and child development.

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Maribel uses a compassionate, strengths-based, and evidence-informed approach, integrating Cognitive

Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT). She

provides a supportive, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore difficult emotions, build coping

skills, increase self-confidence, and improve overall functioning and relationships. Maribel believes

healing and growth are possible at every stage of life and is committed to helping clients cultivate

resilience, balance, and meaningful connections.

Kate graduated from Wake Forest University with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and since then, she has been helping clients with their mental health. She works with clients from many walks of life, including adults, elders, and couples. She specializes in helping people with anxiety, depression, trauma, poor self-image, relationship difficulties, and LGBTQ+ concerns.

Kate understands that each client will require an individual approach to counseling. She draws from a variety of evidence-based therapies including Person-Centered Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Lurie Carrera is a Master of Social Work graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University with a specialization in trauma-informed care. With a deep commitment to advocacy and healing, she has extensive experience working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as children and adolescents impacted by trauma. Lurie utilizes evidence-based approaches such as Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR) and Motivational Interviewing to support healing and personal growth. Her passion lies in empowering women through elevating their self esteem and confidence, fostering resilience and lasting change. She is bilingual, counseling clients in both English and Spanish.

Rob earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Painting and Drawing from Indiana University (Bloomington) and a Master of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies/Interdisciplinary Education from SUNY Empire State, NYC. He is a professional scenic artist whose accomplishments include ceiling murals at the EPCOT Center, the background scenery for more than 30 operas, and the props and backgrounds for numerous television commercials. Although Rob’s background is in Drawing and Painting, the majority of his recent artwork has been created using Digital Photography and Collage.  

As an educator for the past 35 years, Mr. Eder has extensive experience in using art to help students express their feelings and emotions. Rob facilitates Expressive Art Therapy groups for our Intensive Outpatient Program.