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).

Wende Charde is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Master’s Level Certified Addiction Professional (MCAP) in the State of Florida, bringing compassionate and client-centered care to individuals seeking support and personal growth. With extensive experience and a deep commitment to fostering mental and emotional wellness, Wende helps clients navigate challenges related to anxiety, depression, stress, relationship issues, life transitions, addiction and other concerns that impact daily functioning and quality of life. Her therapeutic approach blends evidence-based practices with empathy, creating a safe, supportive environment where clients can explore their experiences, build resilience, and develop practical strategies for lasting change. Wende is dedicated to empowering each person she works with, honoring their strengths, and collaborating on goals that promote healing and well-being.

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. Her practice includes helping teens and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, relationship difficulties, and major life transitions.​

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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.

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).

Chrisanna Wright is a dual-licensed health professional in nutrition and mental health. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the mental health field.  She holds an undergraduate degree in Nutrition & Dietetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Webster University. 

Chrisanna has found that eating disorders often have a root cause in anxiety, depression, or trauma, which led her to pursue postgraduate training at The Meadows in Wickenburg, AZ with Pia Mellody, to treat childhood trauma carried into adulthood. 

Chrisanna takes a client-centered approach, meeting clients where they are and helping them achieve their goals with compassion, using supportive therapy techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy. 

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.

Kathleen Lyons served as a Security Forces Specialist in the US Air Force for over 15 years before earning both her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Social Work from Western Michigan University.

Kathleen has worked as a therapist in both private practice and mental health facility settings. She supports adults navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, emotional distress, and life’s challenges. Her approach is client-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed, incorporating interventions informed by Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Kathleen is committed to meeting clients where they are and helping them build coping skills, strengthen emotional regulation, and move toward greater safety, stability, and well-being. She works with individuals, families and couples.

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).

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.