Therapist in Miami, FL: Find Psychologist Near You at GIA

At GIA Miami, our expert team of psychologists and therapists deliver a range of innovative and evidence-based treatment approaches to help you meet your mental wellness goals.

Read on to discover what our incredible team can offer.

What Is a Psychologist?

A clinical or counseling psychologist is a licensed mental health professional who has received a doctoral degree in clinical psychology or counseling psychology. After their degree, they partake in a clinical internship before taking national and state exams and earning licensure by the state.

Any psychologist practicing as a clinician to evaluate or treat clients has to be licensed by the state psychological board.

What Is the Difference Between a Therapist and a Psychologist?

A therapist is an umbrella term for anyone who offers support for health or mental health issues. A psychotherapist is more specific but can still cover a range of mental health professionals, including:

• A licensed mental health counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist
• Someone without a professional license who has gained expertise from personal experience, a master’s degree, or other training courses

What Is a Psychiatrist?

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor specializing in the diagnosis, prevention, study, and treatment of mental disorders. Qualified psychiatrists must hold a Doctor of Medicine degree and have completed a four-year practical residency. Psychiatrists often work with psychologists to deliver comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services to those in need.

Our Team

At GIA Miami, each client works with our expert team of world-leading psychologists and other mental health professionals. We pride ourselves in delivering cutting-edge psychotherapeutic services by a team with over 100 years of combined experience. We work together to design an individualized treatment plan for each person.

At GIA Miami, our clients are in the best hands.

Dr. Antonello Bonci

Our founder, Dr. Antonello Bonci, is a neurologist and neuropsychopharmacologist who specializes in the effects drug use has on the brain. Unrivaled in his field, he served as the Scientific Advisor for the National Institute on Drug Abuse for almost a decade.

Between 1999 and 2021, Dr. Bonci was Professor-in-Residence in the Department of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He also held the Howard J.Weinberg Endowed Chair in addiction research.

For years, Dr. Bonci has led groundbreaking research into drug abuse. Along with a colleague, he was the first to prove that abuse of drugs like cocaine modifies the strength of connections between neurons in the brain. This paved the way for a new journey of understanding in the field of addiction science and recovery treatments. Dr. Bonci is also a world leader in the use of TMS therapy to treat mental health concerns, including addiction.

Dr. Gonzalo Quesada

Dr. Quesada is a licensed psychiatrist certified by both The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and The American Board of Addiction Medicine. He has worked as a professional psychiatrist and medical detox physician for over two decades.

Dr. Quesada specialized in managing the psychosocial factors associated with dual diagnoses and mental health issues. He works with the stressors that surround depression, anxiety, PTSD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), substance use disorders, and other mental wellness concerns that clients are living with.

At GIA Miami, Dr. Quesada leads a comprehensive psychosocial approach that considers an individual’s physical and mental wellness and helps them function and perform in our society.

And Many More…

GIA Miami only works with the best, highly skilled, and compassionate professionals. If you’d like to get to know more of our staff, visit our meet our team page or contact us today.

Treatment Programs at GIA Miami

At GIA Miami, our expert team comprises psychologists specializing in areas of mental health and addiction. Our psychologists lead a range of psychotherapies, psychological evaluations, and diagnostic techniques, including:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Psychodynamic therapy
• Couples therapy
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy
• Online therapy sessions (telehealth)

At GIA Miami, we offer treatment programs based on the forefront of scientific research, and we pride ourselves on our clinical excellence. At the same time, we recognize that ethics and ethos are of the utmost importance in mental wellness treatment. Our mental health professionals are compassionate, non-judgmental, and treat every client with respect.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

During CBT sessions, a licensed clinical psychologist works with a client to identify harmful thoughts and behavioral patterns to help turn them into positive ones. CBT encourages positive change in real-time, teaching those in recovery the skills and strategies to overcome difficulties they face.

CBT is an effective type of individual therapy and group therapy. Individual CBT focuses on a client’s individual needs, while group therapy emphasizes healthy interactions with others.

CBT is proven to be an effective treatment method for a variety of mental health issues, including addiction. It has been shown to have long-lasting benefits that persist beyond the end of a treatment course.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behavior therapy was initially developed for borderline personality disorder (BPD) and is particularly effective in treating issues related to impulsivity, intense emotions, and self-harming behaviors. DBT is a type of CBT treatment that aims to support change while encouraging acceptance of oneself.

DBT has a few aims, including:

• Understanding and accepting feelings
• Learning skills to manage feelings
• Making positive changes

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy is a type of therapy that aims to uncover the deep-rooted inner feelings and experiences that affect the way people think and act. By identifying the root causes of thoughts and behavioral patterns, many individuals are able to understand themselves better and begin a journey of personal growth.

Psychodynamic therapy can treat a wide range of mood disorders and mental health concerns, including addiction, substance abuse, and eating disorders. It can support people in resolving feelings and internal conflicts suppressed since childhood and make significant changes to how they make decisions and interact with others.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is a kind of psychotherapy whereby clients work in groups to understand themselves and others better and find ways to heal. Humans are naturally sociable creatures, and we gain strength, intuition, and knowledge from those around us. Working in a group can help improve the interpersonal skills required for supportive relationships while assisting clients in connecting better with themselves.

Family therapy is one type of group therapy. During family counseling, a family therapist helps educate the family on mental wellness issues and supports them in developing healthy and functional relationships with one another.

Couples Therapy

Couples therapy, also known as marriage counseling, aims to provide a safe space to resolve conflicts between couples and support healthy interpersonal behaviors. A couples therapist will help ensure both sides are heard and prevent discussions from escalating into arguments.

If one partner struggles with drug or alcohol abuse, couples therapy may also focus on developing a relationship supportive of long-term abstinence. They may draw up a ‘recovery contract’ that helps both partners explore their role in the recovery journey.

Couples therapy aims to create a constructive cycle in the addiction recovery process where a healthy relationship supports further abstinence, which in turn improves the relationship.

TMS Therapy

TMS therapy is an innovative treatment for mental health concerns that uses gentle magnetic waves to stimulate certain areas of the brain, producing significant changes in mood and behavior.

Studies show that TMS therapy is highly effective in treating major depression and other mental health problems, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and addiction. Currently, TMS therapy is Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared for major depressive disorder and anxiety symptoms in clients with depression.

TMS sessions are led by a TMS therapist (TMS physician) who communicates with clients throughout the process. They aim to make the process as comfortable as possible and can often make adjustments to the position and intensity of coils to help improve the treatment experience.

GIA Miami’s founder, Dr. Bonci, is a world-leading scientist in the field of TMS therapy. He has led pioneering research into the use of TMS for a range of mental health conditions, especially cocaine, nicotine, and gambling addiction. At GIA Miami, clients can benefit from our team’s phenomenal expertise on a personalized, one-to-one basis, providing unrivaled support for their recovery goals.

Telehealth Therapy

At GIA Miami, accessibility is one of our core values. We believe everyone deserves to access mental wellness treatment, and so we aim to make our therapeutic services available to as many people as possible.

We understand that not everyone will be able to come to our center. Our telehealth program delivers the same exceptional standard of care to clients online as they would receive in Miami. Telehealth clients work with the same team of licensed mental health counselors, clinical psychologists, and other experts to help them achieve lifelong mental wellness.

Psychological Evaluations

At GIA Miami, treatment begins with a psychological evaluation.

Every client is unique, and different treatments work for different people. We start by gaining a deep and comprehensive understanding of each person’s condition so we can deliver bespoke treatment packages specially for them.

We continue our assessment and evaluation throughout the treatment process, improving and adapting the recovery program as clients progress on their mental wellness journey.

Psychiatric Evaluation

Part of our admissions process involves a psychiatric evaluation, where a licensed psychiatrist offers a diagnosis of mental health concerns. During a psychiatric evaluation, we perform a non-invasive neurological examination and ask about any medication taken and any history of substance abuse. The process should take just under an hour.

Psychological Assessment

For some clients, we follow the psychiatric evaluation with an in-depth psychological assessment conducted by a licensed clinical psychologist. We perform a detailed diagnostic assessment of each person’s mental wellness and any potential concerns. We may ask about day-to-day experiences, family medical history, and relationships with others.

Find Therapist in Miami and Make the Change Today

At GIA Miami, we believe that everyone deserves to feel their best. We offer comprehensive and bespoke mental wellness packages to help clients overcome internal and external obstacles and perform to their full potential.

We pride ourselves on our compassionate ethics, individualized treatment, and scientific rigor.

If you are looking for support on your mental wellness journey, contact us today. With our support, you can become the best version of yourself.