Atala Counseling

Atala Counseling is a Mental Health Counselor in Lakeland, FL, located at 905 S Missouri Ave. The practice provides specialized counseling for children, teens, adults, couples, and families throughout Central Florida, Polk County, and the state via telehealth and in-person sessions. Services include individual counseling to process stressors and enrich personal development, couples therapy, and family counseling. The practice also offers intensive, immersive sessions for deeper healing and Mental Health First Aid Training to help communities recognize and respond to mental health challenges. It holds a rating of 4.40 based on 35 reviews.

The practice is trauma-informed and guided by a mission to empower others to be strong, steady, and resilient. Its name references the Atala butterfly, a species native to Central Florida that recovered from near extinction, symbolizing hope and transformation. The staff includes licensed professionals with advanced training in areas such as EMDR, play therapy, and premarital counseling. Team members serve diverse populations, including neurodiverse and LGBTQIA+ individuals, and bilingual services are available in Spanish and English.

The counseling team consists of James Miller, LMHC, who specializes in trauma and self-esteem; Katherine Pilarte Emerick, LMFT, who offers premarital courses; Jamie G. Smith, a registered intern trained in play therapy; Kathryn Dumont, LCSW, who focuses on OCD and executive leaders; Michele Lescard, LCSW, who works with grief and life transitions; and Araceli Gauna-Scattolini, LMHC, the CEO who specializes in anxiety and trauma.

The practice maintains a solid reputation among the customers it has served and a steady record of repeat and referred customers. This standing reflects the trust clients place in its clinicians for guiding them through emotional wellness journeys.

Atala Counseling brings specialized, trauma-informed care to Lakeland, helping individuals and families build resilience and navigate life’s challenges with professional support.

Atala Counseling sits on S Missouri Ave in Lakeland, FL, about a tenth of a mile from South Florida Avenue and a fifth of a mile from Drane Park.

SEOScanPRO gave the business a Performance score of 80 out of 100, which measures how quickly the website loads to keep visitors on the page and aid search engine ranking. SEOScanPRO also awarded a Discoverability score of 75 out of 100, which measures whether AI crawlers can find every page of the website so AI assistants can recommend the business. BizScoreAI reports that the practice ranks number 3 of 6 Mental Health Counselor businesses that BizScoreAI has scored in Lakeland.