About Me
Meet Thaimi
I'm Thaimi Fina, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with over 15 years of experience providing compassionate, evidence-based therapy. As a Cuban immigrant, I bring a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by ethnically and racially diverse clients. I provide therapy in both English and Spanish to ensure that mental health care is accessible and culturally competent.
I work with individuals, couples, and families throughout Florida via telehealth — helping you navigate eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and more. My goal is to help you reconnect with the wisdom you already carry and build a life that truly feels like yours.
My Approach to Therapy
Therapy that meets you where you are — and helps you get where you want to go.
You Are the Expert on Your Own Life
I firmly believe that you are the expert on your own lived experience. You hold an innate wisdom about what is right for you, your needs, and your values. My role as your therapist is to help you clear the mental clutter so you can reconnect with that wisdom — the wisdom you already have but may have lost touch with.
Think of it this way: you're the driver and I'm the passenger. You may feel like you have no idea where you're going, and I'm not there to tell you where you need to go. Instead, I ask questions, get to know you deeply, and help you explore yourself so you can take control of the wheel again — feeling confident about the direction of your life, your choices, and your values.
From Your Very First Session
From the first appointment, I focus on building a genuine connection with you — learning who you truly are, what matters most to you, and how I can meet you exactly where you are. If you're brand new to therapy, I take my time orienting you to the process and move at a pace that matches what you need and can tolerate. If you've been in therapy before, we'll figure out what hasn't worked and make sure this time feels different.
Every step of the way, your input guides the course of treatment. Together, we'll unload what's weighing you down and figure out how to help you move toward a fulfilling life. I won't pretend to have all the answers for you — but I will help you figure out the answers for yourself.
Active, Skills-Based Therapy That Creates Real Change
I am an active therapist — I don't just sit, listen, and validate without guidance. My extensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) allows me to pull from a variety of approaches and teach you practical skills to immediately start creating change in your life.
If you've been in therapy before and felt like you were talking in circles but getting nowhere, this is where my approach is different. I will always challenge you to explore how we can turn insight into actual change. Because insight is only useful to a certain point — the real work is in what you do with it.
Warm, Direct, and Not Afraid to Challenge You
I infuse humor into my therapeutic practice, and I'm not afraid to push you or tell you what you don't want — but probably need — to hear. Previous clients have told me that I'm skilled at striking a balance between being gentle, validating, affirming, and compassionate, while also being direct and challenging enough that you don't stay stagnant or feel like therapy isn't pushing you forward.
Education & Professional Experience
Over 15 years of specialized training and clinical experience across multiple levels of care.
Education
University of Miami
Master of Science in Education
Mental Health Counseling
University of Southern California
Bachelor of Arts
Psychology & French
Certifications & Licensure
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
Certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD
Gottman Method Couples Therapy — Levels 1, 2 & 3
Certified Gottman "Seven Principles" Workshop Leader
Qualified Clinical Supervisor
Clinical Experience
My clinical journey began at Florida International University, where I completed my post-master's internship in Counseling and Psychological Services. There, I created the university's first eating disorder treatment team, managed one of the largest caseloads of any trainee on staff, and provided bilingual individual, couples, and group counseling to a diverse student population.
From there, I joined Oliver-Pyatt Centers, a nationally recognized residential eating disorder treatment facility, where I grew from primary therapist to clinical director over the course of six years. I led multidisciplinary teams of therapists, dietitians, nurses, and psychiatrists, and was selected from over 50 applicants for weekly supervision with Dr. Patricia Resick, the co-creator of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) — leading to my certification in CPT. During this time, I also led therapy groups focused on body image, DBT skills, expressive therapies, and relapse prevention.
Alongside my work at Oliver-Pyatt, I co-facilitated the first free, clinician-led eating disorders support group in Miami through the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness — creating a safe space for adults who were struggling but lacked access to treatment.
From 2016 to 2026, I was a therapist at Gatewell Therapy Center in Coral Gables, where I provided individual, group, couples, and family therapy in both English and Spanish, collaborating closely with dietitians, physicians, and psychiatrists to deliver comprehensive, multidisciplinary care. Currently, I continue to partner with Dr. Stacey Rosenfeld from Gatewell Therapy Center to co-facilitate a weekly DBT skills group.
In 2022, I became a clinical partner with The Headstrong Project, providing Cognitive Processing Therapy, DBT skills training, and Gottman Method couples therapy to veterans, active-duty service members, and military families via telehealth across Florida.
Today, through my own practice — Therapy with Thaimi — I bring all of this experience together, offering individual, couples, and family therapy via telehealth throughout Florida. I specialize in eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, mood disorders, and relationship difficulties, drawing from DBT, ACT, CPT, and the Gottman Method. I also conduct immigration psychological evaluations for asylum, VAWA, and hardship visa cases.
Speaking & Recognition
Beyond my clinical work, I draw on my years of expertise to deliver presentations and public speaking engagements across a wide range of settings — including universities, national professional conferences, corporate organizations, nonprofit organizations, panel discussions, and treatment centers. I am particularly recognized for my work in providing specialized treatment for women of color with eating disorders, a topic I have presented on at the national level.
Areas of Expertise
I specialize in a wide range of mental health areas, providing tailored, evidence-based treatment for each.
Let's Work Together
I'd love to hear from you. Whether you have questions about therapy or are ready to schedule your first session, I'm here for you.
Let's Connect
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