In person in Melbourne, FL · Telehealth in Florida & Ohio

Make peace with what you've been carrying.

I'm Nicole Kanaras, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I help adolescents, adults, and older adults heal from trauma, anxiety, and hard seasons of life. I see clients in person in Melbourne, FL, by secure telehealth anywhere in Florida or Ohio, and on walk-and-talk sessions outdoors on the Space Coast.

Book a free 15-minute consultation How it works

Accepting new clients · Insurance & sliding scale available

License: LCSW · Florida & Ohio
Sessions: In person, telehealth & walk-and-talk
Ages: Adolescents to older adults

Nicole Kanaras, LCSW, smiling, wearing an olive green sweater — Nicole Kanaras, LCSW

Specialties

Help for what's been weighing on you

Every story is different, and you don't need to fit neatly into a category to reach out. I work with adolescents, teens, adults, and older adults.

Trauma & PTSD
Painful experiences that still show up in your body, your sleep, or your relationships. EMDR and TF-CBT can help them loosen their grip.
Anxiety
Constant worry, racing thoughts, and what-ifs that won't let up. CBT gives you concrete tools to quiet them.
Depression
When getting through the day takes far more effort than it should and the things you used to enjoy feel flat.
Eating disorders & body image
A painful relationship with food, weight, or your body. I'm pursuing certification in CBT-E, a treatment designed specifically for eating disorders.
Life stressors & transitions
Work pressure, moves, breakups, new parenthood, and other seasons that shake your footing.
Relationship & family conflict
Recurring arguments, strained family dynamics, and patterns you keep repeating with the people closest to you.
Identity & cultural adjustment
Questions about who you are and where you belong, including LGBTQ+ identity and adjusting to a new culture. Care here is affirming and culturally sensitive.
Emotional regulation
Big feelings that seem to take over. DBT skills help you ride them out without being swept away.

About me

Hi, I'm Nicole.

I believe healing is possible.

I believe healing is possible, even when the experiences we've been through feel difficult to move beyond. While we never choose to experience trauma, we can begin to find our own path forward with the right support. Therapy cannot erase the past, but it can offer a safe space to process, grow, and reconnect with the parts of ourselves we may have lost along the way. I believe every person has the capacity for change, growth, and healing, even when that might feel impossible. It is my privilege to walk alongside clients as they learn their own strengths, build self-understanding, and create a life they are proud to call their own.

Before opening my own practice, I worked at Pace Center for Girls in Immokalee, Florida, supporting girls and young women through trauma, family stress, and some of the hardest stretches of growing up. I also gained valuable experience working in a group private practice, where I supported clients navigating a variety of challenges. These experiences have shaped my approach to therapy and reinforced how much healing depends on feeling safe, understood, and truly heard.

I create a safe, compassionate space using evidence-based approaches, including CBT, TF-CBT, EMDR, and DBT. Together, we work to reintegrate the past with the present, making trauma a time-stamped, manageable part of life.

Outside of session, you can find me enjoying a good book, spending time with my two cats, watching college football, or searching for the world's best coffee.

Education: MSW, Florida Gulf Coast University
B.A. in Sociology, University of San Diego
Licenses: LCSW, Florida #SW27285
LISW, Ohio #I.2608777
Training: EMDR-trained · TF-CBT-trained
Pursuing CBT-E certification
Experience: PACE Center for Girls, Immokalee, FL
Group private practice
Ages: Adolescents, teens, adults, and older adults

Nicole's tabby-and-white cat peeking out from between the leaves of a houseplant — My most precious Olive Branch

Why Olive Branch

Staying true to my Greek roots: olive branches have been a sign of peace and a gesture to end conflict since Ancient Greece. They're associated with new beginnings, and I hope that is reflective of your therapeutic journey. The name is also in honor of my most precious Olive Branch.

Nicole Kanaras, LCSW

Sessions

Therapy that fits your life

In-person therapy

Meet face to face at my office in Melbourne. Some people find it easier to open up in the same room, and it can be a good fit for teens and for anyone who would rather step away from screens for an hour.

In person · Melbourne, FL

Virtual therapy

Meet by secure video from home, your office, or anywhere private in Florida or Ohio. There's no commute and no waiting room, and nothing gets lost in the work. For many concerns, research finds video therapy works about as well as meeting in person, and many clients open up more easily from a space where they already feel comfortable. Pets are welcome to join.

Secure video · Statewide in FL & OH

Walk-and-talk therapy

A session outdoors, walking side by side at a comfortable pace. Gentle movement and fresh air can ease stress and make hard conversations feel less intense. Before we start, we'll agree on a route, how to handle privacy in a public space, and a backup plan for Florida weather.

In person · Melbourne & Viera

Free consultation

A short call to talk about what's going on and whether we're a good fit. There's no paperwork and no pressure to book. If I'm not the right fit, I'll help you find someone who is.

15 minutes · Phone or video

How I work

Evidence-based, trauma-informed care

Treatment is tailored to you, never one-size-fits-all. A trauma-informed approach means safety comes first, you set the pace, and you have a say in every step.

EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing helps your brain reprocess distressing memories so they feel less intense. It works well over video using on-screen tools.

Trained · Trauma & painful memories

TF-CBT

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a structured, skills-based trauma treatment built for children and adolescents, often with a caregiver involved.

Trained · Adolescents & teens

CBT

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps you notice the thought and behavior patterns keeping you stuck and practice realistic ways to change them.

Anxiety · Depression · Stress

DBT

Dialectical Behavior Therapy teaches practical skills for managing intense emotions, getting through a crisis, and handling relationships.

Emotional regulation

Solution-focused therapy

A brief, goal-oriented approach that builds on what's already working in your life, so you can make progress quickly.

Life stressors · Transitions

CBT-E

Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an evidence-based treatment designed specifically for eating disorders. I'm currently pursuing certification.

Certification in progress · Eating disorders

Getting started

Three steps to your first session

Request a consultation
Send a secure message through my client portal, or call (443) 379-4575. I reply the same day or within one business day.
Free 15-minute call
We talk briefly about what's bringing you in and whether we're a good fit. You can ask anything.
Your first session
You'll complete intake forms in your secure client portal. If you're using insurance, I'll also send a short consent form so sessions can be billed to your plan.

Fees & insurance

Know your cost before you start

Using insurance

I'm in network with the plans below. Everyone books the same way, and if you're using insurance I'll send a short consent form so your sessions can be billed to your plan.

Florida

Aetna
Ascension SmartHealth
Carelon Behavioral Health
Cigna

Coming soon: Florida Blue and UnitedHealthcare

Ohio

Aetna
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Carelon Behavioral Health
Cigna
Curative
The Health Plan

Don't see your plan? Reach out and I'll check. If you have out-of-network benefits, I can give you a superbill to submit for possible reimbursement.

Self-pay rates

Consultation: Free
Initial intake: $150
Therapy session: $125

Sliding scale available based on financial need
Superbills provided for out-of-network claims
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and HSA/FSA cards accepted

Your right to a Good Faith Estimate

Under the federal No Surprises Act, if you don't have insurance or choose not to use it, you have the right to a written Good Faith Estimate of what your care will cost. You can ask for one at any time, including before you schedule. If you're billed at least $400 more than your estimate, you can dispute the bill. Learn more at cms.gov/nosurprises.

Questions

Before you reach out

Do I need to be in Florida or Ohio?

For telehealth, yes. Licensing rules require you to be physically located in Florida or Ohio during each session, even if you normally live somewhere else. If you'll be traveling, let me know and we'll plan around it. In-person and walk-and-talk sessions take place in the Melbourne area.

How does using insurance work?

You book through the same secure client portal as everyone else. Before your first session, I'll send a separate consent form so your sessions can be billed to your plan. You'll typically pay only your copay or coinsurance.

What is a walk-and-talk session like?

We meet at an agreed spot in the Melbourne and Viera area and walk at a comfortable pace while we talk. Before your first walk, we'll decide how to handle privacy if we pass other people. If the weather turns, we can move to the office or switch to a video session.

Do you work with teens?

Yes. I work with adolescents and teens as well as adults and older adults. For clients under 18, a parent or guardian completes the intake and consent forms.

What is EMDR, and does it work online?

EMDR is a structured therapy that helps your brain reprocess distressing memories so they carry less emotional charge. It's one of the trauma treatments recommended in clinical guidelines from the World Health Organization and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

It works well over video. Instead of following a therapist's hand, you follow a moving point on your screen or use gentle tapping.

What happens in the first session?

We'll talk about what brought you in, your background, and what you'd like to be different. It's a conversation, not a test. By the end we'll have a rough plan and a sense of how often to meet.

Is what I share confidential?

Yes. What you say in session stays private, with a few exceptions required by law: a serious risk of harm to yourself or someone else, suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult, or a court order. I'll go over these with you at the start. You can read the full details in my Notice of Privacy Practices.

What's your cancellation policy?

Please give at least 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel. Cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice are charged the full session rate. The fee is waived if you reschedule for the same week, based on my availability.

Contact

Take the first step.

Reaching out is often the hardest part. Send a secure message to request a free 15-minute consultation, or call or email if you'd rather talk first. I reply the same day or within one business day.

Phone: (443) 379-4575
Email: nicole@theolivebranchtherapy.com
Sessions: In person in Melbourne, FL
Secure telehealth statewide in Florida & Ohio
Walk-and-talk in Melbourne & Viera
Hours: Mon–Thu9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Fri–Sat9 a.m. – 12 p.m. SunClosed

Request a free consultation

Send a secure message through my SimplePractice client portal and I'll be in touch to set up your call. All communications are confidential.

Send a secure message

This form is for non-urgent inquiries only.

If you are in crisis or need immediate help, please call 911, or call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.