Frequently Asked Questions

Counseling tends to focus on healing: working through past experiences, emotional pain, grief, anxiety, depression, and relationship wounds. Life coaching looks forward more, helping you get clear on goals, build confidence, and make real change in daily life. A lot of people find they benefit from a bit of both, and we'll figure out the right blend for where you are right now.

If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, grieving, struggling with relationships, or carrying weight that's hard to even name, counseling is often the right place to start. If you already know where you stand but want help building a path forward — changing habits, communicating better, or getting clear on your next chapter — coaching may fit better. We can talk it through together in a first conversation, so don't worry about figuring it out before you reach out.

Yes — sessions are available for individuals of all ages, couples working through relationship challenges, and families dealing with conflict, transitions, or the everyday hard parts of raising kids and teens. Every situation gets care and zero judgment.

Common areas include anxiety and depression, grief and loss, healthy anger management, childhood and teen struggles, adult child estrangement, recovering from narcissistic abuse, relationship difficulties, and life's bigger transitions. You can also check out the Resources section and the articles on this site for more on many of these topics.

Cynthia Benedict is a Licensed Counselor and Certified Life Coach based in Longwood, FL, serving clients throughout the Orlando area and, for coaching, nationwide by video. If you're searching for a counselor or coach near you, the best next step is a short, no-pressure conversation to see if it feels like a fit — reach out any time through the Contact page.

Anxiety and depression are among the most common reasons people reach out for counseling, and both stay an ongoing focus in sessions with Cynthia Benedict. Support ranges from working through everyday overwhelm to longer-standing low mood, with sessions available in Longwood or by secure video across Florida. Read more in A Calm Tomorrow.

Yes — counseling supports kids and teens working through anxiety, mood changes, family transitions, and other age-specific struggles, along with guidance for parents navigating it all. Related articles include Anxiety and Children and Childhood Depression.

Yes — life coaching is available in person in Longwood and by video for clients anywhere in the country. Coaching focuses on getting clear on goals, building confidence, and making real change, and it often pairs well with counseling. See Life Coaching in Longwood & Orlando, FL for more.

Anger is a normal emotion, and learning to spot its triggers and express it in healthier ways is a common focus in sessions. That often means catching early warning signs, building pause-and-respond habits, and getting at the deeper feelings anger tends to mask. Read more in Is Anger Normal?

Yes — teens face their own set of pressures, from school and identity to relationships and mood swings, and sessions are shaped around meeting them where they are. Related reading includes Under Age Drinking Consequences and Childhood Depression.

Grief takes many shapes and rarely follows a straight line — it can show up after a death, but also after a divorce, an estrangement, or another big loss. Counseling offers a steady space to work through what you're feeling, at your own pace. Explore Forms of Grief for more.

Estrangement between an adult child and a parent brings a particular kind of pain, often tangled up with confusion, grief, and guilt. Counseling can help you work through these feelings and think about what healing or reconnection might look like for you. Read Healing After Adult Child Estrangement for more.

Uncertainty is completely normal, and it's not a reason to wait. A lot of people feel hesitant before that first conversation and find that just asking a few questions is enough to help them decide. You're welcome to send a message with no obligation — a short, informal chat costs nothing and might give you the clarity you need.

The simplest step is to visit the Contact page and send a short message. Share as much or as little as you like — even just that you're curious about working together. From there, we'll find a time to talk and go from there, at whatever pace feels right for you.

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of any therapeutic relationship. What you share in sessions stays private. There are a few narrow, legally defined exceptions — for example, a serious risk of harm to yourself or someone else — and these get explained clearly upfront, so there are no surprises.

While I do not accept insurance directly for many reasons, on request you'll get a Super Bill after each session, which you can submit to your insurance company for possible Out of Network reimbursement. Coverage and rates vary by plan, so it's worth checking with your insurer beforehand to understand your Out of Network benefits.

Individual sessions are $125 for 60 minutes. Couples sessions are $150 for 90 minutes. Family sessions run 90 to 100 minutes and are $175.

Payment details, including accepted methods and session rates, are shared when you reach out. Feel free to get in touch directly with any questions about cost before your first session.

The first session is a gentle conversation — you don't need to arrive with an agenda. We'll talk about what brought you here, what you're hoping for, and whatever feels most pressing. It's also your chance to get a sense of whether working together feels right. You're not committing to anything beyond that first meeting.

Sessions are typically 50–60 minutes. How often depends on what you're working through — some people find weekly sessions most helpful at the start, while others prefer meeting every other week. We'll talk through what makes sense for your life and your goals, and revisit it as things change.

There's no single answer, and anyone who promises a timeline is oversimplifying it. Some people notice a shift after just a few sessions; others are untangling deeper patterns that take more time. What matters most is that you feel supported the whole way — progress is real even when it's quiet and gradual.

Yes — secure video sessions are available for clients throughout Florida, and life coaching is offered by video nationwide. In-office sessions are also available at the Longwood location, if you'd rather meet face to face.