Evidence-Based Care, Faith-Informed
Ondina G. Waldron came to counseling through a deep sense of calling — and then backed that calling with rigorous clinical training. After earning her Master of Arts in Professional Counseling from Liberty University, she spent five years building a practice grounded in trauma-informed, evidence-based care that can integrate faith when a client finds that meaningful.
As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) at Ascend's Lakeland office, Ondina works with individuals and families navigating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and the kinds of relational wounds that often go unaddressed for years. Her clients frequently describe her as someone who creates an immediate sense of safety — the kind of therapist you do not have to perform for.
Ondina's approach to faith-based counseling is intentional and client-led. She never imposes spiritual frameworks on clients who have not asked for them. But for those who do want to explore how their faith intersects with their mental health, she brings a genuine fluency in Christian counseling principles that goes well beyond surface-level platitudes. She understands the specific challenges that arise at the intersection of faith, trauma, and mental illness — including spiritual shame, religious trauma, and the painful disconnect between "just pray about it" and the reality of clinical depression.
Whether or not faith is part of the conversation, Ondina's clinical methods are always evidence-based. She uses trauma-informed cognitive behavioral approaches, narrative therapy, and solution-focused techniques adapted to each client's situation and goals.
Education & Training
Education
- Master of Arts (MA) in Professional Counseling — Liberty University
Licensure
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) — State of Florida
Clinical Experience
- 5 years of clinical experience in trauma-informed, evidence-based, and faith-integrated counseling
What Ondina Treats
Services
- Individual Therapy — evidence-based treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and grief
- Faith-Based Counseling — client-led integration of Christian principles into the therapeutic process
- Trauma Therapy — trauma-informed cognitive behavioral approaches for PTSD and complex trauma
- Family Therapy — communication, conflict resolution, and relational repair
Conditions Commonly Treated
- Depression and persistent low mood
- Anxiety and panic disorders
- PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
- Grief, loss, and bereavement
- Family conflict and relational wounds
- Spiritual distress and religious trauma
- Life transitions and adjustment challenges
Insurance & Payment
Payment
Self-Pay Rates
- Initial session: $175
- Follow-up sessions: $140
Superbill provided for out-of-network reimbursement. Ondina provides superbills that many insurance plans will reimburse at out-of-network rates.
