Dawn Palumbo-Madera, MSc

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

“My ideal client is someone who is aged 18 and over who is motivated to change. I will meet you where you are and together we will identify the "problem" and create ways to better manage and/or eliminate the "problem". This can include "homework" assignments to be conducted between sessions. Feedback is always welcome and is beneficial to YOUR treatment. ”

About Me

Dawn has been a licensed therapist for four years and has a positive and energetic approach to therapy. She has spent the past twenty years working with individuals and families suffering from severe mental illness and/or addiction providing education, training, resources, and support on their individual journeys towards mental wellness. Part of this support included assisting with goal-setting; to help individuals realize their dreams and make positive lifestyle changes that benefit their overall health and well-being. Dawn has spent a considerable amount of time working within local communities providing therapy and mental health support to children, adults, and the geriatric population. While her current focus is on the adult population, she believes all people can benefit from therapeutic support to help them get to new perspectives in life in a different light. Dawn received a Bachelor's degree in Behavioral Healthcare from the University of South Florida, Tampa Florida and obtained a Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University, Minneapolis Minnesota. In her free time, she loves interacting with her rescued pitbulls Fred and Wilma and enjoys taking them on road trips as she travels, explores, and documents her adventures. Additional hobbies and interests include but are not limited to: tattoos, spirituality, ax throwing, cryotherapy, listening to music with the car windows down and singing along as loud as you can, sharing my knowledge with others, and enjoying the moments The core values that guide me both personally and professionally are honesty, humor, and courage. I like to work collaboratively with my clients to address their mental health issues. Together, we will practice opening up and exploring rather than forcing possibilities. You are the expert on yourself and are in full control of how therapy proceeds. My work is rooted in trust, humor, and toughness. I truly value holding a trusting and safe space for my clients to complete therapeutic work and consider it an honor to serve each of them in their journeys of discovery, change, and healing.

Approach

Sessions move at a steady, practical rhythm that balances honesty with gentleness, helping you notice patterns without feeling rushed. Whether working together in the office or through secure online sessions, we set clear, manageable goals and check progress each week so momentum builds between meetings. Work often includes brief experiments, reflective questions and simple tools you can use day-to-day, with space to process what comes up. This approach tends to suit people who want thoughtful, collaborative change without overwhelm.

Contact Dawn

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

Tampa, United States

In-person & Online

Services

I have spent most of my career working with adults managing their struggles with addiction (alcohol and/or drugs), mental illness (from mild to severe/psychotic), and other behavioral issues. I have worked all levels of care and with all populations. I offer individual counseling/therapy services using an eclectic approach of CBT, DBT, REBT, and motivational interviewing.

Services Offered:

Addiction Counseling
Counselling specifically focused on substance use or behavioural addictions, addressing the psychological drivers and patterns of dependence.
Learn more about Addiction Counseling
Free Consultation
A no-cost initial session to meet the therapist, discuss needs, and decide whether they are the right fit before committing.
Trauma Counseling
Counselling specifically for people affected by traumatic events, focused on processing what happened and reducing symptoms like flashbacks and hypervigilance.
Learn more about Trauma Counseling
Therapy
Professional treatment for mental health concerns, providing a structured space for insight, emotional processing, and behavioural change.
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Crisis Counseling
Immediate, short-term psychological support during an acute mental health crisis such as a panic episode, suicidal thoughts, or overwhelming distress.
Grief & Loss
The emotional, physical, and psychological response to the death of a loved one or another significant loss.
Learn more about Grief & Loss
Individual Therapy
One-on-one therapy sessions between a client and a therapist, focused on that person's specific concerns and goals.
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Mindfulness
The practice of paying deliberate attention to the present moment without judgement, used to reduce stress and increase awareness of automatic reactions.
Learn more about Mindfulness
Online Therapy
Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.
Learn more about Online Therapy
Personal Development
The ongoing process of self-awareness, self-improvement, and reaching one's potential, pursued not because something is wrong but to live more fully.

Works With:

Adults

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

Addiction
A compulsive dependence on a substance or behaviour, such as alcohol, drugs, or gambling, that causes harmful consequences to health, relationships, or daily life.
Learn more about Addiction
Anger
An intense emotional response to perceived threat, injustice, or frustration that, when persistent or uncontrolled, can damage relationships and well-being.
Learn more about Anger
Women's Issues
Psychological challenges more commonly experienced by women, including gender-based stress, reproductive health concerns, body image, caregiving burden, and societal expectations.
Anxiety
Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.
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Body Image
How a person perceives, thinks, and feels about their physical appearance. When persistently negative, it can drive distress, avoidance, and disordered eating.
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Family Issues
Difficulties within the family system, including conflict, communication breakdown, blended family tensions, or intergenerational patterns, that affect individual and collective well-being.
Life Transitions
Major life changes, such as relocation, retirement, parenthood, or career shifts, that disrupt routine and require psychological adjustment.
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Men's Issues
Psychological challenges commonly experienced by men, including difficulty expressing emotions, anger, relationship struggles, fatherhood pressures, and societal expectations of masculinity.
PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a condition that develops after a traumatic event, causing flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and emotional numbness.
Learn more about PTSD
Relationship Issues
Difficulties in romantic relationships, including communication problems, trust breakdowns, conflict patterns, or uncertainty about the relationship's future.
Learn more about Relationship Issues