Practitioner record · Checked 9 Oct 2026
Dr. Brenda Goldwater Lerner has been in practice 12 years and is licensed in Florida. Dr. lists stress, Anxiety, grief and depression among 11 subjects on the BetterHelp roster.
Everything below is either quoted from Dr.'s own BetterHelp listing, taken from public licensing records, or written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such. Nothing here is an availability promise, a review, or a rating.
01 · Who Dr. works with
Dr. lists 4 specialisms and 7 further focus areas. Specialisms are the subjects Dr. chose to list first, which is the closest a listing gets to “this is my actual practice”.
02 · In Dr.'s own words
Reproduced in full and unedited - not summarised, not tightened, not rewritten in a house voice.
I am a licensed psychologist in Florida with about 12 years of professional work experience. I help people who experience stress and anxiety, coping with grief and loss, as well as depression and those who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorders. I provide clinical “holistic psychotherapy” for individuals. My early training is in behavioral medicine (an interdisciplinary field that studies the connections between the mind, the body, and the emotions). Through the years, I expanded my training towards a “spiritual integrative approach to psychotherapy.” This includes the application of techniques like mindfulness and meditation, among others. It is my belief that each person deserves a respectful consideration of their path of self-examination, and it is my position is to recognize, and adjust my treatment approach to this and your path.
In general terms, I assist people to identify and understand the origin of their symptoms by exploring behavioral, cognitive, and emotional patterns, that may identify a.) lifestyle (physicality, exercise, drug use, sleeping patterns, etc.), b.) core beliefs or “negative programming,” c.) moderate to severe emotional fluctuations, and d.) other manifestations that may arise. My goal is for you to experience greater self-awareness and clarity at all levels, which will afford you new ways and skills for dealing with the concerns and issues that brought you here. I usually work with people at a minimum frequency of once per week, but other arrangements can be agreed upon based on progress and other reasons. I usually begin our first meeting with a consultation. During this session, we will clarify your needs and presenting issues; discuss relevant personal and family history; and explore the 'fit' between us. At the conclusion of this session, I will share my initial impressions about your presenting problems and my ideas about how we should continue our relationship.
I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialogue and your treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and you should be proud of yourself for getting started!
Dr. Brenda Goldwater Lerner, on the BetterHelp listing · read 9 Oct 2026
03 · What happens next
Dr. practises through BetterHelp, so the route in is BetterHelp's. This is that sequence, written by Maker Therapy from the platform's published process - not a description of Dr.'s own practice, and not a promise about how quickly anything happens.
BetterHelp opens with a set of questions about what you are dealing with, what you want from therapy, and any preferences on the therapist. You are not booking Dr. at this point.
BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Dr. is a step you have to take. There is a field for requesting a specific therapist during sign-up, and you can switch afterwards from your account. Starting from a link on this page does not by itself assign you to Dr..
You will be offered somebody else rather than put on a waitlist. Worth knowing, because it is easy to assume a match is the person you asked for.
A first session is typically history and orientation: what brought you, what has been tried, what you want to be different. It is also where the questions in the next section belong.
Changing therapist on BetterHelp does not need a reason. A first session that does not click is common and is not a verdict on therapy. That option existing is the main practical difference between a platform and a private practice.
04 · Practical details
05 · Provenance
Dr.'s name, credential, state, subjects, approaches and biography are read from BetterHelp's therapist roster, which Maker Therapy re-reads once a day; this page reflects the reading taken on 9 Oct 2026. The licence number and NPI are cross-checked against public registers.
The plain-English method descriptions, the first-session walkthrough and the questions are written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such wherever they appear.
Maker Therapy is not BetterHelp, does not take bookings, and has not met Dr.. There are no reviews or ratings on this page because we have no way to verify one. If you start therapy through a link here, we may be paid a commission - it does not change your price and it does not affect who appears here or in what order.
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