For many children, the end of summer brings a familiar knot in the stomach. The new backpack is ready, the school supplies are labeled — but your child is tearful, clingy, complaining of stomachaches, or begging not to go. As a parent, it can be hard to know whether this is normal first-day nerves or something that needs more attention.

At Peace River Psychology Center, we believe effective mental health care goes beyond addressing a single symptom or condition. True healing happens when emotional, relational, and cognitive well-being are considered together. Dr. Karin Galliano, a Florida licensed psychologist, specializes in providing this comprehensive, whole-person approach — supporting children, couples, and individuals across a variety of life challenges.

It can be challenging to distinguish between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and anxiety, as the two conditions often share similar symptoms. Restlessness, inattention, and difficulty managing daily tasks are common in both, which can make accurate diagnosis complicated. Our team of licensed psychologists at Peace River Psychology Center specialize in comprehensive ADHD evaluations for children and adults to ensure clarity and effective treatment.

Even the strongest relationships can face periods of emotional distance. Over time, small frustrations and unspoken resentments can grow, creating patterns of disconnection that affect both partners’ well-being. Dr. Karin Galliano, a licensed psychologist at Peace River Psychology Center specializing in marital counseling, helps couples understand these dynamics and take meaningful steps toward reconnection.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is often misunderstood. Popular culture tends to portray it as simply an extreme need for cleanliness or order, but the reality is far more complex. Dr. Karin Galliano, a Florida licensed psychologist at Peace River Psychology Center, works with individuals and families to help them understand OCD, its impacts, and effective treatment strategies.

For many adults, the challenges of daily life — staying organized, managing time, and regulating emotions — can feel like a personal shortcoming rather than a neurological condition. Dr. Karin Galliano, a Florida licensed psychologist at Peace River Psychology, has seen firsthand how adult ADHD often goes undiagnosed, especially in women and high-functioning individuals, until later in life.

At Peace River Psychology, we understand that the health of a marriage doesn’t just affect the couple, it impacts the entire family. Dr. Karin Galliano, a Florida licensed psychologist with a focus on marital counseling, has dedicated much of her doctoral research to understanding how chronic conflict between parents affects children’s emotional development.

Grief is often thought of as sadness after a loss, but for many, it’s also deeply intertwined with anxiety and physical stress. At Peace River Psychology Center, serving families in Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, we help clients understand how grief can affect both the mind and body—and why early support through grief counseling can be vital.

When we think about mental health challenges in children and adolescents, behaviors like aggression or acting out often come to mind. But many young people struggle quietly with internalizing disorders—conditions such as anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)—that can be harder to spot but just as impactful.

Marriage counseling isn’t about admitting defeat; it’s about choosing to fight for your relationship. Through compassionate, evidence-based counseling, Dr. Karin Galliano helps couples rebuild trust, improve communication, and reconnect in meaningful ways.

Imagine walking into a place where the mind feels cared for just as much as the body - where hope, healing, and understanding meet. That’s the philosophy behind Peace River Psychology Center, founded by Dr. Karin Galliano, a licensed clinical psychologist whose career has been devoted to helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s most challenging moments.

— By Dr. Karin Galliano , who specializes in marital counseling, anxiety disorders and ADHD Currently, in America, approximately 41% of...

By Rebeca Bright , PsyD As we get older we have to make decisions about where we want to live and what we want our lives to look like....

— By Dr. Karin Galliano , who specializes in marital counseling, anxiety disorders and ADHD — In collaboration with Laura Tichy-Smith,...

By Rebeca Bright , PsyD Very few people are happy with their bodies. It seems there’s always someone younger with more perfect features...

By Rebeca Bright , PsyD Choosing to have surgery as a method to lose weight is a difficult decision, normally surgery will not be...

By Rebeca Bright , PsyD Advances in health care have allowed that the fastest growing segment of the population is of people over the age...

By Rebeca Bright , PsyD The joy and bliss that many experience during this time of year is not always the reality for those who are...

By Rebeca Bright , PsyD Stress is a normal part of life that affects individuals in many ways. When not managed effectively, stress can...

By Rebeca Bright , PsyD The new year has begun! For many, it is time to look forward to making changes that will help us create a more...