Sydney Lawniczak
M. Ed, Ed. S, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (MH23292)
REGISTERED PLAY THERAPIST (RPT™ Credential Number: T-6634)
Sydney Lawniczak is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with a Masters and Education Specialist degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Florida. She specializes in working with children, teenagers, young adults, and their families.
When working with children, Sydney uses play therapy and creative, developmentally appropriate activities to help children and their parents navigate challenging feelings and behaviors. She has extensive training in Play Therapy and is a Registered Play Therapist™ (RPT) through the Association for Play Therapy. Her approach with children emphasizes healthy emotional expression, skill-building, and strengthening a child’s sense of capability. She works collaboratively with caregivers so that progress made in the therapy room can be supported and reinforced at home.
Sydney also provides parent coaching for caregivers navigating the challenges of parenting. She supports parents who may feel overwhelmed, unsure of how to respond to their child’s behaviors, or disconnected from their parenting style. Through reflective conversations, education on developmental norms, skill-building, and a compassionate understanding of family dynamics, Sydney helps parents identify what works for them, strengthen their relationship with their child, and approach parenting with confidence and consistency.
With teenagers, Sydney uses a strengths-based, person-centered approach to help them build insight, resilience, and confidence. She helps teens explore identity, manage anxiety and mood concerns, navigate school and social stressors, and build healthy communication patterns. Teens often benefit from learning how to challenge unhelpful thought patterns, understand their emotional responses, and develop coping skills that prepare them for adulthood. Sydney aims to create a space where teens feel heard, respected, and supported as they find their way.
Sydney also works with young adults who may be facing life transitions, academic or career pressures, relationship challenges, or anxiety. Many of her young adult clients are navigating early career decisions, adjusting to independence, or trying to manage high expectations from themselves or others. Sydney helps them develop clarity around their goals, build emotional resilience, identify self-limiting patterns, and cultivate strategies that support balance and well-being. Her approach focuses on empowerment, self-discovery, and helping clients move through uncertainty with confidence.
Across all ages, Sydney’s top priority is to provide a warm, supportive, and comfortable therapy space. She is honored to walk alongside her clients and their families throughout the counseling process.
Outside of counseling, Sydney enjoys playing board games, cheering on the Gators, and working on her latest sewing projects.