ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The therapist community is accustomed to speaking with people about trauma. However, many are now struggling with the loss of one of their own.
It has been two weeks since mental health counselor Rebecca White was stabbed to death at her Orlando office. The attack has left therapists across Central Florida shaken, raising concerns about safety and sparking deeper conversations about who supports mental health professionals during times of crisis.
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“I was shocked and hurt,” said therapist Cherlette McCullough. “It’s a pain I’m still grappling with.”
For a year, McCullough shared office space with White before White opened her own practice. Though they no longer worked together, the two remained friends until White was killed on January 19.
“I felt a number of things when I heard it was Rebecca,” McCullough said.
[WATCH: Death of Orange County mental health counselor sparks security concerns]
Officials say White was stabbed to death by former client Michael Smith, a registered sex offender with a history of violence. Smith was later found dead by apparent suicide. During the attack, he also stabbed a current client of White’s who was trying to call 911; he was taken to the hospital and is expected to recover.
The attack has left the therapist community reeling.
“My colleagues in the field were scared, shocked, asking how this could happen,” said therapist Amy Wagner.
[WATCH: Counselor killed, patient injured in Orlando stabbing]
Many therapists say returning to work has been difficult, as they now question how to protect themselves while maintaining a safe and confidential environment for clients.
“A number of us are thinking, do I need cameras? But do cameras breach confidentiality?” McCullough said. “Where would I put them? Do I carry mace? It’s a flood of questions.”
Therapists often work with individuals during emotionally vulnerable moments, and the unpredictability of human behavior has heightened fear within the profession.
“Sometimes we don’t know what people will do,” McCullough said. “I think that’s where the fear comes in for us now.”
The tragedy has also brought forward a broader conversation about who helps the helpers.
In response, trauma therapist Amy Wagner created EMDR processing groups specifically for therapists struggling to process the loss.
“We had one set up, and it filled up in three hours,” Wagner said. “Then we created four more.”
Wagner says the goal is to provide validation and a sense of community, something McCullough has felt.
“I think there’s a lot of validation in that moment—feeling this way,” McCullough said. “It’s a community, and I’m not alone.”
As the therapist community continues to mourn Rebecca White, they say healing will take time—along with ongoing conversations about safety in places meant to foster trust and care.