Sabal Palm’s Philosophy

The Sabal Palm, Florida's state tree, is known for withstanding powerful storms because of its broad, interconnected root system, which provides strength, flexibility, and stability. At Sabal Palm Psychology, it reminds us that healing and growth are rarely solitary endeavors achieved by weathering life’s difficulties through sheer force of will alone. Instead, we believe healing and growth are rooted in connection, support, and the strengths we build along the way.

Starting therapy can feel overwhelming, and we're so glad you're here. We provide a warm, nonjudgmental, and collaborative environment where children, teens, young adults, and families feel safe to explore their thoughts and emotions. Using evidence-based, strength-based therapy, we meet each client where they are and help them build the skills, resilience, and confidence to navigate challenges related to anxiety, depression, life transitions, illness, school, family, friendships, and more. At Sabal Palm, we can help you weather life's storms while remaining grounded in who you are.

Dr. Chelsea Wilcocks

About Dr. Wilcocks

Welcome! I am Dr. Chelsea Wilcocks, the founder of Sabal Palm Psychology and am so happy you’re here.

I am committed to providing client-centered, culturally competent services and ensure you are provided with quality care and evidence-based psychotherapy. Before diving into the deep end, I take the time to build rapport and trust, knowing the therapeutic alliance is so important in the therapy process. I meet each client where they are and tailor therapy to their interests and strengths to make growing and learning more enjoyable and comfortable.

Areas of Expertise

I am a licensed clinical psychologist (PY 11275), specializing in pediatric health psychology. I specialize in working with children, teens, and young adults diagnosed with chronic illness, such as diabetes, cancer, transplant, and GI issues, as well as those who are striving to make healthy lifestyle changes. I have extensive clinical experiences working with children with various chronic conditions and utilize interventions to improve adherence, adjustment, coping, post-surgical outcomes, and family functioning as well as decrease high-risk health behaviors. I provide evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) while assessing specific client needs and tailoring treatment accordingly. I also offer therapy for families of youth diagnosed with a wide range of emotional and behavioral difficulties with and without medical diagnoses.

Education

  • Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.)
    APA-accredited Clinical Psychology doctoral program at Nova Southeastern University

  • Clinical Psychology Internship
    APA-accredited internship at Broward Health Medical Center / Salah Foundation Children's Hospital

  • Postdoctoral Fellowship in Pediatric Psychology
    Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
    Specialized training in pediatric psychology with an emphasis on treatment adherence within interdisciplinary Diabetes and Weight Management clinics.

Publications

Wilcocks, C.P., Enlow, P., Wasserman, R., Wysocki, T., Lee, J., Aroian, K., & Pierce, J. (2022, June). Development and Evaluation of the Pediatric Diabetes Routine Questionnaire for Parents of Young Children with Type 1 Diabetes. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings. 

Development and Evaluation of the Pediatric Diabetes Routine Questionnaire for Parents of Young Children with Type 1 Diabetes

Wilcocks, C.P., Valenzuela, J.M., Stellway, J., Yee, S., & Duro, D. (2021, October). Significant stress in parents of children with short bowel syndrome: Considerations for care. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology. 

Significant Stress in Parents of Children with Short Bowel Syndrome Undergoing Intestinal Rehabilitation: Considerations for Care

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A Bit More About Me

I was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale and I am proud to be starting this practice in my hometown! I love the sunshine and beach and consider myself an ice cream connoisseur. Raising two sons keeps me very busy, my inner child alive and well, and just dirty enough to think I’m doing childhood right. I enjoy working out but the main motivation is so I can keep up with the boys who treat every day like an adventure and every piece of furniture like playground equipment. In the years I have spent working with children, I have been honing in on my skills in the areas of Jenga, Connect 4, and UNO. Consider yourself warned.

I absolutely love getting to work with youth. I am constantly surprised by their resilience and wisdom. Getting to see my clients overcome obstacles, achieve their goals, and excel in areas that once had them feeling anxious or stuck reminds me why I work so hard to be in this field. Hearing from families that they see their children growing and thriving in the face of transgressions is beyond rewarding. I appreciate every family that trusts me to work closely with their loved ones. I look forward to getting to know many more clients and watching them flourish. 

A woman sitting on a wooden bench in a cozy indoor setting, smiling, wearing a white eyelet top, blue jeans, and cream-colored high-heeled sandals.

I’m not the polished, perfectly put-together type. I’m much more comfortable keeping things real, authentic, and even a little messy. Come as you are and get comfy. I take a warm, fun, and empathetic approach and strive to curate the best possible experience for each individual client.