Rebecca White, LMHC: Therapist Safety, and the Conversations We Can No Longer Avoid
A lit candle near a window with soft natural light, symbolizing reflection and remembrance in mental health care.
A reflection on a tragedy that has shaken the mental health community and the urgent need for systemic change
On January 19, 2026, licensed mental health counselor Rebecca White, 44, was fatally stabbed in her Orlando office by a former client who interrupted an active therapy session. Another client, who had just completed his session, was critically injured while attempting to intervene and call 911. The attacker was later found dead by apparent suicide.
As I read the details of Rebecca’s death, my hands trembled. Not only from grief, though grief is certainly present, but from recognition.
The Weight We Carry
Every mental health professional reading this knows the feeling. The hypervigilance that becomes second nature. Sitting closest to the door. Scanning the room for objects that could become weapons. Tracking shifts in tone, posture, affect not only for clinical insight, but for safety.
I think back to years of conducting home visits, entering unfamiliar spaces, sitting in living rooms where I was acutely aware I was the visitor and the vulnerable one. I think about working in hospitals where crisis was routine, de-escalation a daily practice, and the emotional weight constant.
We are trained in assessment, intervention, and care. Many of us quietly wonder whether that training will ever be enough.
Rebecca was doing what us clinicians were taught to do. She set boundaries. She showed up. She believed in accountability and growth. She was killed for it.
What We Know
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the attacker entered the office around 9 p.m. and demanded to speak with Rebecca after a session had ended. She asked him to leave and called 911. He then produced a knife and attacked both Rebecca and the client who was still present.
Public records indicate the attacker had a prior conviction for rape involving a knife and had served approximately 18 years in state custody.
This detail matters not to sensationalize or vilify, but to raise necessary questions. What safety protocols were in place? What information was available? What systemic protections existed for the clinician and the clients present?
The Safety Crisis in Mental Health Care
Workplace violence in mental health settings is not rare. It is under-acknowledged.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare and social service workers account for over 70 percent of all nonfatal workplace violence injuries requiring days away from work in the United States. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has repeatedly identified healthcare and social service workers as being at elevated risk for workplace violence and has issued specific prevention guidelines for these fields.
And yet, many clinicians work in:
Solo or small practices without security measures
Buildings with no panic buttons or controlled access
Evening hours with no onsite support
Cultures where voicing safety concerns is misinterpreted as fear or lack of compassion
Risk assessment is treated as a clinical task, not an operational one.
What Needs to Change
1. Mandatory safety training in graduate programs
Comprehensive workplace safety training should be a core requirement in social work, counseling, and psychology programs, including de-escalation, environmental safety planning, and response protocols.
2. Physical safety infrastructure
Panic buttons, controlled entry, visibility in office design, and clear evacuation routes should be standard, not optional upgrades.
3. Ethical information sharing
There must be HIPAA-compliant mechanisms that allow clinicians to access critical safety-relevant history when appropriate, so informed decisions can be made.
4. Organizational protocols and support
Agencies and group practices must establish clear procedures for threat response, clinician support after incidents, and safety planning for high-risk sessions.
5. Cultural shift within the field
Advocating for safety cannot be equated with stigma or lack of empathy. Safety and care are not opposites. They are interdependent.
6. Insurance and legal protections
Malpractice and liability frameworks must evolve to support clinicians who implement safety measures or appropriately terminate treatment when credible threats arise.
Holding the Tension
Most clients will never harm us. People with mental illness are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. Both statements are true.
And Rebecca White is dead.
We can hold complexity without denial. We can provide compassionate, trauma-informed care while demanding systems that protect clinicians and clients alike.
To My Fellow Mental Health Professionals
If you have experienced threats, violence, or situations where you felt unsafe, you are not alone. Report incidents. Document concerns. Seek supervision and support. Advocate for the protections you need.
Your work matters.
Your safety matters.
You deserve both.
Rest in Peace, Rebecca
Rebecca leaves behind a husband, children, colleagues, and clients whose lives were changed by her work. Those who knew her describe her as deeply committed, skilled, and passionate about healing and accountability.
May her memory compel our field to act.
Support Resources
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988
SAMHSA National Helpline 1-800-662-4357
Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741
For Mental Health Professionals
Employee Assistance Programs
State professional association peer support
Trauma-informed supervision or therapy
Sources and Attribution
This reflection is based on publicly available reporting from local Florida news outlets, including WFTV, ClickOrlando, FOX 35 Orlando, CBS12, and WESH, as well as guidance from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. All analysis and reflections are my own.
Written by Shantel “Shanti” Robinson, LCSW
Founder of Shanti’s Promise, LLC & Shanti’s Promise Clinical Wellness, PLLC
Empathy. Strength. Renewal
When the Holidays Hurt: Holding Space for Grief and Renewal
The holidays can be a tender time when joy and grief meet in the same breath. In this reflection from Shanti’s Promise, Shantel “Shanti” Robinson, LCSW, offers gentle ways to honor your loss, nurture your heart, and rediscover moments of peace and renewal this season.
From Shanti’s Desk
The holidays often arrive wrapped in expectations of joy, togetherness, and celebration. For many, though, this season carries a quiet ache. One that surfaces between the carols, gatherings, and glittering lights. Whether it’s the first holiday after a loss or another year of navigating traditions that no longer feel the same, grief has a way of showing up when the world insists we should be happy.
At Shanti’s Promise, I believe grief is something to honor. This time of year, that might mean slowing down, saying no, or making space for feelings that don’t fit neatly into the holiday narrative.
When the Holidays Feel Heavy
Grief can feel especially sharp during the holidays because so many moments are built around connection. Empty chairs, missing voices, and shifting family dynamics can trigger memories and emotions we thought had softened.
You may find yourself torn between wanting to participate and needing to retreat. That tension is normal. Grief asks for gentleness, not perfection.
Try to release the pressure to “get through” the season the way you used to. You are different after your loss, and things will be different too.
Ways to Care for Your Heart
Here are a few small, compassionate ways to honor your grief this season:
Light a candle or create a quiet space in memory of your loved one.
Keep, change, or skip traditions — whatever feels most supportive right now.
Give yourself permission to say no without guilt.
Write a letter, share a story, or cook a favorite meal in remembrance.
Lean into connection when it feels right and solitude when it doesn’t.
If a moment of laughter or warmth surfaces unexpectedly, let it. Those flashes of joy don’t mean your grief has disappeared; they’re proof that love still lives in you.
Creating Space for Renewal
Renewal isn’t about moving on; it’s about allowing light to reach the places that feel dark. Sometimes it’s found in rest, reflection, or simply giving yourself permission to breathe.
Joy can quietly coexist with sorrow. It may appear in small ways — a shared memory that brings a smile, the comfort of someone who listens, or a sunrise that reminds you you’re still here. Those moments don’t erase grief; they remind us that healing is possible, even when our hearts are still tender.
A Note from Shanti’s Promise
As the year comes to a close, I’ll be reopening my books for new therapy sessions this December, prioritizing Saturday appointments and, for this month only, select Sunday mornings. Weekday evening sessions will also be available in limited slots.
If you’ve been considering therapy or simply need space to unpack what this season brings up for you, I invite you to reach out. Virtual sessions are available for adults in North Carolina and New Jersey.
Let this be the month you give yourself permission to pause, reflect, and receive support.
Written by Shantel “Shanti” Robinson, LCSW
Founder: Shanti’s Promise, LLC and Shanti’s Promise Clinical Wellness, PLLC
Empathy. Strength. Renewal.