
Earnings: If you buy something through our ads or external links, we may earn a commission.
Earnings: If you buy something through our ads or external links, we may earn a commission.
Author: Matthew Idle Reviewed: Philippa Gold
Disclaimer: We use fact-based content and publish material that is researched, cited, edited, and reviewed by professionals. The information we publish is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider. In a Medical Emergency contact the Emergency Services Immediately
Better Help is one of the most well-known online therapy providers in Clearwater Florida. You may have heard of Better Help’s advertisements in Clearwater Florida on podcasts, radio, or read about it online.According to the latest statistics provided by Betterhelp, the online therapy provider has nearly 2 million customers worldwide. Its client-base makes Better Help the world’s largest online therapy provider and a very popular choice for those in the Clearwater Florida area.
Better Help ticks a lot of boxes for individuals seeking anxiety treatment in Clearwater Florida. The platform allows users to connect with therapists that can help with a variety of mental health concerns including depression, stress and anxiety. Additionally, Betterhelp provides classes and seminars along with regular one-to-one therapy sessions. These sessions aim to help clients in Clearwater Florida with issues and delve even deeper into mental health wellness.
Specializations | Burnout, Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Anger Management, Dependencies, Grief, Seasonal Depressive Disorder, Life Crisis, Smoking Cessation (among others)
Full Online Program | The standard fee for BetterHelp therapy is only $60 to $90 per week or $240 to $360 per month.
Key Takeaways | Largest online therapy platform for anxiety treatment, low cost, messaging, live video, phone calls, and live chat, no lock in contracts, cancel anytime, only licensed and accredited anxiety therapists
Discounts Available | We have negotiated a generous 20% discount for readers of our website. Press Here to get 20% Off
It is completely normal to feel anxious or to experience anxiety as a way for your brain to react to stress. Anxiety alerts you of a possible danger, and is okay to feel. However, anxiety disorders are much different to feeling the occasional bout of anxiety. Anxiety disorders can be debilitating and leave a person feeling unable to cope with life. Recent studies suggest that at least 19.8% of the Clearwater Florida population suffer from crippling bouts of anxiety that impact their lives.
Anxiety Treatment Centers in Clearwater Florida allows you to live, learn, and understand your anxiety disorder. Often clients who attend anxiety treatment centers in Clearwater Florida experience significant and rapid reduction in anxiety and in many cases complete remission from a debilitating condition.
Because anxiety clinics in Clearwater Florida are a relatively new concept some individuals and families travel a little further afield, often interstate to find the best anxiety treatment centers.
19.8% of adults in Clearwater Florida and the United States in general suffer from Anxiety disorders that cause consistent overwhelming anxiety and fear. The excessive anxiety may make a person avoid school, work, family, friends and social situations. Anxiety disorder sufferers avoid people and situations as they may trigger symptoms. Anxiety disorders can also be caused by an underlying health issue. The constant thinking and worrying about an ailment can lead you to anxiety, and the symptoms of anxiety disorder are often the first indicators of a medical illness.
Anxiety disorders’ main symptoms are worry and fear. Clients at Anxiety Treatment Centers in Clearwater Florida report that the most common symptoms are:
There are several treatments for anxiety disorders in Clearwater Florida, but residential Anxiety Treatment Centers in Clearwater Florida offer the best, and most lasting treatment solution. Residential anxiety treatment centers in Clearwater Florida are uniquely tailored to each individual and their own issues. Treatment at a Clearwater Florida anxiety clinic may use psychotherapy, holistic treatments, Biochemical restoration and cognitive behavioral therapy sessions.
There are multiple types of anxiety disorders treated at residential anxiety rehabs in Clearwater Florida and each has its own symptoms and signs.
Anxiety is a normal human response to stress. It’s natural to feel nervous when faced with a stressful situation, such as a job interview, an important presentation, or moving to another country. Although this type of anxiety can be unpleasant, it usually does not have a debilitating effect on a person’s life. Anxiety disorders are a category of mental health conditions characterized by intense feelings of anxiety, fear, or worry that can persist for a long period of time.
Without proper treatment, anxiety disorders can have a significant impact on a person’s mood, attitude, and behavior, and can interfere with daily life. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems in Clearwater Florida and indeed, the world, affecting approximately 264 million people worldwide. It can affect anyone at any age, although women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with anxiety disorders. Everyone experiences anxiety and anxiety-related symptoms from time to time. It’s natural to feel nervous in certain situations, such as before an important exam or job interview.
However, when the anxiety you experience is persistent, debilitating, and disproportionate to your situation, you may have an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders are divided into : generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and other phobias, separation anxiety disorder and panic disorder. When you have anxiety disorders, you can also experience many physical symptoms, such as abdominal pain and excessive sweating. You may feel a growing sense of doom or panic. If you do have an anxiety disorder, the symptoms can cause significant discomfort that spirals out of control and persists for months, making it difficult or impossible to perform normal daily functions.
Inpatient anxiety treatment in Clearwater Florida is considered the most effective form of therapy. Residential Anxiety Treatment Centers provide a calm, structured environment where you can fully focus your energy on your recovery process without distractions or demanding the outside world. Residential anxiety treatment is especially effective for people with comorbid disorders because it isolates them from external triggers leading to substance abuse and reduces the risk of relapse.
Your physical environment can have a major impact on your recovery. Inpatient anxiety treatment provides a safe and supportive environment for people trying to manage symptoms and complications on their own or through outpatient treatment. These facilities offer therapy, health care, overall wellness, coping strategies, relationship therapy, and other treatments delivered by dedicated specialists. When anxiety is overwhelmed and other efforts fail, it may be time for hospitalization. If you are struggling with anxiety, it may be time to choose inpatient care for your care.
Going to an anxiety treatment center in Clearwater Florida can be helpful for individuals struggling with anxiety. Here are some benefits of going to an anxiety treatment center:
Anxiety treatment centers are staffed by professionals who are trained and experienced in treating anxiety disorders. They will be able to provide a comprehensive assessment, diagnosis and treatment plan that is tailored to the individual’s specific needs.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a common type of therapy in Clearwater Florida. It teaches clients how to turn negative or panic-creating thoughts into positive thoughts. Clients are taught ways to approach and manage their fear without anxiety.
Anxiety treatment centers in Clearwater Florida offer evidence based treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy, which are proven to be effective in treating anxiety disorders.
Anxiety treatment centers provide a supportive environment where individuals can feel safe and understood. They can also help individuals to connect with others who are going through similar experiences, which can be very beneficial.
Anxiety treatment centers in Clearwater Florida typically offer intensive treatment programs, which can include individual therapy, group therapy, and other therapeutic activities. This can be especially beneficial for individuals who need a more intensive level of care.
Anxiety treatment centers may also provide medication management for individuals who need it.
Most individuals going to an Anxiety Treatment Center in Clearwater Florida live relatively locally. However, some clients need to travel internationally to receive treatment in Clearwater Florida. For these individuals it is very important to get the right Visa and to check the Clearwater Florida Immigration rules. Below are some helpful links to help you check Clearwater Florida Immigration and Visas:
However, a quality outpatient program that is delivered online can be highly beneficial for an individual suffering from anxiety. Accessing the highest quality professionals from the comfort of your own home, in familiar surroundings and on your own schedule can indeed limit the extra anxiety felt when seeking treatment. Remedy Wellbeing offer the world’s most popular online therapeutic experience for a complete Anxiety treatment program. REMEDY is best known as the treatment center of choice for celebrities, sports stars and royalty. They are well known for being the most expensive rehab in the world, treating the rich and famous for burnout, depression, anxiety, addictions and stress management. Remedy has taken their program and developed an affordable online program for people suffering anxiety to access wherever they are in the world and at whatever stage of anxiety they are currently experiencing. Remedy Wellbeing is the world’s leading anxiety treatment program.
Online anxiety treatment in Clearwater Florida may be an option for you if you are looking for a convenient, low-cost mental health treatment option. There are many reasons why you may be interested in online therapy, from not having access to a traditional treatment facility locally in Clearwater Florida, to having trouble leaving the house because of your anxiety. Whatever your reasons for choosing, it is useful to know more about online anxiety therapy before diving headfirst into your first person therapy session. First, it helps to understand the types of therapies you can expect to receive with online therapists for anxiety.
Some therapists in Clearwater Florida stick with a single treatment method, whereas others may mix or combine different therapeutic approaches depending on your particular needs or issues. Some forms of therapy that may be offered include Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Online Psychotherapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). These forms of therapy help you to control your anxious thoughts, to slowly address difficult situations so they eventually do not trigger so much anxiety, and learn to cope with and tolerate the condition. For more information about Online Therapy for Anxiety Press Here.
These mental illnesses can become debilitating and interfere with your ability to function normally, let alone enjoy life. There is hope, however, as anxiety disorders are one of the most treatable types of mental illness. There are many good reasons to seek treatment of any kind, but if anxiety can overwhelm you and cause serious problems in your life, consider intensive treatment offered in a residential facility. This supportive therapy can give you a solid foundation and give you the tools you need to get home and manage your anxiety.
Below are some of the most common anxiety disorders we treat in rehab.
The most common type of anxiety disorder is generalized anxiety disorder, which is characterized by chronic feelings of fear and worry about unspecific events.
People with panic disorder experience sudden outbursts of intense fear. Although panic attacks usually occur after a long period of stress, they can also occur without triggers.
Agoraphobia is an often misunderstood disorder characterized by a fear of situations where it is difficult to escape or get help. Social Anxiety Disorder: Social anxiety disorder is a disorder defined by an extreme fear of being judged or embarrassed in social situations. People with social anxiety disorder may withdraw from others, which can affect relationships, self-confidence, and career. OCD: OCD is a mental disorder that occurs when a person has intrusive thoughts that cause them to engage in repetitive and sometimes destructive behaviors.
Also known as speech therapy or psychological counseling, psychotherapy involves working with a therapist to reduce symptoms of anxiety. It can be an effective remedy for anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective form of psychotherapy for anxiety disorders. Can anxiety be completely cured with treatment?
Anxiety is incurable, but there are ways to prevent its occurrence. The right anxiety treatment can help calm uncontrolled anxiety so you can move on with your life. A big event or a jumble of smaller, stressful life situations can trigger excessive anxiety, such as a death in the family, stress at work, or constant financial worries. People with certain personality types are more prone to anxiety disorders than others.
There are several treatments for anxiety disorders, but residential treatment centers in Clearwater Florida are ideal for treating the issues. A residential treatment facility in Clearwater Florida allows you to live, learn, and understand your anxiety disorder.
Residential anxiety treatment centers in Clearwater Florida may use psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy sessions. Psychotherapy is a form of counseling. It allows you to learn how your emotions influence your behavior. A mental health specialist trained in psychotherapy will listen to you during sessions. They will talk to you about feelings and thoughts. After listening to you, the mental health specialist will suggest ways to manage and understand the anxiety disorder.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a common type of psychotherapy in Clearwater Florida. It teaches clients how to turn negative or panic-creating thoughts into positive thoughts. Clients are taught ways to approach and manage their fear without anxiety. There are residential treatment centers in Clearwater Florida listed below that provide family cognitive behavioral therapy sessions.
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health disorders in Clearwater Florida and affects a large number of the population in different ways. Research has discovered that anxiety disorders appear in a large segment of individuals in Clearwater Florida over the age of 18 and affects 18.1% of the adult population of the United States. That is about 40 million Americans each year that are affected by anxiety disorders.
The good news for individuals and their families in Clearwater Florida is that anxiety disorders are highly treatable. However, the problem with treating anxiety disorders in Clearwater Florida is that just 42.1% of people in the US that suffer from the mental health issue receive adequate treatment.
Most people in Clearwater Florida fail to get help because they do not realize there is something wrong. Others fail to receive treatment due to the stigma that most inpatient treatment centers possess. The reputation of an inpatient anxiety treatment center in Clearwater Florida can alter the way an individual seeks help and prevent them from ultimately recovering.
The answer to gaining first-class treatment in a safe environment is attending a luxury anxiety retreat in Clearwater Florida that puts the client at the forefront of its work 24-hours a day. An anxiety retreat in Clearwater Florida has the ability to house, treat, and provide long-term healing that teaches a client how to manage their anxiety disorder in the future.
It is very common for a person suffering with anxiety disorder in Clearwater Florida to also have depression or vice versa. The two mental health disorders can come hand in hand. Fifty-percent of all people diagnosed with anxiety disorder in Clearwater Florida also have depression. An anxiety treatment center in Clearwater Florida can treat both disorders and put a client onto the road to full recovery.
Business Name | Rating | Categories | Phone Number | Address |
---|---|---|---|---|
Charisse Diaz, LMHC![]() |
Psychologists, Life Coach | +18136010595 | 2708 Alternate 19 N, Ste 507 13, Tampa Bay Area Counseling, Palm Harbor, FL 34683 | |
Be Your Best Self & Thrive Counseling![]() |
Life Coach, Yoga, Counseling & Mental Health | +17275135932 | 2837 1st Ave N, St Petersburg, FL 33713 | |
Kelly Lash, MS, LPC![]() |
Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy, Life Coach, Counseling & Mental Health | +19717161775 | Portland, OR 97086 | |
Leah Benson Therapy![]() |
Life Coach, Counseling & Mental Health | +18134520111 | 1719 W Carmen St, Tampa, FL 33606 | |
Teeling Counseling Services![]() |
Life Coach, Counseling & Mental Health | +18134168094 | 10014 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Ste 216, Tampa, FL 33618 | |
Sandra Hall, LMHC, CAP, CRC, PA![]() |
Counseling & Mental Health | +17276230974 | 10825 Seminole Blvd, Unit 2A, Sandra Hall & Associates, Largo, FL 33778 | |
Coffee Counseling Coaching & Consulting![]() |
Life Coach, Counseling & Mental Health | +17276018485 | 33 Sixth Street, Ste 202, St Petersburg, FL 33701 | |
Secret Garden Couples Massage![]() |
Massage Therapy, Sex Therapists | +17274569637 | 821 Court St, Clearwater, FL 33756 | |
Richard Tifft, MA![]() |
Counseling & Mental Health | +17272231625 | 2430 Estancia Blvd, Ste 106, Clearwater, FL 33761 | |
Laura Farrell West, LCSW![]() |
Counseling & Mental Health | +18136019440 | 602 S Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606 | |
John Knight, PhD, LMHC![]() |
Counseling & Mental Health, Life Coach | +17274839599 | 200 Emerald Bay Dr, Ste 300, Oldsmar, FL 34677 | |
Serene Mind Counseling + Evaluations![]() |
Counseling & Mental Health, Career Counseling, Animal Assisted Therapy | +18133218280 | 730 S Sterling Ave, Ste 301, Tampa, FL 33609 | |
Life With Hope, LLC Counseling Center![]() |
Counseling & Mental Health | +17276008081 | 2430 Estancia Blvd, Ste 106, Clearwater, FL 33761 | |
Vitality Counseling and Brain Health Coaching![]() |
Counseling & Mental Health, Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy | +17272757550 | 2549 1st Ave S, Saint Petersburg, FL 33712 | |
Hope Reconstruction Therapy![]() |
Counseling & Mental Health | +18027270246 | 3000 Gulf To Bay Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33765 | |
Deborah Bloome![]() |
Psychologists | +17275171938 | 14521 Walsingham Rd, Largo, FL 33774 | |
Ann M Santoro, MA, LMHC![]() |
Counseling & Mental Health | +17273200324 | 4625 E Bay Dr, Ste 301, Clearwater, FL 33764 | |
DeVoe Counseling For Hope & Healing![]() |
Counseling & Mental Health, Life Coach | +17274216826 | 801 W Bay Dr, Ste 515, Largo, FL 33770 |
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, United States, west of Tampa and north of St. Petersburg. To the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and to the southeast lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 117,292. Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County and is the smallest of the three principal cities in the Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater metropolitan area, most commonly referred to as the Tampa Bay Area.
Clearwater Beach is part of the city of Clearwater, but is separated from it by the Intracoastal Waterway. Cleveland Street is one of the city’s historic avenues, and the city includes BayCare Ballpark and Coachman Park.
The Church of Scientology owns the majority of property in the Clearwater downtown core district.
Present-day Clearwater was originally the home of the Tocobaga people. Around 1835, the United States Army began construction of Fort Harrison, named after William Henry Harrison, as an outpost during the Seminole Wars. The fort was located on a bluff overlooking Clearwater Harbor, which later became part of an early 20th-century residential development called Harbor Oaks. University of South Florida archaeologists excavated the site in 1962 after Mark Wyllie discovered an underground ammunition bunker while planting a tree in his yard.
The area’s population grew after the Federal Armed Occupation Act of 1842 offered 160 acres (0.65 km) to anyone who would bear arms and cultivate the land. Early settlers included the Stevens, Stevenson, Sever and McMullen families, who claimed and farmed large tracts of land. Prior to 1906, the area was known as Clear Water Harbor. The name “Clear Water” is thought to have come from a fresh water spring flowing from near where the City Hall building is located today. There were many other freshwater springs that dotted the bluff, many in the bay or harbor itself.
Originally part of Hillsborough County, the first road joining Clearwater and Tampa was built in 1849, which dramatically reduced the prior day-long commute between the cities.
During the American Civil War, Union gunboats repeatedly raided the community’s supplies, as most of the able-bodied men were away fighting for the Confederate Army. The town began developing in the late nineteenth century, prompted by Peter Demens’ completion of the first passenger railroad line into the city in 1888. Clearwater was incorporated in 1891, with James E. Crane becoming the first mayor. The area’s popularity as a vacation destination grew after railroad magnate Henry B. Plant built a sprawling Victorian resort hotel named Belleview Biltmore just south of Clearwater in 1897.
By the early 1900s, Clearwater’s population had grown to around 400, ballooning to nearly 1,000 in the winter. Clearwater’s oldest existing newspaper, the Clearwater Sun, was first published on March 14, 1914. Clearwater was reincorporated, this time as a city, on May 27, 1915, and was designated the county seat for Pinellas County, which broke from Hillsborough County in 1912. In 1915, a bridge was built across Clearwater Harbor, joining the city with Clearwater Beach to the west. Clearwater Beach, although located on a separate barrier island, belongs to the city of Clearwater and fronts the Gulf of Mexico. A new, much higher bridge now arcs over the bay, replacing the former drawbridge; the connecting road is part of State Road 60 and is called Clearwater Memorial Causeway.
During World War II, Clearwater became a major training base for US troops destined for Europe and the Pacific. Virtually every hotel in the area, including the Belleview Biltmore and the Fort Harrison Hotel, was used as a barracks for new recruits. Vehicle traffic was regularly stopped for companies of soldiers marching through downtown, and nighttime blackouts to confuse potential enemy bombers were common practice. The remote and isolated Dan’s Island, now the highrise-dominated Sand Key, was used as a target by U.S. Army Air Corps fighter-bombers for strafing and bombing practice.
Clearwater is located at 27°58′25″N 82°45′51″W / 27.973644°N 82.764271°W.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 39.2 square miles (101.6 km), of which 25.6 square miles (66.2 km2) is land and 13.7 square miles (35.4 km) (34.86%) is water.
Clearwater’s downtown has been undergoing major redevelopment in recent years. General beautification has been done along with completion of several high-rise condos and a large marina. New bars, restaurants, and other amenities are coming to the area, renamed the “Cleveland Street District”. Royalty Theatre is also slated to be renovated.
Clearwater has a humid subtropical climate. Clearwater is far enough south that it lies in the broad transition zone from subtropical to tropical climates. As such, Clearwater is mostly warm to hot year round, with few nights of frost. Most of the annual rainfall comes in the wet season (June through September), when daily thundershowers erupt due to the strong solar heating. The dry season starts in October and runs through May, at which time the weather is sunny, dry, and there is little change in daily weather.
Between 2014 and 2018, there were 46,667 households with an average household size of 2.4. In 2019, the city’s population was spread out, with 18.7% under the age of 18, 59.4% between the age of 18 and 64, and 21.9% who were 65 years of age or older.
Between 2014 and 2018, the median income for a household in the city was $47,070, and the median income for a family was $46,228. 15.9% of the population fell below the poverty line.
As of 2000, speakers of English as their first language were 84.43% of residents, Spanish as a mother tongue was 8.55%, Greek accounted for 1.15%, French made up 1.00% of speakers, German at 0.97%, and Italian speakers comprised 0.85% of the population.
Clearwater’s economy employs nearly 50,400 people. Major employers include Morton Plant Hospital, Tech Data, and Honeywell. Employment in Clearwater grew 1.84% from 2015 to 2016 with 50,345 people in the workforce. The most common job groups include Service, Sales & Office, Science, and Business. As of 2020, the median household income for Clearwater was $50,335, which is below the average for both the United States as well as the state of Florida.
In 2012, the city was listed among the 10 best places to retire in the U.S. by CBS Money Watch.
The Clearwater Public Art and Design Program, adopted by City Council in 2005, is funded through a 1% allocation on all city capital improvement projects valued at more than $500,000. The program commissions an average of 2–3 new projects per year.
Pre-Capitol Theatre, a bandstand stood at 405 Cleveland Street in Downtown Clearwater, where the community gathered to listen to music. The names of locals serving in World War I were etched on the wall of the adjacent Clearwater Sun building; this “Panel of Honor” was obscured when the original Capitol Theatre was built but uncovered when the newspaper building was torn down in 2013.
The Capitol Theatre opened March 21, 1921. It was built by Senator-elect John Stansel Taylor. The theater’s architect was Lester Avery and the contractor was John D. Phillipoff. Avery is known for his architecture in Miami. Philipoff also built the Coachman Building (1916), the Donald Roebling Estate in Belleair (added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979), the old Pinellas County Courthouse (added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992), other historical homes which have been saved, and did work at the Belleview Hotel.
Groundbreaking was December 6, 1920. The “New Capitol Theatre” was damaged in a storm on October 26, 1921 (so it had been completed). A theatre organ was installed in 1922, to accompany silent films with music. The organ was made and installed by the Robert Morton Organ Company.
Donald Roebling was a frequent patron, having his own double seat installed at the theatre.
The theatre was managed by various movie companies (EJ Sparks, Paramount, ABC-Southeastern Theatres, and Plitt Southern) and played the most recent movies of the day. The theatre also offered vaudeville on Friday nights in the 1930s. Headliners included Sally Rand, Fred Stone and his daughter, and Lum and Abner (of radio). The theatre was renovated in 1962. The Morton theatre organ was most likely removed during this renovation. When Plitt Southern did not renew their contract in 1979, Bill Neville and Jerry Strain tried to save the theatre with film classics and reduced prices. However, the theatre closed its doors on October 28, 1980.
Royalty Theater Company signed leases with the Taylor family in February 1981 when it then became known as the Royalty Theater (Clearwater, Florida). The building was renovated with Ron Winter of Winter Associates as the contractor and Scott Musheff as the architect.
During the renovations, Bill Neville’s murdered body was found in the balcony.
The theatre remained in the Taylor family estate until it was sold in 1996. In July 2008 the building went into foreclosure.
In January 2009, the City of Clearwater and Ruth Eckerd Hall joined forces to purchase the theatre (renamed Capitol Theatre) as well as the neighboring Pat Lokey building as part of a renovation and revitalization of the historic Capitol Theater. Fowler Associates Architects, Inc. was selected for the renovation of the Capitol Theatre. The $10 million renovation and expansion began in 2012 and was completed in 2013. In 2019, a $2.5 million donation renamed the building the Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre.
In 1911, the city of Clearwater witnessed a vast population increase as well as acquiring telephones, electricity, paved streets and an ice factory. It is during this time that the Clearwater Library Association opened a subscription library on the second floor of the local People’s Bank. Its popularity and support led to the request of $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation to build a public library. The building was designed by Tampa architect F.J. Kennard. In its first year, the library had over 1,277 visitors and 2,792 books borrowed. As a vacation town, the library provided free access to materials for all residents and winter visitors.
During the Depression, the Clearwater Public Library faced many of the same threats seen at other libraries seen throughout the United States. This includes increased patron usage and dwindling budget. In the 1940s, the Clearwater library increased its staff from three assistants to five assistants. The library’s collection also grew from 18,047 to over 100,000. To account for this increase, the Librarian and Board President Traver Bayly made an appeal to the City Commission for additional space.
As a result of segregation, the Clearwater Public Library was for White patrons only from its founding in 1911 to the mid-twentieth century. In 1950, the City Commission agreed to the building of the North Greenwood library. Designed by Architect Eugene Beach, the new library allowed access for the city’s African American population to many information sources. This library was renovated in 1984. The new Main library was rebuilt beginning in 2000. It opened in May 2004.
As the population continued to increase throughout the late twentieth century, the library system continued to grow. The Clearwater Public Library System now includes five libraries: Clearwater Main, Countryside, North Greenwood, Beach, and East. In recent years, the Clearwater Public Library System has become increasingly digital, providing patrons with access to computers, online databases, and an online library catalog. This was made possible by the Greater Clearwater Public Library Foundation, Inc. which formed in 1984. As a part of the library’s Centennial Celebration, a project is commencing to add makerspaces to the libraries. The Main library’s makerspace is the “Studios at Main” and targets creative arts making.
The Clearwater Public Library System is a contributor to the Pinellas Memory Project. This system of libraries is part of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative which seeks to provide patrons with access to information and programs to benefit the community.
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a small non-profit aquarium. Opening in 1972 on Clearwater Beach, the aquarium is most famous for Winter the dolphin. Rescued as a calf in 2005, Winter was one of the first dolphins to have been fitted with a prosthetic tail after losing it due to entanglement in a crab trap. The aquarium is also home to other dolphins, otters, pelicans, nurse sharks, and turtles among several species of fish and other marine life. CMA also assists in animal strandings and other emergencies regarding sea life. Animals that have stranded are rehabilitated, and if possible, released back into the wild once they have made a full recovery. It has been featured as the main setting of the American family movie series Dolphin Tale.
BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater is the spring training home of Major League Baseball’s Philadelphia Phillies, as well as their Low-A affiliate, the Clearwater Threshers.
Moccasin Lake Nature Park is a 51-acre nature preserve (21 ha) with a 5-acre lake (2.0 ha) owned and operated by the city. The preserve also features the Moccasin Lake Environmental Education Center, which offers environmental education classes, programs and camps. The Center features live rehabilitated birds of prey, reptiles, amphibians and aquatic wildlife. It opened in 1982. The City of Clearwater contains five pools: Ross Norton, North Greenwood, Morningside, the Long Center, and Clearwater Beach. Swim lessons are offered throughout the year to patrons, and the pools have both a recreation summer pool league and the Clearwater Aquatics Team. These pools have participated in the World’s Largest Swim Lesson.
The City of Clearwater is administered by a council-manager form of government, and the city manager serves as the chief executive and administrative officer of the city.
The Clearwater City Council comprises the mayor and four council members, each of whom serves a four-year term. The council is responsible for setting policies and making decisions on local government issues including tax rates, annexations, property code variances and large contract awards. The city manager and city council are supported by the various city departments.
Tampa International Airport serves Clearwater and the rest of the Tampa Bay Area as the primary means of air travel. St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport has also seen its usage increase. The city owns Clearwater Air Park.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) bus service is currently Pinellas County’s only general public transit. The service offers approximately 35 local routes, two express routes which cross Tampa Bay to the east, and a beach trolley that runs north and south along the county’s roughly 25-mile-long (40 km) chain of barrier islands.
The Church of Scientology’s “spiritual headquarters” are located in downtown Clearwater. The Church refers to Clearwater as its “Flag Land Base”.
The Church of Scientology owns several historical landmark buildings including the Fort Harrison Hotel and the Clearwater Bank Building. As of 2019, Scientology had purchased so much property in downtown Clearwater that it owned most of the commercial buildings in the downtown core, many of which remained vacant. According to an investigation by the Tampa Bay Times, “The [Church of Scientology], its members and companies they control now own 185 properties that cover 101 acres in the center of downtown. Half the properties were bought since January 2017. …Seventy-three percent of the property is tax-exempt for religious purposes.”
Beginning in the 1970s under the code-name Project Normandy, the Church of Scientology began targeting Clearwater in order to “establish area control” of the city and county. The operations were exposed in a Pulitzer Prize winning series of articles in the Clearwater Sun. Gabe Cazares, who was the mayor of Clearwater at the time, went so far as to call it “the occupation of Clearwater” and later characterized it as a “paramilitary operation by a terrorist group”. The Church of Scientology targeted Cazares, attempting to entrap him in a sex scandal. Scientology also staged a phony hit-and-run accident with Cazares in an attempt to discredit him. Cazares and his wife sued the Church of Scientology for $1.5 million. The church settled with Cazares in 1986.
Clearwater has city partnerships with the following cities:
Along with identifying an anxiety disorder and getting professional help in Clearwater Florida, there are other ways to avoid panic and worry-filled situations. Unfortunately, there isn’t a way to predict what will trigger an anxiety disorder. There are ways to reduce the impact of symptoms of anxiety1https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573566/.