Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Sarasota, FL

Whether you are carrying the weight of trauma, feeling worn down by anxiety or depression, or working through a painful loss or a strained relationship, you deserve a space where you feel understood and genuinely supported. I am Shanda, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 28 years of experience walking alongside adults, couples, and families through life's hardest seasons. My style is open-minded, empowering, and solution-oriented. I will meet you with warmth and without judgment, and I focus on real, practical steps forward. When you are ready, I would be honored to see if we are a good fit.

I believe therapy is a collaborative journey—not a quick fix. If you or your child are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or weighed down by stress, anxiety, or past experiences, you don’t have to navigate it alone. I work with adults and children, bringing warmth, compassion, and a strengths-based approach to each session. My goal is to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore challenges, reconnect with their strengths, and move toward a more fulfilling life. I integrate trauma-informed practices and, when it feels helpful, nature-based techniques to support grounding, perspective, and growth. I’m here to guide and empower you—while helping you take meaningful, practical steps forward.

Refined Beginnings Counseling takes the focus off of issues and highlights solutions. Refined Beginnings Counseling LLC supports an environment that is least restrictive, provides for confidentiality, and convenience by offering tele-mental health services in Florida and both tele-mental health and office visits to clients in Georgia.

I have a passion for creating a collaborative, supportive environment for personal growth and healing. I believe that seeking therapy is a profound act of self-respect and care, and my goal is to provide a space where you feel truly heard and valued. Together, we can navigate the challenges of life, uncovering clarity and direction in the midst of complexity. My approach is rooted in fostering a comfortable, nonjudgmental atmosphere where your story can unfold, and your goals can take center stage.

Hello,

I am Elange Guerrelus, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 20 years of experience working with individuals, families, groups, and couples experiencing with cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and marital difficulties. I am a level 3 Gottman trained couples therapist and a certified parent instructor along with an extensive and great experience in Christian counseling. It will my pleasure to assist you with your mental health needs. Throughout my professional experience, I utilized various psychotherapy methods and techniques to assist children and families experiencing psychological distress to improve their mental well-being. My skill set and experience in this field have allowed me to work in a wide range of settings such as mental health clinics, community health centers, churches, and hospitals.

Hi, I’m Natalie, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. I work with young adults and adults, as well as couples and families, who may be navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, family conflict, life transitions, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the demands of everyday life. If any of this resonates with where you are right now, I would love to connect and explore how we might work together.

I'm a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience with psychological assessments, individual and group therapy, and crisis intervention. I have worked with children and adults in the community and within mental health institutions dealing with severe and persistent mental health concerns. I look forward to meeting you and seeing how I can be of help!

How do we make sense of our stuff? This is a critical question. Life can be challenging and sometimes we can’t understand what we are experiencing and why. Much of our ability to overcome adversity originates from our mindset- how we process our experiences. It is the lens through which we view our reality.

Essentially, what contributes to our overall well-being is not necessarily the absence of setbacks but rather how we respond to these experiences. Our ability to accept our challenges, to make meaning out of them, to understand how they serve us, is necessary for our personal growth. I work with my clients to help them shift their mindset and to find meaning in all of life’s experiences.

I have been a been a practicing Social Worker for twenty years. I hold a Ph.D. in Social Work and am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I take a person-centered approach to therapeutic work and integrate a variety of intervention modalities into my practice. I specialize in Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Multisystemic Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy and Structural Family Therapy. I also have extensive experience with Trauma Informed Care as well as grief and bereavement work. I partner with my clients to determine which approach might be most meaningful to them.