What to Expect in Therapy at It Begins Within: A Guide from Dr. Perleoni
Author: Dr. Mary Perleoni, Ph.D., LMHC
Published November 27, 2025
Hi, I'm Dr. Mary Perleoni. I'm a mother, wife, licensed mental health counselor, and the founder of It Begins Within. I'm also a professor who spent years at the University of Central Florida training the next generation of therapists. That experience fundamentally shaped how I built It Begins Within Therapy, and why I'm so particular about who joins our team.
What You Need to Know About Finding Quality Therapy
Throughout my doctoral program at UCF, I taught hundreds of Masters-level students aspiring to become licensed therapists. That experience gave me a deep appreciation for something called "gatekeeping" — the process of ensuring that only qualified, skilled clinicians move forward in the program and eventually practice therapy. It's a critical protective measure for clients.
Here's what most people don't know: gatekeeping is largely inconsistent across the majority of counseling programs nationwide. What this results in is unqualified clinicians entering the field without the proper skills, training, or clinical judgment to provide effective care. This reality deeply concerns me, and it's exactly why I founded It Begins Within.
“ My mission was simple: amplify that gatekeeping process to benefit the Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota communities we serve. “
Why Our Hiring Process Matters to Your Healing
At It Begins Within, we pride ourselves on hiring only the top 1% of clinical talent in the Tampa area and across Florida. This isn't just something to say — we genuinely interview over 100 clinicians for every one therapist who makes it onto our team. What does this mean for you? You're always in good hands with our team.
But here's where it gets even better — my research throughout my doctoral work revealed something very interesting: while clinical skills and knowledge are certainly important, what's even more impactful to achieving your therapeutic goals is the therapeutic relationship you establish with your therapist. The trust, rapport, and connection you build together often matters more than any specific technique.
That's why we don't just hire skilled mental health clinicians and match you randomly. We're incredibly intentional about pairing you with the best therapist for your specific needs and personality.
Your Journey Starts with the Right Match
Our process begins with a brief evaluation of your needs, followed by a free consultation call with the therapist we believe is best suited to support your healing journey. This isn't a generic intake call — you're speaking directly with a licensed therapist who we've carefully selected based on what you've shared with us.
During this consultation, you'll get a feel for their approach, their personality, and whether you feel that initial spark of connection. There's no pressure, no commitment — just an opportunity to see if it feels right.
After this consultation, the majority of our clients choose to continue their treatment in person at one of our conveniently located therapy offices in Tampa, St. Petersburg, or Sarasota. There's something powerful about being in the same room with your therapist, but we also offer virtual sessions for those who need that flexibility.
A Personalized Approach to Healing in Tampa, St. Petersburg & Sarasota, FL
Here's an important caution I want to share: there are clinicians who heavily favor one or two therapeutic approaches and may (often unknowingly) try to fit all clients into that same mold. It's like having a hammer and treating every problem like a nail. This concerns me greatly because effective therapy requires flexibility and discernment.
There are countless modalities and approaches to therapy. It's not enough to simply be aware of them or even trained in them — what matters is knowing which modalities are best for each individual given their specific needs and when to apply them.
The Modalities We Use Across Our Tampa, St. Petersburg & Sarasota Locations
Our team is trained in a comprehensive range of evidence-based approaches, including:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for trauma processing
ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy) for rapid trauma relief
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) for anxiety, depression, and thought patterns
TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) for children and adolescents
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) for emotion regulation and relationship skills
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples, individuals, and families
Systematic Affair Recovery Therapy (SART) for infidelity recovery
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD treatment
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) for values-based living
Exposure Therapy for anxiety disorders and phobias
Play Therapy for children in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota
Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) for strengthening parent-child bonds
Experiential Therapy, Integrative Therapy, and Behavioral Therapy
The most important aspect is knowing when and how to apply these approaches. This is one of the significant values of working with a group practice like It Begins Within — we have teams of experts across a variety of approaches, and we collaborate regularly to ensure you're receiving the best possible care.
Our Team Approach
Here's something else most people don't realize about therapy: no clinician knows everything. Even our most experienced Tampa therapists encounter complex cases that benefit from additional perspectives.
When you work with It Begins Within, you're not just getting the knowledge and expertise of your individual clinician — you're getting the collective wisdom of our entire clinical team.
With complete confidentiality and without ever naming specific clients, we conduct regular case reviews. During these sessions, I work alongside our clinical directors to provide guidance, suggestions, and feedback on treatment plans. This ensures each of our clinicians is continually growing, staying sharp, and offering you the most effective interventions.
It's like having an entire team of expert therapists working behind the scenes on your healing journey, even though you're only meeting with one.
What to Expect at Each of Our Locations
Finding Us in Tampa
Our Tampa therapy office is located near Westshore, making it easily accessible whether you're coming from South Tampa, Hyde Park, Downtown Tampa, Carrollwood, Brandon, Riverview, Apollo Beach, or anywhere across Hillsborough County. We're right off major routes, so you won't spend your pre-session time stressed about traffic.
When you arrive at our Tampa office: You'll find ample parking and a welcoming, comfortable waiting area on the second floor. Our space is designed to feel calm and safe from the moment you walk in. Many of our Tampa clients describe it as peaceful and far removed from the clinical, sterile feeling of traditional medical offices.
Our St. Petersburg Location
Our St. Petersburg therapy office serves individuals, couples, and families throughout Pinellas County. Whether you're in downtown St. Pete, Clearwater, Largo, Gulfport, Seminole, Feather Sound, Treasure Island, or any surrounding area, we're conveniently located for easy access.
When you arrive at our St. Petersburg office: Similar to our Tampa location, you'll experience ample parking, and a thoughtfully designed space that prioritizes your comfort. We want your therapy experience to feel different from the start — warm, inviting, and focused on you. You will find our office at suite 100, on the first floor.
Sarasota Therapy Services
Our Sarasota office welcomes clients from across the Suncoast region, including Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Venice, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, and beyond. We're proud to serve the Sarasota community with the same level of excellence we bring to Tampa and St. Petersburg.
When you arrive at our Sarasota office: You'll find the same attention to detail and commitment to creating a healing environment that defines all of our locations. Our Sarasota location has a private entrance, and you will walk directly into our waiting room.
What Your Sessions Will Look Like
Once you begin therapy at It Begins Within here's what you can typically expect:
Your first few sessions focus on building that crucial therapeutic relationship and understanding your story. Your therapist will want to know not just what's troubling you, but also your strengths, your goals, and what you've already tried. We believe in a strengths-based approach — recognizing and building on what's already working in your life rather than only focusing on problems.
Ongoing sessions are tailored to your needs and pace. Some weeks you might need more support, other weeks less. Your therapist will work collaboratively with you to determine what's most helpful. Sessions typically include:
Processing experiences and emotions
Learning and practicing new coping skills
Working through trauma using specialized techniques
Developing deeper self-awareness
Addressing relationship patterns (for couples and families)
Setting and working toward concrete goals
The environment in all our offices is judgment-free and compassionate. You can show up exactly as you are — whether that's crying, angry, confused, or numb. Our therapists are trained to hold space for whatever you're experiencing.
The Freedom to Focus on Your Healing
One aspect of our practice that sets us apart is that we do not accept insurance. I know this may be a barrier for some, but let me explain why this allows us to better serve our clients.
Insurance companies often limit:
The number of sessions you can attend
Which therapeutic approaches your therapist can use
How long your sessions can last
What issues qualify for treatment
Require a diagnosis
By choosing not to work with insurance, we protect your treatment from these external limitations. This means:
No restrictions on session count — we work together until you've achieved your goals
Full flexibility in which evidence-based approaches we use
The ability to offer extended sessions (90-minute or 120-minute sessions) when that's what you need
Small caseloads so your Tampa, St. Petersburg, or Sarasota therapist can give you focused, undivided attention and flexible scheduling options
Complete confidentiality — insurance companies require detailed diagnosis and treatment information; we keep your information private
We provide documentation that you can submit to your insurance company for potential out-of-network reimbursement, and we're always transparent about costs upfront with a Good Faith Estimate before beginning treatment.
Flexible Options for Your Unique Needs
We understand that healing doesn't follow a one-size-fits-all timeline or format. That's why we offer:
Extended Sessions
Standard therapy sessions are typically 50-60 minutes, but sometimes you need more time. We offer 90-minute and 120-minute sessions for clients who benefit from deeper, less interrupted work. This is particularly valuable for trauma processing or couples therapy in Tampa Bay.
For clients seeking rapid, concentrated healing, we offer intensive therapy programs for couples and individuals. These might involve:
Multiple sessions per week
Extended multi-hour sessions
Focused treatment blocks over several days
Our Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota intensive therapy programs are particularly effective for trauma survivors, couples in crisis, or high-achieving professionals who value their time and want accelerated results.
Virtual Therapy Options
While we love seeing clients in person at our Tampa Bay offices, we also offer secure telehealth sessions for those who need flexibility due to:
Busy schedules
Travel for work
Childcare challenges
Living in outlying areas of Hillsborough, Pinellas, or Sarasota counties
Health concerns
Specialized Care Across the Lifespan in Tampa, St. Petersburg & Sarasota
Our team includes clinicians who specialize in different populations and concerns, including:
Individual Therapy
Our therapists support adults working through:
Life transitions and adjustment
Career stress and burnout
Couples Therapy & Marriage Counseling
Our Gottman-trained couples therapists help partners with:
Communication breakdowns
Trust and intimacy issues
Infidelity and affair recovery (we're particularly known for this specialty)
Relationship enrichment
High-conflict relationships
Family Therapy
Our Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota family therapists work with families navigating:
Divorce and co-parenting
Adolescent rebellion
Sibling conflict
Multi-generational issues
Child & Teen Therapy
Our specialized child therapists across Tampa, St. Petersburg & Sarasota use:
Anxiety and depression treatment
Social skills development
Each of our clinicians brings specialized training and experience to their work, and we've built our team intentionally to cover the full spectrum of mental health needs in our community.
Taking Your First Step
Starting therapy can feel overwhelming. Reaching out takes courage. But here's what I want you to know: you've already done the hardest part by considering getting help.
The process from here is straightforward:
Reach out — call us or fill out a consultation request on our website
Brief assessment — we'll ask a few questions to understand your needs
Free consultation — meet your matched therapist in a no-pressure conversation
Begin healing — if it feels right, schedule your first session at our Tampa, St. Petersburg, or Sarasota office
There's no judgment, no pressure, and no rush. We're here when you're ready.
