Therapists in Sarasota - Counseling for Adults, Children, Teens, Couples & Families

Our Sarasota Therapy Office

hours of operations

Mon - Sun 8:30am - 8:30pm

*By appointment only

Sarasota Mental Health Therapy Services

Finding the right therapist shouldn’t feel overwhelming. At It Begins Within’s Sarasota location, our licensed clinicians provide compassionate and evidence-based therapy tailored to your goals, history, and stage of life. We support busy professionals, high-achieving families, medical providers, entrepreneurs, and parents seeking trusted mental health care for themselves or their children. Serving clients across downtown Sarasota, Siesta Key, Lido Key, Palmer Ranch, Gulf Gate Estates, Lakewood Ranch, The Meadows, and Skye Ranch, our therapists help individuals and families navigate anxiety, stress, relationship conflict, trauma, postpartum concerns, and behavioral challenges.

If you’d like to learn more about what you can expect in services at It Begins Within, explore our full guide on what to expect when starting counseling in Sarasota.

Therapy for Individuals

In Sarasota and Bradenton, many of our clients come to us juggling demanding careers, family responsibilities, and the pressure to stay grounded while life moves quickly around them. At It Begins Within, our licensed clinicians offer compassionate, evidence-based counseling tailored to adults seeking clarity, emotional resilience, and a healthier sense of balance. Whether you're working through a major life transition, feeling overwhelmed, or simply wanting support from a trusted therapist who understands the Gulf Coast community, our team provides practical and solution focused care aligned with your goals.

Couples Therapy & Marriage Counseling In Sarasota

In Sarasota, couples face pressures that can strain even the strongest relationships—demanding careers, nonstop schedules, blended family dynamics, and the emotional weight of trying to stay connected while life pulls you in different directions. At It Begins Within, our licensed Sarasota couples therapists provide evidence-based and personalized guidance for partners navigating communication problems, trust issues, intimacy concerns and mismatched libidos, and parenting challenges. Guided by Dr. Mary Perleoni, PhD, LMHC, a counselor educator and specialist in relationship repair and attachment-based healing, our relationship counselors help couples rebuild trust, strengthen emotional and physical intimacy, resolve long-standing patterns, and create a relationship that feels safe, connected, and fulfilling.

Child & Teen Therapy in Sarasota

Families in Sarasota face a unique blend of academic pressure, fast-paced schedules, social dynamics, and the emotional challenges that come with growing up in today’s digital world. At It Begins Within, our child and teen therapists provide warm, developmentally attuned counseling that helps children feel understood, control their emotions, and develop healthier coping skills. We combine evidence-based techniques with an engaging, supportive environment that helps kids and teens grow with confidence.

What Our Clients Say About Us

Julia Loewi, MSW, LCSW

Couples Therapy, ADHD Specialist & Individual Therapy

Julia Loewi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience specializing in couples counseling, ADHD therapy, and life transitions. As a Gottman Method Level 3 trained therapist and Financial Therapist, Julia helps Sarasota couples rebuild intimacy and adults manage ADHD's impact on relationships, work, and daily life.

Read Julia’s Full Bio

Our Counselors in Sarasota | Individual, Couples, Child & Teen Therapists

Nicole Young, MSW, LCSW

Child & Adolescent Specialist

Nicole Young is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in child and teen therapy (ages 5-17) and individual counseling for adults at our Sarasota office. With her Master of Social Work from the University of South Florida, Nicole helps children navigate anxiety, behavioral challenges, and school stress using play therapy, CBT, and family-based approaches.

Read Nicole’s Full Bio

Ciana Nguyen, MS, LCSW

Child, Teen & Family Therapist | Chronic Pain Specialist

Ciana Nguyen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in child, adolescent, and family therapy in Sarasota. Ciana provides support for children utilizing CBT and play therapy who are dealing with behavioral challenges, teens navigating emotional struggles, and families working through conflict or communication issues.

Read Ciana’s Full Bio

Samantha Wilson, MA, LMHC

EMDR Therapy, Trauma Therapy & Couples Counseling

Samantha is a Licensed Therapist who helps children, adults, and couples in Sarasota move through trauma and reconnect with a sense of safety. Specializing in EMDR therapy, she helps clients reprocess painful experiences so they no longer carry the same emotional and physical weight.

Read Samantha’s Full Bio

Chelsea Walker, MA, LMFT

Marriage & Family Therapist

Chelsea is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who helps Sarasota couples rebuild connection and navigate relationship challenges using the Gottman Method, EFT, and CBT. With specialized training in marriage counseling, discernment counseling, and grief therapy, Chelsea supports partners dealing with communication issues, trust concerns, and the stress of parenting.

Read Chelsea’s Full Bio

Specialized Therapy Services for Sarasota Children & Adolescents

At It Begins Within's Sarasota office, we understand that children and teens need more than just "talk therapy", they need age-aligned, evidence-based approaches delivered by therapists who specialize in young people's developmental needs. Our child and adolescent specialists use a combination of play therapy, CBT adapted for kids, DBT skills training, art therapy, and family-based interventions to help children and teens build emotional resilience, develop coping skills, and thrive at home, at school, and in their relationships.

Children playing in a ball pit filled with colorful plastic balls, with a boy lying down, smiling and giving a thumbs-up.
Children playing in a ball pit filled with colorful plastic balls, with a boy lying down, smiling and giving a thumbs-up.

Therapy for Children (Ages 3-12)

Our child therapists help elementary-aged children in Sarasota navigate anxiety, behavioral challenges, school stress, and big emotions using play therapy, CBT for kids, and family-based approaches.

Common reasons Sarasota parents come to us:

  • Separation anxiety at preschool or elementary school

  • Behavioral challenges (tantrums, defiance, aggression)

  • Difficulty managing emotions or frequent meltdowns

  • School-related stress or refusal

  • ADHD and focus issues

  • Family transitions (divorce, blended families, new siblings)

  • Social struggles with peers

Our approach: We use play therapy for younger children (ages 5-9) because kids process emotions through play, not talk. For older elementary kids (ages 8-12), we integrate CBT adapted for children. We also provide parent coaching to help you support your child at home.

Child therapists: Nicole Young, LCSW | Ciana Nguyen, LCSW

Serving: Lakewood Ranch • Palmer Ranch • Gulf Gate • Siesta Key • Pine View area

Teen Therapy in Sarasota (Ages 13-18)

Sarasota teens face intense academic pressure, social media stress, and the challenge of figuring out who they are. Our teen therapists specialize in helping adolescents at Riverview High, Sarasota High, and Booker navigate anxiety, depression, social struggles, and family conflict.

Common reasons Sarasota teens come to therapy:

  • Anxiety, depression, and overwhelming stress

  • Academic pressure and perfectionism

  • Social anxiety, friend drama, and peer conflict

  • Family conflict and communication issues

  • Low self-esteem and identity exploration

  • School refusal or declining grades despite effort

  • Intense emotions and mood swings

Our approach: We create a non-judgmental space where teens can be honest about what's really going on. Using CBT, DBT skills, and relational therapy, we help teens challenge negative thinking, regulate emotions, and build healthier relationships. We also work with parents to improve communication and reduce conflict at home.

Teen therapists: Julia Loewi, LCSW | Nicole Young, LCSW | Ciana Nguyen, LCSW

Flexible scheduling: Evening and weekend appointments available for busy student schedules.

Three women sitting on a bench in a tulip field, laughing and enjoying their time together.
Three women sitting on a bench in a tulip field, laughing and enjoying their time together.

A Guide for Finding The Best Therapist for You in Sarasota

Finding the right therapy or counseling in Sarasota can feel overwhelming — especially when every practice claims to be the best. That’s why our team of licensed therapists and marriage counselors created a comprehensive resource:

The Sarasota Therapy Guide — a step-by-step overview of how to choose the right counselor, what to expect in your first session, and how to compare your therapy options.

Whether you’re looking for individual therapy, couples counseling, or family support, this guide explains the most effective approaches used by professionals in Sarasota — from CBT and DBT to EFT and Gottman-based couples work. You’ll also find expert tips on how to identify qualified clinicians, understand fees, and spot real progress early in your journey.

At It Begins Within our Sarasota office was built to make that process easier — offering the area’s most qualified, compassionate team of therapists ready to help you heal, grow, and reconnect.

Tour Our Sarasota Therapy Office

Psychological Testing and Evaluations in Sarasota

Some questions cannot be answered in a weekly therapy session. When a Sarasota family needs to understand what is actually driving a child's struggle at school, or an adult wants real answers about ADHD or autism after years of wondering, a formal evaluation is what brings the picture into focus. At It Begins Within Healing Center, psychological testing in Sarasota is led by Dr. Christine Pickering, a licensed psychologist in the state of Florida (PY8409) with a doctorate from the University of Florida and more than seventeen years of clinical practice. Dr. Pickering holds triple credentialing as a Licensed Psychologist, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist, a combination that allows her to weave cognitive, behavioral, and educational findings into one clear, defensible report.

For Sarasota clients, that means an evaluation built to be used. The result is not a number on a page. It is documentation a school will act on, a diagnosis a physician can build a treatment plan around, and a roadmap that tells you what comes next. Whether the goal is academic accommodations, clarity about a long-suspected diagnosis, or simply an end to the guesswork, a comprehensive evaluation replaces uncertainty with a plan.

Psychology Services Provided in Sarasota

Gifted Testing

Adult & Child ADHD Evaluations

Adult & Child Autism Evaluation

Comprehensive Psychoeducational Evaluation

Frequently Asked Questions By Our Sarasota Clients

Ready to Begin Your Healing Journey with a Top Sarasota Therapist?

We invite you to schedule a confidential consultation with one of Sarasota’s leading therapists. Whether you’re seeking CBT, couples or marriage counseling, Christian counseling, or expert mental health support, our licensed Sarasota counselors are here to help you create lasting change. Serving clients from downtown Sarasota to Siesta Key, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key, we offer both in-person and secure online sessions designed around your goals, your schedule, and your life.