Alex Sullivan, LCSW (2026)

09/03/2022

Adjusting to the new office well! If you haven’t heard I’m now at the North Tampa location of and loving it!

10/02/2022

I'm excited to announce that I'm expanding in my work with couples to include Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy.

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy is rooted in the attachment science that seeks to address the patterns of relating we have with our partners and shift them towards healthier secure attachments. This effective therapy style has had countless research studies done over the last 40 years and is one of the most effective methods of providing deep and lasting healing a relationship.

11/01/2022

One of the worst things we can do to someone responding to stress and trauma in their own life is to try an define these terms for them and dictate what is and is not acceptable.

Just because it doesn’t meet the diagnostic criteria for trauma doesn’t mean it’s not significant. Just because someone is exposed to a Big T trauma doesn’t mean they will develop PTSD. Your story matters. Your experience is valid. Don’t let anyone tell you that your experience isn’t “bad” enough for compassion.

Ideas and definition are a combination of my own opinions with influence from Francine Shapiro (creator of EMDR), Steven Porges (Creator of Polyvagal Theory), and J. Eric Gentry who first helped me connect these ideas together.

09/01/2022

Excited to be cracking this open as I prepare for some advanced couples & attachment training this month.

EFT is all about changing the music of the dance of a relationship. It’s deeply rooted in attachment science and a great model for couples seeking healing in the way they relate to each other.

02/07/2021

What is the origin of mental illness? Where do anxiety and depression come from? Is it really a chemical imbalance or the interplay of nature vs nurture? Truth is, it's not that black and white.

In my work with clients, I find that taking a whole-person approach is the most effective. Part of being trauma-informed is knowing the importance of someone's history, relationships, and internal narratives playing in their head. I often find that understanding where the pain lies can give us a map to healing.

The mind is incredible, and there's loads of new research in the field of interpersonal neurobiology that sheds a lot of light on the psychological impact of these things on our mental health and healing process.

I’ll be nerding out a little here and sharing some of the things I'm learning along the way. Feel free to comment or DM me any questions that come up!

24/06/2021

Hi! I'm Alex, your friendly neighborhood psychotherapist.

I launched my therapy business in the fall of 2019. Little did I know that my first year in private practice would be faced with so many personal and collective challenges. On top of a pandemic and all of the societal tensions we experienced in the last year, my wife and I also welcomed a new baby (our first!) into the world.

Needless to say, social media took a back seat to the many joys and challenges of the last 18 months. Now ✨I'm back✨, and I look forward to sharing my thoughts on mental health, trauma, boundaries, and healthy relationships. I love getting to do this work, and I'm deeply honored that my clients would trust me with the most vulnerable parts of themselves as we move towards healing together.

I'm excited for you to come along for the ride!

17/05/2020

[Make Your Home Here]
“Instead of counting the days til this is all over, consider what it looks like to make your home in this strange world where we have found ourselves...”
Link in bio for full blog post on our new website!
Life looks a little different these days, but I am still accepting new clients for both in-person and teletherapy sessions to best meet your needs.

22/03/2020

Not all on the front line signed up to be there.
The front line consists of much more than doctors and nurses. Many of us deemed essential to stand against this pandemic never thought we would find ourselves here.
We’re social workers and case managers who keep people moving through the system so hospital beds are open for those who need them. We’re environmental services staff keeping hospitals and other facilities clean. We’re food service workers keeping staff and patients fed during this crisis. We’re overworked healthcare providers spending time away from our families to try to keep others safe. We’re grocery store workers and delivery drivers making sure the community at large remains fed. We’re city utility workers making sure people’s homes have power and water so they can hunker down or work from home. We’re childcare workers making sure that those who have to go into work, can. We’re people with our own health issues who must show up, some at a high risk ourselves.
Many of us did not have a choice in this fight, we were simply expected to show up. We’re just human beings with families that we are concerned about— with children, parents, pregnant wives, and elderly and vulnerable people in our own homes— praying we don’t get this disease and spread it to the ones we love for fear they won't bounce back. We feel unprepared, scared, and like we don’t have a voice.
But we continue to show up. Afraid, cautious, and resigned to the fight. We do this for you— our community. None of us asked for this. So while some of the other unsung heroes are figuring out how to maintain sanity at home balancing kids and newfound remote work, or even figuring out how to make ends meet without a job, we’ll also continue to figure out how to show up.
This is not a time for blame, comparison, or competing about who has it worse. This is just hard for us all. But know, not all of us wish to be on the frontline. So thank your friend or neighbor who has no choice but to fight. We’re scared. But we’re here. And we’re in this together.

19/02/2020

When thinking of finding a therapist, it’s important to find one who is a good fit for you. In your search, It’s helpful to know the lens a therapist is bringing into counseling.
•
I chose to pursue a career in counseling because I believe it works! I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t find value in the work I do.
•
Firstly, I take a holistic approach to counseling. There are so many factors which affect your mental health and it would be irresponsible to address anything less than the full picture of your life.
•
Further, I approach issues from a trauma informed perspective. I see how understanding our bodies natural processes toward dealing with trauma (big or small), provides an excellent framework to get back in control of life.
•
Lastly, I believe you’re in the drivers seat of your life. My job isn’t to take over driving, but to help you learn the road and obstacles so you can develop confidence to maneuver the rest of your journey.
•
As I continue on my own journey, I expect my approach to shift. No one stays the same forever, they grow.
•
If you’re ready to start, let’s grow together
•

03/12/2019

Let’s be real: the decision to start counseling is a challenging one. Many people go through a long process of overcoming the stigma associated with mental health before ever looking for a counselor to meet with. Then once you start looking, the search itself can be overwhelming.
You do your best to research who you want to choose as your counselor, but at the end of the day you just take a chance and meet with one. You hope it works out. You hope you don’t have to start looking all over again. You hope this counselor is worth it and that you’re not wasting your time.
It takes a lot of courage to step into this relationship. These are all factors that are important to consider when we first meet, and I’m very sensitive to them. My goal is to quickly create a space where you can just be, come as you are, with whatever burdens you have, and just be known. Then and only then, can the work begin.
If you are ready to move forward or want some more information, reaching out is a great next step! Tap the link in my bio to get started. 🌿

29/11/2019

From my family to yours: we hope your Thanksgiving was memorable and filled with love 🌿
Holidays can be hard, and gratitude is not always the easiest response. May this holiday season encourage us to seek out the pockets of joy in between.

28/11/2019

From a young age, I remember always wanting to talk people through their challenges. I remember childhood mock counseling sessions and trying to intervene with a friend who showed some concerning behaviors.
As I got older, I developed an interest in science and a desire to help people, so I started college out on the premed/pre-health track. About midway through college, I had a moment (called physics class) when I really started to question what I was pursuing. I loved the idea of a life spent helping people obtain optimal health, but I realized how much I was drawn to the mental/emotional side of it.
Through this process, I found immense value in pursuing a career as a mental health professional. I realized that serving people in this way could change their lives as a whole, not just their physical bodies. More than that, I saw how it could change the way people engaged in their families and communities.
To me, mental wellness is about more than just alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression, it’s about supporting people who are facing difficult times. It’s about facilitating healing for individuals, couples, and families. It’s about the 100-year impact that could take place through that healing. I guess you could say that it felt like I could change the world.
While the scale may be a bit smaller, I do believe the impact of counseling goes far beyond the reach of the people who sit down with me. When I meet with you, I’m also thinking about the people you engage with every day who will never know my name.
I chose to become a counselor because the ripple effect is real. It is far reaching, and I love being a part of that. 🌿

Alex Sullivan, LCSW