Alyssa Sorrells
LMHC, NCC
About Me
Does the idea of seeing a therapist feel daunting or intimidating for you? Or maybe you feel uncomfortable opening up to a stranger, wonder if it will be effective and worth it? It may be hard to trust at first. But I promise you that therapy is a truly rewarding process.
It is incredibly brave to take these first steps. No matter the reason that brought you here, there is a part of you that hopes for something better. I want to channel that hope and help you embrace it. To me, the dynamic of the therapeutic relationship is key to your success. Therefore, we will collaboratively work as a team to identify the steps that lead to your goal. Then we will take those steps together, enabling you to live a more meaningful life.
Through our telehealth therapy platform, I am able to offer you sessions that take place in the comfort of your own space. It may also lessen external factors, such as commute time, that can create barriers to consistent participation in treatment.
From my training and experience in the field, client’s that I work with may come to therapy with the following:
- Lacking confidence in themselves
- Struggling with negative internal thoughts
- Feeling overwhelmed with activities of everyday life
- Thoughts spiraling out of control leading to constant worry and panic
- Lack of motivation, feeling hopeless, and disconnected from yourself and others
- Trying to find an escape through potentially harmful ways, but nothing seems to truly help
- Fearful of confrontation, and difficulty advocating for yourself or setting boundaries
- Difficulty communicating with others, often feeling unheard or unvalued
- Having a hard time setting and following through with personal goals
- Difficulty coping with intense and complex emotions and thoughts
- Working their recovery from chemical or process addictions
- Wanting to explore unresolved trauma and abuse
I often get asked why I decided to pursue counseling. The easy answer to this is that I wanted to help others. but counseling wasn’t my first choice. Initially I explored the medical field in college and pursued athletic training, figuring that my love of sports and science would merge together nicely. However, during the program I realized that even though I found it interesting, I wasn’t fulfilled. The following semester, I took an introduction to counseling class and it was like something just clicked. I felt a passion and excitement, realizing this was a way I could make the goal of helping others a reality, and in a way that fit my personality.
One thing that captures me about counseling is the mystery of it all. I’ve always enjoyed puzzles, like Sudoku, or trying to solve the mystery in a book or tv show. I believe one of the greatest mysteries in life is the human mind. Everyone is complex, and it excites me to help a client put their own puzzle pieces together. We identify their patterns of thoughts and behaviors, pinpoint underlying themes; then, we try to find ways to make these work for them, not against them.
Another layer of counseling that I enjoy is the therapeutic relationship. Throughout my life, I have been involved in some type of team sport, from starting as a baby ballerina in dance to being a director of a color guard team. What I love about being a part of a team is the underlying support from your teammates, constantly pushing you to be the best version of yourself all while working towards a common goal. I believe that this team dynamic is so essential in therapy. Although I may be an expert in counseling practices, you are the expert on yourself. Together, we will integrate our knowledge to help you reach your goals. My objective is to provide that support to you through a comforting and compassionate approach.
Outside of work, I’m often spending time with family and friends, either having a movie and board game night, or going to one of the many theme parks in the area. And when in doubt, you can always find me immersing myself in the world of Harry Potter and other pop culture favorites.
Qualifications
I received my Master’s Degree from the University of Central Florida in 2013 and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the state of Florida. I’m also a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and am working towards becoming a Qualified Supervisor (QS) for mental health interns. Throughout my experience, I’ve had the opportunity to work in a variety of settings, including a Baker Act facility treating individuals with persistent and pervasive mental illness; working in an adult inpatient rehab center with individuals recovering from substance abuse and eating disorders; and a full time counselor at a private practice treating a range of mental health issues. I use a Rogerian and humanistic approach to counseling, and incorporate cognitive behavioral and solution focused techniques. This approach encourages self growth, healing, and positive change. I am also trained in trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing techniques.
