Meet Alicia Armstrong, LCSW-QS

Counseling with Alicia provides therapy services via traditional in-person sessions or convenient telehealth (online video) sessions.

I specialize in gender and sexuality, trauma and post-traumatic growth, sexual assault healing, interpersonal violence healing, anxiety and depression management, self harm, self esteem, and dating and relationships. I am qualified to assist with most mental wellness challenges and life transitions. I currently see individuals- adolescents (13+) and adults (18+). I have a passion for client empowerment and working together as a collaborative team to help you achieve your goals.

Self-care is the foundation of my practice. Self-care can be free and is often easier to incorporate into your life as a stress management tool than many at first believe. It can be essential in helping manage any of the challenges that bring a person to seek therapy services.

I utilize a variety of methods, including Solution Focused Therapy, Trauma Informed Care, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Strengths- Based Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Pet Therapy. These are fancy ways of saying that there is not one treatment type that works best for everyone. Together, we will work toward finding what works best for you to help you meet your goals of improving your mental wellness.

I strongly believe in equality, inclusion, and open mindedness in therapy. I am a very sex positive therapist and believe that therapy should provide a comfortable environment where you can fully open up

and be yourself.

I am an ally and advocate for many groups, including the LGBTQIA+ community, people living with HIV/AIDS, people in open or non-monogamous relationships, people that participate in any type of

kink, and people in the profession of sex work. I believe in the body neutrality movement and know what a challenge it can be just to feel comfortable in your own skin. I am an advocate and ally for racial justice and equality. I recognize that we are doing the best we can in this life, trying to live our best lives- therapy should be a place free from judgment.

I earned a Master's Degree in Social Work from Florida State University (c/o 2010), as well as a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Florida State University (c/o 2013). I am currently a 3rd year social work Ph.D. student at Sacred Heart University, studying the importance of human sexuality in social work education. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I have over 15 years of experience providing advocacy and counseling services to clients healing from trauma, including sexual assault and domestic violence survivors. In addition to private counseling, I am an adjunct professor at Florida State University's College of Social Work, where I primarily teach Human Sexuality, but also a variety of other undergraduate and graduate level courses.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my five (yes, 5!!) dogs, reading, meditation, yoga, journaling, traveling, and believe in lifelong learning "for fun" and personal growth.

Looking forward to working with you!

In Health and Happiness,

Alicia

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” ~ Carl Rogers

Meet Freckles

the Therapy Dog

Freckles is a German Shorthaired Pointer, trained and certified therapy dog, that is often in the therapy room with us. She is a 50 lb lap dog, who can sense panic and anxiety. She provides comfort in distress by leaning against your chest gently. Animal Assisted Therapy is a wonderful way to help reduce anxiety and increase comfort during sessions.

*If you are allergic or afraid of dogs, in-person therapy with me will not be appropriate. I am happy to offer telehealth or provide referrals to other trauma therapists who do not use pet therapy in their sessions.