Sarah Griffin-Ortiz
I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who believes therapy should help you move beyond simply understanding why you feel the way you do. My approach is warm, direct, and grounded in creating a space where you can feel safe enough to work through what’s keeping you stuck. I specialize in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), an evidence-based approach that uses eye movements and imagery to help the brain process distressing memories, emotions, and sensations differently. ART can be especially helpful when you understand something logically, but your mind or body still seems to react as though the threat, hurt, or experience is happening now.
I support adults navigating anxiety, trauma, addiction recovery, life transitions, and burnout—especially those in high-pressure or caregiving roles.
My work often focuses on trauma, anxiety, difficult life experiences, emotional triggers, and nervous system regulation. I also have extensive experience working with first responders and individuals exposed to high-stress environments. I offer virtual therapy throughout Florida and limited in-person ART sessions in Tampa.
First session
Your first session will be a comprehensive intake where we’ll take time to understand you and what brings you to therapy. We’ll review your background, current symptoms and concerns, relevant medical and mental health history, previous experiences with therapy, trauma history when applicable, and other factors that may be impacting what you’re experiencing. We’ll talk about what you would like to see change, identify your goals for therapy, and develop a treatment plan together. This allows me to get a more holistic understanding of what you’re experiencing and how it is affecting your life. We’ll also discuss how Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) works, what you can expect from the process, and how we may use ART to address your specific goals. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to ask questions so that you feel informed and prepared before we begin the ART process.
Strengths
Clients often tell me they feel genuinely seen and comfortable with me quickly. I bring warmth, humor when appropriate, curiosity, and a grounding presence to therapy, while also being willing to gently challenge patterns that may no longer be serving you. One of my greatest strengths is helping clients bridge the gap between insight and change. Sometimes you already know why you react a certain way, but knowing doesn’t stop the racing thoughts, physical reactions, emotional triggers, or memories that keep resurfacing. My training in Accelerated Resolution Therapy allows us to work with those experiences in a different way. I also bring extensive experience in crisis response, trauma, and working alongside first responders. Whether we’re using ART or more traditional approaches, my goal is for therapy to feel focused, collaborative, and tailored to what you actually need—not like you’re following a generic treatment script.
Ideal clients
I am currently accepting new clients specifically for Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). My ideal client is someone experiencing distress that continues to show up emotionally and physically. You may be reliving difficult experiences, having nightmares or intrusive memories, feeling intense physical sensations when anxious or angry, or noticing that certain reminders immediately trigger a strong reaction in your body. You may also experience unwanted emotions, sensations, images, or reactions connected to past experiences that you’re ready to change. ART can be used not only for trauma, but also for anxiety, fears, grief, emotional triggers, and other distressing experiences that continue to affect how you feel and respond today. I also specialize in working with first responders and others in high-stress roles who may have experienced repeated exposure to difficult or traumatic events.
Treatment methods
Trauma Informed Care
My work is grounded in trauma-informed care, which means I pay attention not only to what you’re experiencing, but also to how your nervous system has learned to respond to stress, difficult experiences, and perceived threats. I prioritize safety, choice, collaboration, and helping you understand your responses without judgment. I incorporate Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) to help process distressing memories, emotions, images, and physical sensations so they no longer carry the same intensity.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help you notice the connection between your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and physical responses. Rather than simply telling you to “think differently,” we look at the patterns underneath your reactions, challenge beliefs that may no longer be serving you, and develop practical ways to respond differently. I often integrate CBT with trauma-informed approaches and ART when insight alone hasn’t been enough to create change.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I use ACT to help clients make room for difficult thoughts and emotions without allowing them to dictate every decision. We explore what matters most to you, identify where fear, avoidance, or old patterns may be pulling you away from those values, and work toward meaningful action even when uncomfortable emotions are present.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
Sometimes you don’t need to spend months analyzing a problem—you need help figuring out what is working, what needs to change, and what your next step is. I use solution-focused strategies to identify strengths, build on what’s already helping, and create realistic, meaningful goals that move you toward where you want to be.
Motivational Interviewing
I use Motivational Interviewing when part of you wants something to change while another part feels unsure, stuck, or simply not ready. Rather than pushing you toward a decision, we explore that ambivalence without judgment, identify what matters to you, and help you find your own motivation and confidence for whatever comes next.
Location
Virtual sessions
In-person sessions1200 W Platt St, Tampa, FL 33606, 204
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Licensed in
- FloridaLicense MH16514