Andrea Sullivan

Hello, I’m Andrea! You may be tired of living in survival mode. Trauma can leave you feeling constantly on guard, disconnected from yourself, or pulled back into experiences you are trying to move beyond. Substance use may have started as a way to numb painful memories, quiet your thoughts, sleep, or simply get through the day. If you are living with bipolar disorder, shifts in mood, energy, sleep, and motivation may make it difficult to feel steady or trust what comes next. These experiences can affect every part of your life. You may struggle with nightmares, intrusive memories, irritability, impulsive decisions, periods of depression, or times when your thoughts and energy feel difficult to slow down. Relationships, work, and daily responsibilities may become harder to maintain. You might also carry guilt or shame about decisions you made while coping, using substances, or experiencing a mood episode. I specialize in working with adults experiencing trauma, addiction, and bipolar disorder. I understand that these concerns often overlap. Trauma may contribute to substance use, substance use may intensify mood instability, and unpredictable shifts in mood can make recovery and relationships more complicated. Our work will consider how these experiences interact rather than treating each concern as a separate problem. My first priority is helping you feel safer and more stable. We may begin by identifying triggers, recognizing warning signs, improving sleep and routines, developing alternatives to substance use, and creating a plan for navigating periods of emotional distress or mood instability. Trauma work does not require you to share every detail before you are ready. We will move at a pace that supports healing without leaving you feeling overwhelmed. My style is calm, straightforward, and nonjudgmental. I will listen carefully, help you make sense of patterns, and offer practical strategies you can use outside of therapy. I also believe in accountability that is respectful rather than shaming. We can acknowledge the impact of past choices while focusing on what you can do differently moving forward. Recovery is rarely a straight line. A relapse, setback, or difficult mood episode does not erase the progress you have made. Therapy can help you understand what happened, strengthen your plan, and continue moving toward greater stability. You do not have to wait until another crisis to seek support. We can begin by identifying what feels most urgent and building from there. My Background & Approach I am a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, which means I have completed my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and am currently accruing the supervised clinical hours required for full licensure in Florida. This stage of my career allows me to provide therapy while continuing to deepen my training and experience under clinical supervision, ensuring high-quality and ethical care. Although I am still in the process of full licensure, I bring over four years of hands-on experience in the mental health field. My background includes working in crisis stabilization, inpatient behavioral health, community mental health, and substance use treatment settings. In these roles, I have supported individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, emotional crises, and co-occurring substance use concerns. My approach is trauma-informed, collaborative, and focused on stabilization and sustainable change. I integrate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing based on your needs and goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help you identify thought and behavior patterns that contribute to depression, anxiety, substance use, or mood instability. Dialectical Behavior Therapy offers practical skills for managing intense emotions, tolerating distress, reducing impulsive reactions, and improving relationships. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can help you respond differently to painful thoughts, memories, and emotions while reconnecting with what matters to you. Motivational Interviewing provides a nonjudgmental way to explore substance use, recovery, and mixed feelings about change without pressure or confrontation. Together, we may focus on trauma triggers, relapse prevention, emotional regulation, mood awareness, healthier coping strategies, and rebuilding trust in yourself. My goal is to help you move from repeatedly responding to crises toward creating a life that feels safer, steadier, and more within your control.