You know anxiety is affecting you. You feel it in the racing thoughts at 2am, the tight chest before a hard conversation, the low hum of dread that never fully goes away. You've probably tried to logic your way out of it. To push through. To just relax. And somehow it keeps showing up.
Anxiety isn't a character flaw or a sign that something is fundamentally wrong with you. It's your nervous system doing what it learned to do — protect you. The problem is when that protection becomes constant, and you can't find the off switch.
At Be Your Best Self & Thrive Counseling, we offer anxiety therapy in Sarasota, FL that goes beyond coping strategies. We work with your whole system — mind, body, and nervous system — so you can find real relief, not just manage symptoms.
Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety
You might benefit from anxiety therapy in Sarasota if...
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Anxiety shows up differently for everyone. Here's how it might be showing up for you:
In your mind and mood:
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Constant worry or racing thoughts you can't slow down
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Overthinking decisions, conversations, or things you've already said
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Difficulty concentrating or staying present
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Fear of the worst-case scenario becoming your default setting
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Irritability, restlessness, or a short fuse that surprises even you
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People-pleasing or perfectionism that feels impossible to stop
In your body:
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Tight chest, shallow breathing, or a racing heart
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Tension in your jaw, shoulders, or stomach
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Trouble falling or staying asleep
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Fatigue even when you haven't done much
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Nausea, headaches, or stomach issues without a clear cause
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That constant feeling of being "on" — like your body never fully rests
In your life and relationships:
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Avoiding situations or conversations that might trigger anxiety
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Saying yes when you mean no, then feeling resentful
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Struggling to be present in relationships because your mind is elsewhere
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Pulling back from things you used to enjoy
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Feeling like you're always bracing for something
If any of this sounds familiar, you're not alone — and you don't have to keep white-knuckling your way through it.
Anxiety Isn't a Mindset Problem — It's a Nervous System Problem
Here's something most people don't hear enough: anxiety is not a thinking problem. You can't think your way out of it, and trying to often makes it worse.
Anxiety is a nervous system state. When your system has been under pressure long enough — from stress, trauma, chronic illness, caregiving, high-achieving, or simply living in a body that never learned it was safe — it gets stuck in a state of alert. Your brain and body stay primed for threat even when there isn't one. The thoughts, the racing heart, the dread, the hypervigilance — those aren't signs that you're weak or irrational. They're signs that your nervous system is doing exactly what it was built to do.
The work isn't about shutting anxiety down. It's about helping your system learn, slowly and at your pace, that it can relax. That it's okay to come out of survival mode. That you don't have to be ready for everything to fall apart at any moment.
That's what nervous system-informed anxiety therapy does — and it's a different kind of relief than just reframing your thoughts.
Meet Your Anxiety Therapist in Sarasota, FL
Holly Case, M.A., RMHCI, NCC
Supervised by Jamie Molnar, LMHC
Holly works with adults navigating anxiety, burnout, trauma, life transitions, and chronic illness at our Sarasota office. Her style is warm, grounded, and unhurried — she's interested in what's actually driving your anxiety, not just the surface symptoms.
As someone who has navigated her own experience with anxiety and chronic illness, Holly brings genuine curiosity and compassion to this work. She's trained in somatic and body-based approaches, IFS-informed parts work, and nervous system regulation — tools that go deeper than talk therapy alone.
Holly sees clients in person in Sarasota and online throughout Florida. Sessions are $120.
How We Approach Anxiety Therapy in Sarasota
A lot of traditional anxiety treatment focuses on changing your thoughts. That's useful — but it's not the whole picture. Anxiety lives in the body just as much as the mind, and talking about it doesn't always reach the places where it's actually stored.
Holly's approach starts with the nervous system. Rather than fighting your anxiety, we get curious about it — where it shows up in your body, what it's trying to protect, and what it needs in order to feel safe enough to settle.
Sessions may include:
Somatic and body-based work — Slowing down to notice physical sensations, using breathwork, grounding techniques, and progressive muscle relaxation to help your body come out of a state of high alert. We practice these in real time so you can use them outside of sessions too.
IFS-informed parts work — Anxiety is often a protective part doing the only job it knows. IFS therapy helps you get curious about that part rather than fighting it — understanding what it's guarding and giving it permission to step back when you have more capacity to handle what's underneath.
Nervous system regulation — You'll learn to recognize your own patterns of activation and learn practical tools for returning to a regulated state. This is especially important if anxiety is connected to past trauma or chronic stress and burnout.
CBT and DBT tools — Where helpful, we integrate cognitive and behavioral approaches to help you identify thought patterns and build concrete skills for managing anxious moments.
This isn't about becoming someone who never feels anxious. It's about building enough internal safety that anxiety no longer runs the show.
What to Expect in Anxiety Therapy with Holly
Starting therapy can feel like one more thing your anxious brain will want to overthink. Here's what the process actually looks like:
First session — getting oriented.
Holly will spend time getting to know you: your history, what's bringing you in, and what you most want from therapy. There's no intake form to perform. You don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to show up.
Early sessions — mapping your anxiety.
Together you'll start to notice patterns — what triggers your anxiety, where it lives in your body, and what parts of you are working hard to keep things under control. This isn't analysis for its own sake; it's the foundation for meaningful change.
The middle work — building capacity.
This is where the somatic tools, parts work, and nervous system regulation come in. You'll practice skills in session so you can use them in real life — not just understand them conceptually. Holly's goal is for you to leave each session with something tangible.
Over time — more choice.
Most clients notice that anxiety is still present, but it has less grip. They respond differently. They catch themselves sooner. They recover faster. The goal isn't to never feel anxious again — it's to have more space between the trigger and the reaction, and more trust in yourself to navigate it.
Sessions are typically 50 minutes, weekly to start. Holly sees clients in person in Sarasota and online throughout Florida.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anxiety Therapy in Sarasota
What does anxiety therapy in Sarasota look like at BYBS & Thrive?
Sessions with Holly are collaborative and paced to where you are. We don't follow a rigid protocol — we start by understanding your anxiety: where it shows up, what triggers it, and what's underneath it. From there, we blend somatic work, parts exploration, and practical tools to help you build real capacity for calm.
How is somatic therapy different from regular talk therapy for anxiety?
Talk therapy works primarily with thoughts and insights. Somatic therapy also works with the body — the physical sensations, tension patterns, and nervous system states where anxiety actually lives. For many people with anxiety, especially anxiety connected to chronic stress or trauma, adding a body-based layer makes a significant difference in how quickly and deeply the work lands.
Do I have to be in Sarasota to work with Holly?
No. Holly sees clients in person at our Sarasota office at 46 N. Washington Blvd., Suite 8, and also works with clients online throughout Florida.
How long does anxiety therapy take?
It varies. Some people notice real shifts within a few months; others do longer-term work. Holly will discuss pacing with you in your first session based on your goals and history.
How much does anxiety therapy cost in Sarasota?
Sessions with Holly are $120. We do not currently accept insurance, but we can provide a superbill for potential out-of-network reimbursement.
Is anxiety therapy right for me if I also deal with chronic illness or burnout?
Yes — and it's actually an area Holly specializes in. Anxiety, chronic illness, and burnout often overlap significantly, especially when the nervous system has been in overdrive for a long time. Holly's background in chronic illness therapy makes her especially well-suited for clients navigating all of these at once.
Ready to Work with an Anxiety Therapist in Sarasota, FL?
You don't have to keep living at the mercy of your nervous system. Anxiety therapy at our Sarasota counseling office is a space to slow down, get curious, and start building something different — a relationship with yourself that feels safer.
