Therapist

Sophia Moenssens

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Individual Therapy

Specializing in LGBTQIA+ & BiPOC-Affirming Care, Neurodivergent Identities (ADHD/ASD/AuDHD), Chronic Illness, Anxiety, Depression, and Support for Big Feelings & Masking

If you feel worried, sad, tired, or like you’re always trying to be “okay,” I’m here to listen. Therapy gives you a calm place to share your feelings, figure out what you need, and feel more like yourself again. I’m here to support all of you.

I work with teens and adults (13+) in St. Petersburg, FL and virtually across Florida.

What Is It Like To Work With Me?

I show up with authenticity, compassion, and a deep belief in your capacity to grow.
In our sessions, all of your emotions are welcome — the loud ones, the quiet ones, the confusing ones.

Healing doesn’t have to be heavy all the time.

Sometimes we’ll laugh. Sometimes we’ll sit with something tender.

Always, you'll have a space where you don’t need to perform or be perfect.

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Big feelings are welcome here

I grew up in Central Florida, where I found my voice on stage long before I understood my inner world. Musical theatre was my home base, and my emotions showed up just as boldly as I did. I was told I was “dramatic,” but really, I was intuitive and expressive — before I had the language to make sense of any of it.

Theatre brought joy, creativity, and connection.

It also brought pressure, scrutiny, and messages about how I should feel, act, or show up. I learned to perform happiness convincingly, even when I didn’t feel okay beneath the surface.

With ADHD traits hidden behind good grades and outward competence, it seemed like I had it all together — while internally, organizing my emotional world felt impossible.

You get to be real- not perfect

In my teens, I went to therapy for the first time, holding onto so much confusion but unsure how to express any of it.
So I performed.
I showed the “competent” version of myself because that’s what I knew how to do.

I graduated from therapy more than once without ever feeling truly seen.

Everything changed after college when I met a therapist who encouraged me to show up fully — messy, anxious, vulnerable, honest.

With her, I learned how to feel emotions I’d spent years avoiding — frustration, shame, tenderness — and I slowly reclaimed my authentic emotional self.

This is the kind of space I offer my clients today.

You are capable of so much more than surviving

My work is rooted in the belief that big feelings are not a flaw — they’re a signal.

A call toward healing, clarity, and connection.

I know what it’s like to perform the “right” emotions, to hide the hard ones, and to live in survival mode because you’ve had to.

Therapy becomes a place where you no longer have to carry all of that alone.

**Let’s build a life that actually feels good**

My mission is to meet you exactly where you are in your emotional journey. I believe it’s human to have intense feelings, to feel overwhelmed, or to struggle with expressing what’s going on inside. Together, we’ll create a space where you can explore the full range of your emotions with safety and curiosity. My goal is to help you move out of survival mode and into a place of self-trust, where you feel empowered to navigate your feelings and build the life you want and deserve.

Schedule Free Therapy Consult

Training & Qualifications | Counselor in St. Petersburg, FL

Qualifications and Credentials

Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Rollins College
Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida
Undergoing TF-CBT training through the Medical University of South Carolina
Presented at Rollins College on kink-informed care
300+ hours experience providing crisis care on 9-8-8 helpline

Areas of Expertise

Anxiety & OCD – Understand your racing thoughts and learn tools that help your mind feel steady again.
ADHD / ASD / AuDHD Support – Build systems that work with your neurodivergent brain, not against it.
Depression & Low Motivation – Move out of survival mode and reconnect with a sense of purpose and possibility.
Identity Exploration & Self-Esteem – Understand who you are beneath the masking, pressure, and expectations.
LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy – A supportive space to explore identity, relationships, belonging, and self-acceptance.
Poly & Kink-Informed Care – Judgment-free support for navigating nontraditional relationship structures and sexual identities.
Chronic Illness & Health Challenges – Compassionate support for the emotional toll of living in a body that doesn’t always cooperate.
Shame, Perfectionism & Masking – Break free from performing the “right” version of yourself and step into authenticity.
Trauma & Emotional Overwhelm – Process what you’ve carried so your body and mind can finally feel safe.
Life Transitions (Teens & Adults) – Navigate school, career, identity, relationships, or major life shifts with clarity and confidence.

Start Therapy in St. Petersburg, Fl

Stylized graphic of a person used by Sunshine City Counseling in St. Petersburg, FL, representing supportive care from a therapist for women.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

Finding the right therapist is important, so we offer a free consultation to discuss your needs and match you with the perfect therapist. Choose a time that works for you, and we’ll handle the rest.

Illustrated calendar with a check mark in the center, representing appointment scheduling at Sunshine City Counseling in St. Petersburg, FL, with a therapist for women.

Connect With A Therapist

Once scheduled, you’ll meet with your therapist either online in a secure, confidential session or in our therapy offices in South Pasadena, Fl. Our compassionate team of therapists are experienced in anxiety, depression, and more.

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Start Your Therapy Journey

Whether you prefer in-person sessions or the convenience of online therapy, we’re here to support you. From short-term guidance to ongoing therapy, we’ll help you navigate life’s challenges with care, flexibility, and expertise—wherever you feel most comfortable.

Sophia’s Therapy Approach | Individual Counseling in St. Petersburg, FL

Sophia offers a warm, caring approach to therapy for people who feel misunderstood, overwhelmed, or unsure how to handle big feelings. She works with LGBTQIA+ and BiPOC folks, neurodivergent teens and adults, and anyone wanting a safe place to be themselves. She uses the following approaches based on what you need:

Trauma Informed Care:
Supporting you with safety, consent, and care so you can heal at a pace that feels right for you.
Strengths-Based Therapy:
Helping you see your natural strengths and use them to move forward, even when life feels hard.
Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP):
Gently practicing new ways to respond to anxiety or OCD patterns with support and safety.
Mindfulness Work:
Learning how to slow down, notice what you’re feeling, and stay present in the moment.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT):
Teaching tools to manage big emotions, handle stress, and build healthier coping skills.
Somatic Practices:
Helping you reconnect with your body, release tension, and feel more grounded and safe.

Frequently Asked Questions About Working With Sophia Moenssens

Sophia is a great fit if you want a caring, accepting space to talk about your feelings and learn more about yourself. She works well with teens and adults who feel stressed, sad, unseen, or overwhelmed. She also connects deeply with LGBTQIA+ and BiPOC clients, neurodivergent folks (ADHD/ASD/AuDHD), and anyone who has ever felt “different” or misunderstood.

If you want a therapist who is kind, honest, and easy to talk to, Sophia may be a great match.
In your free consult, Sophia will offer a welcoming space to talk about what you’ve been feeling and what you want help with. You can share as much or as little as you want. She’ll answer your questions, explain how therapy works, and help you decide if she’s the right fit. It’s a relaxed, judgment-free time to connect and feel supported.
Sophia often helps people with:
- Anxiety and worry
- OCD and overwhelming thoughts
- Depression and low mood
- ADHD, ASD/AuDHD, and executive functioning struggles
- Identity questions and self-esteem
- LGBTQIA+ and BiPOC experiences
- Stress from chronic illness
- Big feelings that feel hard to manage
- Shame, perfectionism, or feeling “not enough”
- Feeling unheard, unseen, or misunderstood
She helps clients understand their emotions, feel more grounded, and build lives that feel honest, safe, and true to who they are.
Sunshine City Counseling is a private-pay practice and does not accept insurance directly. However, we’re happy to provide a superbill that you can submit to your insurance provider for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Many of our clients use their HSA or FSA cards as well.