Meet Your Sarasota Therapist -Candice Burch, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor • EMDR & Trauma Therapist in Sarasota, FL
Are you struggling with anxiety, trauma, or overwhelming emotions? You’re in the right place. I’m a licensed therapist in Sarasota, FL, helping adults, teens, and pre-teens heal from anxiety, trauma, depression, and life transitions through effective, evidence-based therapy.
Who I Help
I specialize in counseling for clients in Sarasota and throughout Florida (in-person & online) who are dealing with:
✔ Anxiety & panic symptoms
✔ Trauma and PTSD
✔ Depression & low mood
✔ Low self-esteem
✔ Emotional regulation challenges
✔ Relationship stress and communication struggles
✔ Phobias and fear-based avoidance
What Makes My Therapy Unique
Therapy should feel safe, empowering, and collaborative -not intimidating or confusing. My approach blends proven clinical practices with empathy and personalized care:
Evidence-Based Approaches Include:
🔹EMDR Therapy for Processing the past
🔹 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
🔹 Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
🔹 Mindfulness & Acceptance-Based Techniques
🔹 Strength-Based & Solution-Focused Work
Each session is tailored to your unique needs and goals as we work toward lasting growth and relief.
How Working Together Feels
Therapy with me is structured but human. You can expect:
A safe, judgment-free space where your story is heard
Collaborative goal setting aligned with how you want to feel
Practical tools for real-life challenges
Support celebrating your progress -big or small
Clear expectations + compassionate support help you heal and build resilience.
Why I Became a Therapist
I was drawn to the field of mental health from a young age after witnessing how deeply mental illness and substance use can affect individuals and families. Growing up, many people in my life struggled in these ways, which sparked a lasting curiosity about human behavior and a desire to understand how people suffer- and more importantly, how they heal. I wanted to help reduce human suffering and support people in growing through the struggles they face, rather than feeling defined or limited by them.
Over time, I also noticed something meaningful: people naturally opened up to me. Friends, acquaintances, and even strangers often felt comfortable sharing their stories, sometimes within minutes of meeting me. Those moments made it clear that creating safety, presence, and understanding came naturally to me-and that sitting with people in their pain was not something I shied away from.
My work is especially grounded in trauma therapy because I believe that many symptoms people struggle with -anxiety, emotional overwhelm, self-doubt, or feeling “stuck” -often make sense when we look at their life experiences and upbringing. I’m naturally curious and drawn to depth, and I don’t believe healing happens by staying on the surface. For me, therapy is about gently and safely going where the pain lives, because real healing happens when it’s finally seen and processed.
EMDR therapy became a turning point for me both personally and professionally. Having experienced the benefits of EMDR myself, I saw firsthand how powerful it can be in helping the nervous system release what it’s been holding onto. EMDR goes beyond talking about pain -it helps the brain and body actually move through it. I often say that the cure to pain is the pain, when it’s approached with safety, support, and intention.
Clients often describe working with me as warm, kind, refreshing, and non-judgmental. My goal is for you to feel genuinely seen — not analyzed, rushed, or pushed. I never want clients to feel shamed, pressured, or forced into therapy before they’re ready. I believe healing works best when someone chooses it for themselves.
I feel most aligned helping people who have experienced trauma, difficult childhoods, or emotionally painful life experiences — especially those who are ready to engage in therapy and face what they’ve been carrying. If you’re at a place where you want to understand yourself more deeply and move toward lasting healing, I consider it an honor to walk alongside you.
I offer trauma-informed therapy and EMDR therapy in Sarasota and throughout Florida via telehealth through Burch Tree Counseling Center.
With extensive experience in trauma-focused therapy, I help adults and teens in Sarasota, Florida, and beyond through utilizing transformative techniques-including EMDR Therapy and trauma counseling- to process past experiences and foster lasting healing.
Credentials & Training
I hold:
• Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida
• EMDRIA-approved EMDR Therapist
Some of the specific trainings I received were in Counseling Theories, Human Growth and Development, Substance Abuse Theory and Prevention, Diagnostic and Treatment of Psychology, Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling, Ethics, Career and Lifestyle, Trauma, and Human Sexuality. I have experience working in Community Mental Health settings and private practice.
I have extensive training and experience working with anxiety, trauma, grief, depression, ADHD, and more. This ensures you receive both compassionate care and clinical expertise.
Serving Sarasota, FL & All of Florida
I offer therapy in-person in Sarasota and secure online sessions across all of Florida. If you’re ready to take the first step toward healing and growth, I’m here to support you.