Feel at home.
Welcome to Psychology House, where comfort, safety, and connection creates a space that feels like home.
Our philosophy
We know therapy can be challenging. The most important things always are. But we also know it can be transformative. We see it in our clients, their family lives, relationships, and in their careers. Located in South Tampa, Psychology House is home to highly trained psychologists who specialize in today’s most prominent mental health issues and evidence-based treatments. Prioritizing comfort, safety, and connection, we’ve cultivated a psychology practice built on the idea of home.
Make yourself at home
Heal in the comfort and privacy of our curated rooms; equipped with tea and water, blankets, and all the comforts of home.
In-person & remote options
Our office is conveniently located in South Tampa; just minutes from Hyde Park, Davis Island, and Westshore.
Can’t make it into the office? No worries – we’ve got you covered with teletherapy.
Challenges we commonly treat
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Depression
Near constant feeling of sadness, lack of interest/motivation, emptiness, & feeling bad about one’s self
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Anxiety
Excessive worry, feeling on edge, irritability, exhaustion, inability to control worry or racing thoughts, & difficulty focusing
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Trauma/PTSD
Experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, resulting in intrusive thoughts/memories, avoidance, negative thoughts of self/others, & hyperarousal
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OCD
Recurrent intrusive & unwanted thoughts or urges with excessive behaviors to alleviate distress of the thoughts/urges
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Addiction
Psychological and/or physical dependence on the use of drugs/substances, activities, or behaviors, despite the consequences
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Stress & Burnout
Stress is too much physical/mental pressure, whereas burnout is about too little motivation, care, or effort; stress can lead to burnout
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Anger Issues
Better understand the message behind anger & learn to express it in healthier ways without losing control; identify triggers & calming skills
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Relationship Issues
Improve issues related to communication, intimacy, trust, & boundaries; create meaningful connections where mutual needs are met
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ADHD
Persistent issues with inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity that have been occurring since childhood
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Psychosis
Loss of contact with reality & experience of hallucinations, delusions, inappropriate behavior, and/or confused thinking/speaking
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Healthier Habits
Addressing issues of sleep, diet, & exercise are imperative for a healthy lifestyle & significantly affect our mental health
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General Issues
Other common issues include self-esteem/confidence, grief/loss, existential concerns, & adjustment to major life changes
In-network insurance
Our psychologists in Tampa currently work with Aetna, United Healthcare (UHC), Oxford, and Oscar. Additionally, we offer simple and secure self-pay and out-of-network options.
Treatment approaches
Know you are on the right track with treatments proven by research and tested by time.
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Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most commonly used psychological treatments today. Supported by countless research studies, CBT has been found to have significant improvements in patient’s functioning and quality of life. To briefly put it, CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and thinking patterns, as well as unhealthy and problematic behaviors. CBT emphasizes the interconnectedness between our thoughts and behaviors, and uses strategies to help gain awareness and understanding of how our thoughts affect what we do (and vice versa). Through efforts of changing unhelpful thoughts and behavioral patterns, we also change how we feel, which helps us to cope with our issues and life’s stressors.
Click here to learn more about CBT.
Treatment Applications - Depression | Anxiety | Addiction | Trauma | Relationship Issues | And more
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Trauma-focused Therapies: Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) are first line, evidence-based psychotherapies for the treatment of PTSD and trauma-related issues. Although these treatments use different approaches, they both address the memories of the traumatic event and the associated distressing thoughts and feelings. CPT takes more of a cognitive approach in that it focuses on the distorted beliefs and thoughts that are a result of a traumatic experience, and encourages a healthier way to think about trauma. PE focuses more on exposure methods to gradually confront memories, thoughts, feelings, or situations related to the trauma that have been avoided. After thorough assessment of symptoms, your therapist will help you to decide which treatment approach would be more appropriate.
Click here to learn more about CPT & PE.
Treatment Applications - PTSD | Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders
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Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the gold standard treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and highly effective for phobias, panic disorder, and social anxiety. ERP emphasizes (1) exposure and (2) response prevention as methods of treating intrusive/unwanted thoughts and compulsive behaviors. The exposure component practices facing one’s fears (e.g., thoughts, images, memories, situations), while the response prevention component practices not engaging in compulsive/ritualistic behaviors. It is through confronting fears and resisting compulsions that you learn to tolerate the distress of your fears without having to resort to behaviors that only perpetuate the obsessive-compulsive cycle. ERP emphasizes a strong collaboration between client and therapist, and takes a gradual approach to treatment.
Click here to learn more about ERP.
Treatment Applications - OCD | Panic Disorder | Social Anxiety | Agoraphobia | Specific Phobia
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is one of the most widely used therapy approaches. Using a variety of techniques, you learn the importance of approaching and accepting your unwanted emotions, rather than avoiding or suppressing them. Acceptance of one’s emotions is learning how to accept one’s self – that our emotional experiences are understandable, important, and make sense. Once acceptance of emotions is achieved, ACT focuses on ways to commit to positive change and living a life aligned by one’s values. ACT postulates that our emotional experiences do not necessarily need to be “fixed,” rather they need attention and permission to be experienced fully, which allows us to experience life more fully. In addition to acceptance and committed action, ACT practices cognitive defusion (observing rather than reacting to a distressing thought), being in the present (mindfulness skills), self as context (realizing we are greater than our thoughts and emotions), and valued living (embracing activities that give meaning and satisfaction).
Click here to learn more about ACT.
Treatment Applications - Depression | Anxiety | Trauma | Chronic Pain | Addiction | OCD | Psychosis | Stress/Burnout
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Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a structured therapy that focuses on how to manage intense emotions and relationship challenges. It is often used for those with strong impulses and self-destructive behaviors to help change unhelpful thinking and behavioral patterns. It encourages the practice of skills that are organized by four areas – emotion regulation (managing intense emotions), distress tolerance (tolerating unpleasant emotions instead of escaping from them), mindfulness (non-judgmental awareness of emotions), and interpersonal effectiveness (healthy social and communication skills). DBT skills are often used in conjunction with other therapies.
Click here to learn more about DBT.
Treatment Applications - Personality Disorders (including borderline personality disorder) | Self-harm | PTSD | Eating Disorders | Mood Disorders | Anxiety | Addiction
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Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) is a therapeutic approach that emphasizes the role emotions play in our overall well-being. Our emotions construct the way we interpret our reality, motivate our behaviors, and directly affect our self-esteem. EFT focuses on several core components: (1) increasing emotional awareness, (2) healthy ways to express emotions, (3) how to regulate intense or unpleasant emotions, (4) understanding the purpose and function of emotions, and (5) increasing compassion for emotional reactions. EFT helps us learn how to be emotionally attuned to our needs, and therefore strengthening our relationship with ourselves and sense of worth. Emotional change is key to sustainable change. Many therapies overemphasize ways to think differently and enact healthier behaviors, while EFT acknowledges the foundational role of emotional change in these processes. Emotional avoidance/suppression exacerbates and perpetuates stress, depression, trauma, and anxiety. EFT helps to increase emotional awareness and regulation, which helps us learn how to tolerate emotions we tend to avoid. The idea is we must feel through our emotions to heal.
Click here to learn more about EFT
Treatment Applications - Trauma-related Issues | Stress/Burnout | Depression | Anxiety | Personality Disorders | Relationship Issues
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Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) is a therapeutic approach used for those with low self-esteem, a strong inner critic, and issues with shame. Most of us struggle with being highly critical and judgmental of ourselves, which only increases stress and mental health issues. We tend to ignore, reject, or suppress our physical and mental discomforts, which reinforces the message that our inner world is broken or wrong. CFT encourages ways to be accepting of and compassionate towards the parts of us that we tend to ignore by using compassionate visual imagery, positive self-talk, and mindfulness of our thoughts, emotions, and body sensations. When we start to turn towards our unwanted experiences, we learn to develop a healthier relationship with ourselves, which significantly impacts our self-esteem and even how we view others. Mind and body awareness is imperative to nurturing, rather than criticizing, ourselves.
Click here to learn more about CFT.
Treatment Applications - Low Self-esteem | Self-criticism | Body Image Issues | Mood Disorders | Anxiety | Trauma | Anger Issues
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Supportive therapy is an approach that highlights the importance of empathy and compassion on behalf of the therapist, and aims to create a safe and non-judgmental space for those to freely express their unfiltered thoughts and feelings. Many of us lack a strong social support system and do not have many friends or family to turn to during times of need, or lack people in their lives to help us in the ways we need. Supportive therapy offers comfort to those who need it through the healing power of the therapeutic relationship and genuine conversation. A supportive therapist actively listens and empathizes with one’s emotional pain and distress, and offers practical tools and knowledge to help cope. Supportive therapists also tend to incorporate other therapeutic modalities (e.g., cognitive and behavioral skills, self-compassionate visual imagery, mindfulness skills, etc.) as they see fit to help the healing process. Above all else, supportive therapy provides emotional support for those going through difficult times and who would benefit from insight, guidance, and validation.
Click here to learn more about supportive therapy.
Treatment Applications - Low Self-esteem | Depression | Anxiety | Trauma-related Issues | Stress/Burnout | Relationship Issues | Grief
Meet our team
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Sarah Carpenter, Ph.D. | Licensed Psychologist & Founder
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Mark Carpenter | Founder & CEO
Ready to take the first step?
Fill out this form to be matched with a psychologist on our team who best aligns with your mental health needs.
Have questions before getting started? Schedule a call with our Intake Coordinator.
FAQs
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During your initial intake call, we'll identify the right clinician for you and schedule your first session. Often times, this first session is used as an opportunity to get to know one another and provide more context around the struggles you are facing. There may be a few administrative tasks to take care of and your clinician will likely set expectations for what you can expect treatment to look like going forward.
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Fit is important, and there is no shame in choosing to work with a different member of our team after a few visits. If for some reason you don’t feel a good fit within our team, we’ll connect you with other highly rated practices in the area; just so you’re not starting back at square one.
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We currently work with Aetna, United Healthcare (UHC), Oxford, and Oscar. Additionally, we have simple & secure self-pay and out-of-network options.
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Many insurance plans offer out-of-network benefits, allowing you to work with the provider of your choice while still covering a percentage of your costs. If we do not work with your insurance, you may be able to receive out-of-network coverage with your current insurance plan. To learn more about our out-of-network option, click here. You can also use self-pay with simple & secure online billing.
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Yes! We offer secure, HIPAA compliant video Telehealth sessions.
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Many of our clinicians are PsyPact certified, allowing them to practice across multiple states. If you live out of state, plan to move soon, or travel a lot, you may still be able to work with a clinician of your choice. To learn more about our PsyPact team members, click here.
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Yes. We are located on the first floor. However, our doorway is raised 4 inches off the ground, which could make it difficult for some mobility devices.