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LMHC

Sandra Rico, LMHC

  • Experience16 years
  • LocationFlorida
  • Focus areasLGBT, Relationship, and Family
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Client-Centered Therapy
  • LanguagesEnglish and Spanish
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About Sandra

Sandra Rico is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) practicing in Florida with 16 years of clinical experience. She focuses on creating an affirming, client-centered environment for people facing relationship and family challenges, LGBTQ concerns, trauma and abuse, mood disorders, and a wide range of life stressors.

Background and approach

Sandra blends evidence-based methods to help clients improve communication, manage emotions, and navigate transitions while honoring each person’s background and goals. Her work also addresses issues such as parenting and intimacy-related problems, addictions, grief, eating and sleeping difficulties, self-esteem struggles, ADHD, and career stress.

Sandra integrates psychotherapeutic approaches to tailor treatment to individual needs and often draws on mindfulness and motivational techniques alongside cognitive strategies to support coping and behavior change. She offers services in both English and Spanish and accepts international clients, providing flexible session formats to accommodate different schedules and preferences.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Internal Family Systems (IFS) invites clients to explore internal parts and their relationships, helping to uncover protective patterns and wounded parts and to cultivate greater internal cooperation; this can support work on trauma, self-esteem, and identity exploration. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying thoughts and behaviors that maintain distress and teaches practical skills to change patterns related to anxiety, depression, and stress. Mindfulness Therapy encourages present-moment awareness and nonjudgmental observation of experience, which can reduce reactivity and improve emotional regulation.

Finding the right approach is often a collaborative process. Sandra will work with clients to assess goals, preferences, and symptoms, then adapt techniques from IFS, CBT, and mindfulness as appropriate so the plan fits each person’s needs and pace.

Online sessions via video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging offer flexibility for busy schedules and for clients who live outside the therapist's immediate area. These remote formats allow continuity of care and make it easier to access therapy in different time zones or when in-person sessions are impractical, while still focusing on meaningful therapeutic progress.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does this therapist address?
Sandra works with a broad range of concerns including relationship and family issues, LGBTQ matters, trauma and abuse, addictions, mood disorders such as depression and bipolar, anxiety and stress, grief, eating and sleeping problems, ADHD, and other life changes.
What is the therapist's general approach or style?
Her style centers on client-centered care, combining empathy and collaboration with evidence-based techniques like CBT, mindfulness practices, narrative and psychodynamic elements, and motivational interviewing to help clients reach their goals.
How much clinical experience does the therapist have?
She brings 16 years of experience working with individuals across many concerns and life stages, refining her use of multiple therapeutic modalities over time.
What credentials and location information are available?
Sandra holds the credential LMHC and is licensed in Florida under FL LMHC MH10434. Her practice is based in Florida.
In which languages can sessions be offered and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish, and she does accept international clients.
Which session formats does the therapist provide?
She offers several remote formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working with this therapist?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

LGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesParenting issues

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsTrauma and abuseGriefEating disordersSleeping disordersAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepressionCoping with life changesADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressCo-morbidityCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSImmigration issuesInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryTrichotillomaniaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

16+ years

Licensed

Florida

Languages

English, Spanish