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Telehealth counseling throughout Florida

Online Counseling in Florida

Compassionate, personalized mental health counseling from the comfort of your own space. Boedecker Counseling Services currently offers telehealth appointments throughout Florida, helping you find support wherever you are in the state.

Currently offering online counseling throughout Florida, with in-person appointments at our Sarasota office starting in December 2026.

Not for emergencies — if you are in immediate danger, call 911, or call or text 988 in a crisis.

What is online counseling?

Online counseling, also called telehealth counseling, virtual counseling, or online therapy, means meeting with your counselor remotely instead of in an office. You take part from a private place you choose, such as your home, without traveling to an appointment.

The counseling itself is the same kind of collaborative, individualized work you would expect in person: understanding what you are facing, setting goals, and building insight and skills over time. What changes is the setting.

Online counseling is not the right fit for every person or every situation. Some people prefer meeting face to face, and some needs are better served by other kinds of care. A consultation is a good place to talk about what makes sense for you.

Benefits of online counseling

For many people, online counseling makes it easier to get support consistently. Every situation is different, and some of these will matter more to you than others.

  • Less Time Traveling

    Without a commute, sessions can be easier to fit around work, school, or family routines.

  • Counseling From a Private Space

    Meet from home or another private setting where you feel comfortable speaking openly.

  • Continuity Through Change

    Busy seasons, schedule changes, or a move within Florida do not have to interrupt your counseling.

  • Access Across Florida

    Telehealth can make counseling more reachable if you live farther from a counselor’s office.

  • Familiar Surroundings

    Some people find it easier to open up in a setting that already feels comfortable.

  • Individualized Support

    Online counseling is still shaped around your goals, your pace, and your preferences.

How online counseling works

  1. Step 1: Request a Consultation

    Call or email the practice to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.

  2. Step 2: Discuss Your Needs

    Share what is bringing you to counseling and ask any questions you have. Together, you can talk about whether working together feels like a good fit.

  3. Step 3: Prepare for Your Virtual Appointment

    Choose a quiet, private place, check your internet connection, and have a suitable device ready, such as a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

  4. Step 4: Begin Counseling

    If it feels like a good fit, we’ll schedule your first session and begin working together on goals and next steps that fit you.

What can online counseling help with?

Online counseling can support many of the concerns people commonly bring to counseling. Choose an area of focus to learn more.

View all areas of focus

Is online counseling right for me?

Online counseling works well for many people, but whether it fits you is a personal and clinical decision. A few things are worth considering:

  • A Private Place to Talk

    Sessions work best when you can speak openly without being overheard or interrupted.

  • Internet and Device Access

    A reliable connection and a suitable device help sessions run smoothly.

  • Your Preferences

    Some people feel at ease talking online; others prefer being in the same room. Both are valid.

  • Your Needs and Circumstances

    Some situations, such as needing more intensive or immediate support, may be better served by other kinds of care. Telehealth is not appropriate for emergencies.

  • Where You Are Located

    Counselors are licensed by state, so where you are physically located during a session matters. The practice currently offers telehealth counseling throughout Florida.

If you are unsure, a consultation is a good place to talk it through.

What to expect from your first appointment

Your first appointment is a chance to get to know your counselor and begin shaping what you would like from counseling. It often includes:

  • Talking about what brought you to counseling right now
  • Sharing relevant background at a pace that feels comfortable
  • Exploring your goals, concerns, and hopes for change
  • Discussing approaches that may fit your needs
  • Working together on a plan for ongoing counseling

You do not need to share everything at once, and you can ask questions at any point. Counseling is collaborative, and the plan can change as you go.

Meet your counselor

Learn about who you would be working with, including credentials and areas of focus.

Online now, in-person from December 2026

Telehealth counseling is currently available throughout Florida, subject to clinical appropriateness and licensing requirements.

In-person counseling starts in December 2026.Our new office is at Palmer Office Executive Suites, 8586 Potter Park Drive, Suite 101, Sarasota, FL 34238, serving the Sarasota area, including Osprey, Venice, Palmer Ranch, Nokomis, and Siesta Key.Until it opens, all sessions take place by telehealth.

Frequently asked questions

How does online counseling work?

Telehealth counseling means meeting with your counselor remotely instead of in an office, so you can take part from a private space of your choosing anywhere in Florida. The conversation and the work you do together are the same kind of collaborative counseling you would expect in person.

To begin, call or email the practice to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. A consultation is a chance to share what you are looking for, ask questions, and decide together whether working together feels like a good fit. Appointment scheduling, intake, and client access take place through Headway, a separately operated platform.

Is online counseling effective?

Research suggests that, for many people and for many common concerns such as anxiety and depression, counseling provided by telehealth can be helpful, with results that are often similar to in-person counseling.

That does not mean it is the best fit for every person or every situation. Your needs, preferences, and circumstances matter, and a consultation is a good place to talk about whether online counseling makes sense for you.

Do I need to live in Florida to schedule an appointment?

The practice currently offers telehealth counseling to clients throughout Florida, subject to clinical appropriateness and licensing requirements.

Counselors are licensed by state, so where you are physically located during each session matters. If you live outside Florida, or expect to be outside Florida for sessions, please ask about it during your consultation before scheduling.

Can I attend counseling while traveling?

If you are traveling within Florida, you may be able to attend from any private place with a reliable internet connection.

If you will be outside Florida at the time of a session, please talk with your counselor beforehand. Whether a session can take place depends on licensing rules for where you are located, and a session may need to be rescheduled.

What do I need for a telehealth session?

Most people use a computer, tablet, or smartphone with a reliable internet connection, in a quiet, private place where they can speak openly without being overheard. Headphones can add privacy.

If you have practical questions about how sessions are joined, you are welcome to ask them during your consultation.

Is online counseling private?

What you share in counseling is kept confidential, within limits your counselor can explain, in the same way as in-person counseling. Appointment scheduling, intake, and client access take place through Headway, a separately operated platform with its own privacy practices. This website does not collect health information.

Privacy also depends on where you are. Choosing a private space, using headphones, and using your own device and network when possible can help. If you have questions about how sessions are conducted, you are welcome to ask during your consultation.

Can couples attend counseling online?

Yes. Couples Counseling is one of the practice’s areas of focus, and like all sessions it currently takes place by telehealth.

During a consultation, you and your partner can talk about how online sessions would work for both of you, including where each of you would join from.

Do you offer in-person sessions?

Not at this time. In-person counseling starts in December 2026. Our new office is at Palmer Office Executive Suites, 8586 Potter Park Drive, Suite 101, Sarasota, FL 34238, serving the Sarasota area, including Osprey, Venice, Palmer Ranch, Nokomis, and Siesta Key.

Until it opens, all sessions take place by telehealth.

More answers about insurance, fees, and getting started are on the frequently asked questions page.

Ready to take the next step?

You don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out. A consultation can help you explore whether counseling is a good fit for your needs.

Currently accepting new clients

Questions about cost or coverage? See insurance and fees, or contact the practice.