Trish Sheffield
Hi, I’m Trish. Life can feel really heavy at times. Whether it’s stress from work, changes in relationships, past experiences that still affect you, or simply feeling stuck, you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. I know how hard it can be to reach out for help. As someone who has utilized therapy myself, I understand how vulnerable it can feel to sit across from someone and share the parts of your life that may feel messy, complicated, or difficult to explain. My goal is to create a space where you can show up as your whole self, without judgment or the pressure to have it all figured out.
I’m an open, compassionate, and neurodivergent-affirming therapist who believes therapy should feel human.
I’m an open, compassionate, and neurodivergent-affirming therapist who believes therapy should feel human. I’ll listen, support you, and offer tools and new perspectives, while also gently challenging you when it can help you move toward your goals. We’ll work at a pace that feels manageable and meaningful for you. And while healing can involve some difficult conversations, I don’t believe therapy has to feel heavy all the time. I like to have fun, laugh, and make room for the lighter moments along the way. Mental wellness and healing are journeys, and I want you to have someone beside you who can hold space for the hard stuff while reminding you that there is still room for joy. My role is to walk alongside you as you gain a deeper understanding of yourself, navigate life’s challenges, and find your way back to feeling more like you.
First session
Starting therapy can feel a little intimidating, especially when you’re not quite sure what to expect. Your first session is a chance for us to get to know each other, talk about what brought you to therapy, and begin identifying what you’d like support with. You can expect a space that is compassionate, down-to-earth, and completely free of judgment. We’ll talk about what’s been going on, what’s working, what’s not, and what you hope will feel different. There’s no pressure to have everything figured out or to share anything before you’re ready. Together, we’ll begin creating goals that feel meaningful and realistic for your life. My role isn’t to tell you what you “should” do, but to listen, offer perspective, and gently challenge you when it can help you move forward. Most importantly, our first session is about beginning to build a relationship where you feel comfortable being yourself. Therapy is a collaborative process, and we’ll work together to find an approach that fits you. I offer virtual sessions, making it easier to prioritize your mental health from the comfort of your own home. No commute, no waiting room, and yes, sweatpants are absolutely welcome.
Strengths
I bring a combination of curiosity, compassion, clinical knowledge, and a genuine interest in helping you understand yourself on a deeper level. I like to incorporate neuroscience into our work when it’s helpful; exploring how your brain may be wired, how your experiences have shaped the way you respond to the world, and why certain patterns may feel so difficult to change. Understanding the “why” behind what you’re experiencing can create a sense of clarity and self-compassion rather than judgment. I’m also comfortable holding space for the hard stuff while gently challenging you when it’s time to look at things differently. I won’t judge you for where you are, but I also won’t simply tell you what you want to hear. My goal is to help you feel supported while encouraging meaningful growth at a pace that feels right for you. Most importantly, I want therapy to be useful beyond our sessions. We’ll explore tangible tools, strategies, and skills that you can actually apply in your everyday life to create lasting change. Because honestly, there’s a difference between venting to a friend and talking to your therapist. Friends can listen, empathize, and tell you what they think. Therapy should give you something more. A trained professional who can help you understand your patterns, build skills, shift perspectives, and support you in making intentional changes. You don’t just deserve a place to talk. You deserve support that helps you move forward.
Ideal clients
My ideal clients are children, teens, adults, couples, and families who are navigating anxiety, trauma, behavior concerns, relationship challenges, or significant life transitions. They may feel overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected, or unsure of how to move forward, but they are curious about therapy and open to exploring what may be contributing to their current struggles. For children and teens, I work with clients who may have difficulty expressing emotions, managing behaviors, navigating friendships, coping with changes, or processing difficult experiences. I believe children communicate in many ways, which is why I use play, creativity, and connection to help them feel safe enough to explore their emotions and develop healthier coping skills. I also work collaboratively with parents and caregivers to support meaningful change beyond the therapy room. With adults, couples, and families, I support clients who want to better understand themselves and their relationships while working through anxiety, trauma, family conflict, communication difficulties, or major life changes. Many of my ideal clients are looking for a therapist who will genuinely listen and create a judgment-free space while also providing gentle encouragement and accountability. I believe therapy should be collaborative, compassionate, and individualized. My approach is centered on meeting clients where they are while helping them identify their strengths, challenge patterns that may no longer be serving them, and work toward meaningful goals at a pace that feels comfortable and achievable. You don't have to know exactly what you need from therapy before you begin. You simply need to be willing to get curious about yourself, your experiences, and what you would like to change. I strive to create a therapeutic relationship where clients feel understood, supported, empowered, and capable of creating lasting change.
Origin story
I’ve always been interested in people, how they think, what shapes them, what they carry, and what helps them feel good within themselves. Life can be beautiful, but it can also be heavy, complicated, and sometimes just plain hard. I became a therapist because I believe that even when life is weighing on you, you deserve to feel supported, understood, and connected to yourself. I’m inspired by the idea that therapy can give people a space to slow down, make sense of what they’re experiencing, and discover that they are capable of more than they may currently believe. I love being able to witness those moments when someone starts understanding themselves differently, finds their voice, feels more confident, or realizes that they don’t have to keep carrying things the same way they always have. For me, being a therapist isn’t about fixing people. It’s about walking alongside them through the messy, meaningful, and sometimes even funny parts of being human. I want my clients to leave therapy not only with tools to navigate life’s challenges, but with a stronger sense of who they are and what it means to feel good on the inside, even when life isn’t going exactly as planned. That’s what continues to inspire me: helping people create lives where they can feel more like themselves, not just get through the day.
Ongoing work together
Therapy isn’t about quick fixes or overnight transformation. Real change often happens gradually, through the small moments that can be easy to overlook. As we work together, you may begin to notice shifts in the way you see yourself, your relationships, or the situations you’re navigating. Progress might look like understanding yourself a little more clearly, responding differently to something that once felt overwhelming, setting a boundary, communicating your needs, or simply noticing a pattern you hadn’t recognized before. You’ll know you’re making progress when the things we explore in therapy begin to show up in your everyday life, even in small ways. I believe the small changes matter. A new perspective, a healthier response, a moment of self-compassion, or one different choice can build on the next and eventually lead to meaningful, lasting change. Our work together will be collaborative and individualized. We’ll regularly check in about what’s changing, what still feels difficult, and whether our work continues to align with your goals. Some seasons may feel like you’re making big strides, while others may feel slower. Both are part of the process. Therapy is not about becoming a completely different person. It’s about developing a deeper understanding of yourself, building tools that support you, and creating changes that feel sustainable for your life. There may not always be one big breakthrough, but the small moments add up.
Treatment methods
Humanistic
In my practice, I use a humanistic approach that honors each client’s inherent worth, strengths, and capacity for growth. I provide a supportive, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore their feelings, make meaning of their experiences, and move toward healing at their own pace.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
In my practice, I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence one another. Together, we identify unhelpful thinking patterns and replace them with more balanced, compassionate perspectives.
Play Therapy
In my practice, play therapy is the foundation of my work with children. I use the therapeutic powers of play to help kids express their feelings, process their experiences, and work through challenges in a way that feels natural, safe, and developmentally appropriate.
Location
Virtual sessions
In-person sessions624 Goodwin St, Jacksonville, FL 32204, suite 2