Katie Bernard

If anxiety or insomnia has left you feeling mentally exhausted, stuck in overthinking, or unable to fully settle down, therapy can help you understand what is keeping the cycle going and begin responding differently.

I’m Katie Bernard, a Florida Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and practical, evidence-based therapy for anxiety. I work with adults experiencing chronic insomnia, difficulty falling or staying asleep, anxiety about sleep, racing thoughts, panic attacks, perfectionism, overthinking, and persistent worry.

For insomnia, I use CBT-I, a structured treatment that goes beyond basic sleep hygiene by addressing the thoughts, behaviors, and anxiety that can maintain chronic sleep problems. Treatment may include improving sleep consistency, strengthening sleep drive, changing patterns that reinforce wakefulness, and developing healthier responses to nighttime waking and worry about sleep.

My approach to anxiety draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), exposure-based strategies, DBT-informed skills, and other evidence-based methods based on each client’s needs. Therapy is not limited to talking about anxiety or learning temporary coping strategies. We work to understand the patterns keeping anxiety going, reduce avoidance and reassurance-seeking, build tolerance for uncertainty and discomfort, and help you feel less controlled by your thoughts and emotions.

My style is warm, straightforward, practical, and collaborative. I work especially well with adults who value logic, tend to overthink or problem-solve, and want therapy that balances useful tools with space to understand the deeper patterns affecting them.

I provide online therapy to adults throughout Florida and offer limited in-person sessions in Lakewood Ranch, near Sarasota and Bradenton.

I offer a free initial phone call to make sure we're a good fit. You can also visit my website BernardCounseling.com to learn more about what to expect. All of my sessions are done on a secure video platform and I offer online scheduling. If you’re ready to get the help you need call me at 941-216-5464.