Frequently Asked Questions | Real Talk Therapy Florida

This Real Talk Therapy FAQ page answers common questions about therapy with Rebecca Sotero, LCSW, including anxiety therapy, burnout therapy, therapy for high achievers, college students, fees, insurance, and virtual therapy in Florida.

Real Talk Therapy FAQ | General Questions

What is Real Talk Therapy?

Real Talk Therapy is a Florida-based virtual therapy practice founded by Rebecca Sotero, LCSW. The practice specializes in anxiety, burnout, boundaries, and therapy for high-achieving professionals, college students, and young adults. The approach is direct, practical, and focused on real change rather than surface-level support.

Where is Real Talk Therapy located?

Real Talk Therapy is based in Florida and offers virtual therapy statewide. Limited in-person sessions are available in the Jacksonville area. Walk and Talk sessions are also available on a limited basis.

Are we accepting new clients?

Yes. New clients can begin with a free 15-minute consultation. Schedule a Consultation to get started.

What is our phone number?

904-898-6637

What is the email for Real Talk Therapy?

[email protected]

What can I expect in a first session?

The first session is a chance to talk through what’s been going on, what you’ve tried, and what you’re hoping to get out of therapy. It’s also a chance for you to get a feel for whether this is the right fit. There’s no pressure to have everything figured out before you show up.

How long are sessions?

Sessions are 50 minutes.

How often will we meet?

Most clients start with weekly sessions, especially in the beginning. Frequency can shift over time depending on where you are in the process and what makes sense for your schedule.

Do I have to commit to a certain number of sessions?

No. The goal is always progress, not indefinite therapy. You and Rebecca will check in regularly on how things are going and what makes sense to continue working on.

What is the goal of therapy at Real Talk Therapy?

The goal is never to keep you in therapy forever. It’s to help you build the awareness, skills, and confidence to get to a point where you don’t need it. Most clients start noticing real shifts within the first several sessions.

About Rebecca Sotero

Who is Rebecca Sotero?

Rebecca Sotero is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Florida and the founder of Real Talk Therapy. She has over 14 years of experience helping individuals navigate anxiety, burnout, boundaries, and life transitions. She is known for her direct, practical, and honest approach to therapy.

What are Rebecca Sotero’s credentials?

Rebecca Sotero holds a MA and MSW and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Florida, license number SW21063. She is also a Qualified Supervisor for Registered Social Work Interns and a graduate of Capella University (MSW, 2019).

What is Rebecca Sotero’s therapy style?

Direct, honest, and practical. Rebecca is not here to just listen while you vent. Sessions focus on what’s actually driving the patterns, what’s happening in your nervous system, and building real skills you can use outside of session. There’s usually some laughing, sometimes some hard conversations, and always a focus on moving forward.

What therapy approaches does Rebecca Sotero use?

Rebecca integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Polyvagal Theory and nervous system regulation, mindfulness-based techniques, and psychoeducation. This combination helps clients understand what’s happening in their brain and body and actively change patterns that aren’t working.

Who does Rebecca Sotero work with?

Rebecca works with high-achieving professionals, college students, and young adults dealing with anxiety, burnout, people-pleasing, and boundary issues. Most clients are still functioning well on the outside but feel overwhelmed, stuck, or exhausted underneath. Learn more on the About Rebecca page.

Anxiety Therapy

What is anxiety therapy?

Anxiety therapy focuses on understanding how anxiety functions in both the brain and body, not just managing symptoms in the moment. At Real Talk Therapy, anxiety therapy includes nervous system regulation, identifying triggers and patterns, reducing overthinking, and building practical skills to shift out of survival mode. Learn more about Anxiety and Nervous System Regulation Therapy.

What are the signs of anxiety?

Anxiety can show up as racing thoughts, chest tightness, difficulty focusing, procrastination, overthinking, irritability, trouble relaxing, or a constant sense that something is wrong even when things are objectively fine. It can also cause physical symptoms like a racing heart, nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath.

What is a panic attack?

A panic attack is an intense spike in anxiety that can feel very physical. Common signs include a racing or pounding heart, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, and a sense of dread or urgency that doesn’t have a clear cause. Panic attacks are your nervous system going into full alert mode. They are uncomfortable but not dangerous, and they can be treated through nervous system regulation therapy.

What is nervous system regulation?

Nervous system regulation is learning how to bring your body out of a constant state of high alert so your brain can register that you’re safe. It involves understanding how your stress response works, recognizing early signs of activation, and building skills to shift your system before it spirals. This is different from just coping with anxiety in the moment. It addresses the pattern at the root.

What is the vagus nerve and why does it matter for anxiety?

The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in the body and plays a central role in regulating your nervous system’s stress response. When it’s functioning well, it helps your body shift out of fight or flight and back into a calm, regulated state. Polyvagal Theory, one of the approaches used at Real Talk Therapy, focuses on understanding and working with this system to reduce anxiety at the physiological level. You don’t need a science background to benefit from this work.

Can therapy help reduce panic attacks?

Yes. Therapy helps you understand what’s triggering your nervous system, recognize early warning signs before a spike becomes a full panic attack, and build regulation skills that interrupt the cycle. Over time most clients find that panic attacks happen less frequently and feel more manageable when they do occur.

Is it anxiety or am I just an overthinker?

Probably both, and they’re more connected than most people realize. Overthinking is often a symptom of a nervous system that’s stuck in a heightened state of alert. Your brain keeps scanning and analyzing because it’s trying to find and neutralize threats. Addressing the nervous system piece tends to quiet the overthinking too.

Do you offer virtual anxiety therapy in Florida?

Yes. All sessions are held virtually, which means you can get support for anxiety, panic symptoms, and nervous system regulation without adding a commute or rearranging your schedule. Learn more about Anxiety Therapy in Florida.

Burnout and Boundaries

What is burnout therapy?

Burnout therapy focuses on understanding what’s driving the exhaustion and over-functioning, not just managing it. At Real Talk Therapy, burnout therapy addresses the patterns of people-pleasing, over-responsibility, and boundary issues that keep the cycle going. Learn more about Burnout and Boundary Therapy.

How do I know if I’m dealing with burnout or people-pleasing?

They usually come together. Burnout is often the result of sustained people-pleasing, because when you’re chronically saying yes, absorbing others’ emotions, and avoiding conflict, the exhaustion accumulates. If you feel depleted, find it hard to say no, and notice yourself feeling responsible for how everyone around you is doing, you’re likely dealing with both.

Why do I feel guilty when I try to set a boundary?

Because guilt in this context usually isn’t about doing something wrong. It’s about feeling responsible for someone else’s reaction. Most people who struggle with boundaries were taught somewhere along the way that saying no meant letting people down. That sense of responsibility gets attached to the word no, and the guilt that follows isn’t really about guilt at all. It’s misplaced responsibility for someone else’s feelings. That’s something therapy addresses directly.

Can therapy help me stop people-pleasing?

Yes, and it goes deeper than just learning to say no. People-pleasing is rooted in anxiety and in beliefs about what happens when you put your own needs first. In therapy, we look at where that pattern developed, why it made sense at the time, and how to build a different way of relating to others that doesn’t require you to disappear.

Will setting boundaries damage my relationships?

Clear, consistent limits usually improve relationships over time. There may be some discomfort at first, especially if people in your life are used to a version of you that never pushes back. But relationships built on resentment and over-functioning aren’t actually healthy, even when they’re smooth on the surface. Honest communication tends to create more respect and more real connection, not less.

Do you offer virtual burnout therapy in Florida?

Yes. All sessions are held virtually, making it easier to access support without adding more logistics to your week. Learn more about Burnout and Boundary Therapy in Florida.

Therapy for High Achievers

What is therapy for high achievers?

Therapy for high achievers focuses on the specific patterns that show up when someone is used to performing at a high level but is quietly running on empty. This includes high-functioning anxiety, burnout, over-responsibility, and the inability to slow down without feeling like something is wrong. Learn more about Therapy for High Achievers in Florida.

What is high-functioning anxiety?

High-functioning anxiety is when someone appears capable and put-together on the outside while dealing with significant anxiety underneath. They’re still performing, still showing up, still delivering results. But internally they’re overthinking, bracing for the next thing, and running on a nervous system that never fully resets. This is one of the most common presentations Rebecca works with.

Why do high achievers struggle to ask for help?

Because they’ve always been able to push through. Asking for help can feel like admitting failure, especially for someone who has built their identity around being the capable, reliable one. But pushing through is not the same as actually managing your nervous system. And at some point the gap between how capable you are and how functional you feel becomes impossible to ignore.

Is this therapy right for professionals in high-stress careers?

Yes. Many clients are professionals in healthcare, leadership, and other demanding careers who are used to being the reliable one and are tired of carrying everything alone. Therapy is practical and structured, focused on real-life application and not just talking through problems. Learn more about Therapy for High Achievers and Professionals.

What makes this therapy different from general therapy?

This work is specifically focused on high-functioning individuals who are used to pushing through stress. Most therapists aren’t trained to work with people who are still performing at a high level while quietly falling apart underneath. Therapy at Real Talk Therapy is practical, structured, and focused on real pattern change, not just coping strategies to get through the week.

Therapy for College Students and Young Adults

Do you offer therapy for college students in Florida?

Yes. Rebecca works with high-achieving college students, recent graduates, and young adults who are starting to feel the limits of the strategies that got them this far. All sessions are held virtually which means you can get support from your dorm, your apartment, or wherever you are. Learn more about Therapy for College Students and Young Adults.

Why is senior year so much harder than freshman year?

Because the stakes are higher, the structure is looser, and the future starts to feel real in a way it didn’t before. A lot of high achievers have been running on a system that depends on external pressure and clear deadlines. Senior year is often the first time that system starts to show its limits.

Why do I procrastinate even when I care about the outcome?

Procrastination is almost never about laziness. It’s usually about anxiety, overwhelm, or a nervous system that avoids tasks that feel high-stakes. Your brain is trying to protect you from the discomfort of potentially failing at something that matters. Understanding that changes how you approach it.

I graduated and got the job. Why do I feel so lost?

Because the transition out of college is genuinely one of the most disorienting life changes there is and almost nobody prepares you for it. You spent your entire life in a structure that told you what to do, when to do it, and how to measure success. Losing that practically overnight is hard in a way that has nothing to do with how capable or grateful you are. Therapy for young adults helps you figure out what comes next when the roadmap runs out.

Do you work with clients who have ADHD?

Yes. Whether you have a formal diagnosis or are just starting to wonder if that might be part of the picture, therapy is a place to understand how your brain actually works and build strategies around that. For a formal ADHD evaluation, your campus health center or primary care provider can point you in the right direction.

I’ve always had to work harder than it seemed like I should. Is that normal?

It’s more common than you think, especially for high achievers. A lot of people have been compensating for anxiety or attention difficulties for years without realizing it because they were smart enough and motivated enough to push through. Therapy is a place to start understanding what’s actually driving that pattern.

Fees, Insurance, and Sessions

How much do sessions cost?

Individual sessions are $150 and couples sessions are $250. Private pay clients can schedule directly through SimplePractice.

Does Real Talk Therapy take insurance?

For those who prefer to use insurance, Rebecca is accessible through Headway, which works with a number of major providers including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Oscar Health, and Oxford. You can check your coverage and schedule through Rebecca’s Headway profile. Out-of-network clients can request a superbill for potential reimbursement.

How do I know if my insurance is accepted?

The easiest way to check is through Rebecca’s Headway profile, which will show you whether your plan is in-network before you book.

What is a superbill?

A superbill is a detailed receipt you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement if Rebecca is out of network with your plan. Not all plans reimburse for out-of-network therapy, so it’s worth checking with your insurance provider before your first session.

How long are sessions?

Sessions are 50 minutes.

How often will we meet?

Most clients start with weekly sessions, especially in the beginning. Frequency can shift over time depending on where you are in the process and what makes sense for your schedule and goals.

How do I get started?

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation using the button on the contact page. From there, Rebecca will be in touch to confirm next steps.

Virtual Therapy in Florida

How does virtual therapy work?

Sessions are held through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. You’ll receive a link before each session and can join from your phone, tablet, or computer. All you need is a private space and a reliable internet connection.

Is virtual therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Research consistently shows that virtual therapy is as effective as in-person therapy for most presentations, including anxiety, burnout, and boundary issues. Many clients find it easier to open up from the comfort of their own space. You can read more about the research on virtual therapy effectiveness from the American Psychological Association.

Is virtual therapy private and confidential?

Yes. Sessions are conducted through a HIPAA-compliant platform and are subject to the same confidentiality standards as in-person therapy. Your information is never shared without your consent, with limited exceptions required by law.

Where in Florida do you offer virtual therapy?

Virtual therapy is available to anyone located in Florida, statewide. Whether you’re in Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, or anywhere else in the state, you can access therapy without a commute.

Do you offer in-person sessions?

Limited in-person sessions are available in the Jacksonville area. Walk and Talk sessions are also available on a limited basis. Reach out through the contact page for availability.

What do I need for a virtual therapy session?

A private space where you won’t be interrupted, a device with a camera and microphone, and a reliable internet connection. That’s it. You can join from home, your car, your office, or wherever feels most comfortable.