I'm Thomas Luster, but most people call me Tommy. I'm the founder of Striving Higher Counseling in Sarasota, a Florida Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, and a pastor with more than 20 years of ministry experience. Originally from Stow, Ohio, I moved to Florida in 2012. My background as a professional athlete and pastoral ministry has shaped how I understand adversity, relationships, and the importance of growth. I founded Striving Higher Ministries in 2011, where I have provided pastoral leadership, church planting, consulting, and leadership development. Today, through Striving Higher Counseling, I provide in-person individual, couples, and family counseling in Sarasota and telehealth across Florida.

Striving Higher Counseling is grounded in this mission: "Striving Relationships. Healing People. A Higher Tomorrow."

We pursue that mission by providing "A Safe Place to Strive Forward. A Brave Space to Face the Growth to Go Higher."

Outside of counseling and ministry, I'm a husband, a dog dad to two rescue pups, and someone who enjoys staying active. I'm also a Toys "R" Us kid at heart. Whether it's DC Comics, anime, gaming, football, MMA, or car shows, I have plenty of interests that keep life entertaining. I especially enjoy discovering new places with my wife, traveling, and embracing what the future may hold.

"Striving Higher Counseling is a private-pay practice and does not accept insurance. Upon request, I can provide a superbill—an itemized receipt for counseling services—that you may submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Reimbursement is not guaranteed; please contact your insurer to confirm your plan’s coverage and eligibility requirements."

Sometimes the hardest part of moving forward is understanding why certain emotions, behaviors, or relationship patterns keep showing up—even when you've worked hard to respond differently. You may be carrying pain from childhood, struggling to trust after betrayal, grieving a loss, or feeling disconnected from yourself or someone you love. Perhaps you understand what you're experiencing but haven't figured out how to move beyond it. Whatever brings you to counseling, I believe your experiences deserve to be understood within the full context of your life.

My approach is integrative, drawing on Gestalt, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Person-Centered theories, with attachment-based, narrative, and trauma-informed perspectives as needed. Rather than fitting you into one particular counseling model, I tailor our work to your experiences, needs, and goals.

Together, we explore how your past experiences, beliefs, emotions, and relationships shape how you see yourself and respond to the world around you. For individuals, this may involve recognizing protective patterns, processing unresolved pain, rebuilding confidence, or developing healthier boundaries. For couples, it may mean looking beyond recurring arguments to understand the emotions and patterns driving disconnection, then working toward healthier communication, accountability, and rebuilding trust. For families, we explore how communication, expectations, and past experiences shape interactions, then practice clearer boundaries and more constructive ways of responding to one another.

I also approach counseling from a psychopneumasomatic perspective, recognizing the interconnectedness of mind, spirit, and body. As a Christian counselor, I believe every person is created in God's image and deserves dignity, respect, and compassionate care. My faith shapes how I approach others, but I respect each client's beliefs and autonomy. When invited and aligned with your goals, I incorporate prayer, Scripture, and explicit conversations about faith.

My style is compassionate, collaborative, and direct. I believe counseling should provide room for honest conversations, meaningful reflection, practical growth, and even a little humor along the way. I'll walk alongside you in the process, but I won't shy away from appropriately challenging the patterns that may be keeping you stuck.

My primary focus is helping individuals and couples navigate trauma, grief and loss, and relationship struggles, particularly when painful experiences from the past continue to influence the present. This includes childhood adversity, attachment wounds, betrayal, broken trust, family conflict, identity struggles, and the emotional impact of significant life changes.

Other areas of interest include men's mental health; anxiety and depression; emotional regulation; self-worth; values and boundaries; premarital counseling; and spiritual concerns.

I also have a heart for working with teens, young adults, at-risk youth, individuals with foster care and adoption histories, ministry leaders, and athletes navigating identity, relationships, personal challenges, and life transitions.

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(941) 667-7455

strivinghighercounseling.com

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• Sarasota Office
• Virtual
• Fl Virtual
• In-person

In-person: M: 4pm-8pm / W: 10am-3pm / F: 11am-7pm

Virtual: T: 11am -5pm / Th: 3pm-6pm / F: 4pm-6pm

• Male

• English

• Individuals
• Couples
• Families

• Preteens/Tweens (11 to 13)
• Adolescents/Teenagers (14 to 19)
• College Students & Adults of All Ages
• Young Adults
• Women
• Men
• Couples

• $76 - 100 per hour

• $126 - $150 per hour
• $151 - $175 per hour
• $176 - $200 per hour

2011 - Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Justice Studies, Kent State University

2020 - Master’s Degree in Ministerial Leadership, with a concentration in Leadership Development, Southeastern University

2026 - Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling, Southeastern University - Inducted into the Alpha Chi Honors Society

Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (RMHCI), Florida Registration #IMH29804

Graduate clinical training through counseling practicum and internships, with an integrative focus on individual, couples, and family counseling. Additional background includes more than 20 years of pastoral ministry, leadership development, and work with at-risk, neglected, and abused youth and their families.