The psychologists at Davenport Psychology have been voted Best Psychologist in Venice, FL four consecutive years (2021–2024) in the Best of Venice readers’ choice awards conducted by the Venice Gondolier Sun. This recognition from our community reflects more than a decade of combined doctoral-level clinical experience dedicated to serving Venice, North Port, Englewood, and surrounding South Sarasota County communities.
Being recognized as the top psychology practice in Venice year after year is a responsibility we take seriously. For our team, this award validates our commitment to providing evidence-based psychological care that is grounded in genuine expertise, compassion, and accessibility. It also reflects something important about the people who voted for us — they value quality, trust, and lasting therapeutic relationships with psychologists who truly understand the needs of this community.
What Makes a Great Psychologist? Understanding the Standards That Matter
Choosing a psychologist is one of the most personal decisions a person can make. Research consistently shows that the quality of the therapeutic relationship, known as the therapeutic alliance, is one of the strongest predictors of positive treatment outcomes (Norcross & Lambert, 2018). But a strong relationship alone is not enough — it needs to be supported by clinical expertise and evidence-based methods.
The American Psychological Association defines evidence-based practice in psychology as the integration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient characteristics, culture, and preferences. This means a qualified psychologist does not rely on a single approach but draws from the full spectrum of validated therapeutic techniques to meet each client where they are.
At Davenport Psychology, every clinician holds a doctoral degree in psychology — a Psy.D. or Ph.D. This distinction matters. Doctoral-level training includes thousands of supervised clinical hours, comprehensive study of psychological assessment and diagnosis, and rigorous preparation in differential diagnosis that allows our team to distinguish between conditions with overlapping symptoms such as ADHD, anxiety disorders, and trauma responses. You can learn more about the qualifications and specializations of each psychologist on our team page.
Four Years of Community Trust: Our Best of Venice Journey
The Venice Gondolier Sun’s Best of Venice award is determined entirely by readers’ votes — the people who live, work, and seek care in this community. Earning this distinction once is meaningful. Earning it four consecutive years reflects a sustained pattern of clinical excellence and client satisfaction that cannot be manufactured.
Our Venice office at 200 Capri Isles Blvd, Suite 7G, is conveniently located off I-75 near Plantation Golf and Country Club. The location was chosen deliberately to serve South County residents — from Venice and South Venice to North Port, Englewood, Nokomis, and Osprey — without requiring the drive into Sarasota. Ground-floor accessibility and ample free parking ensure that getting to your appointment is one less thing to worry about.
In addition to the Venice Gondolier recognition, Davenport Psychology was recently named Best Psychologist/Therapist in Sarasota by readers of SRQ Magazine in their Best of SRQLocal competition. Our Sarasota office at 1608 Oak Street serves the greater Sarasota area including Downtown, Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, and the barrier islands. Together, our two locations ensure that comprehensive doctoral-level psychological care is accessible throughout Sarasota County.
Our Approach: Doctoral-Level Care, Personalized Treatment
What sets Davenport Psychology apart is our unwavering commitment to doctoral-level expertise for every client interaction. Unlike practices that staff primarily with master’s-level counselors or interns, our team of licensed psychologists consists exclusively of licensed psychologists and psychology fellows with doctoral degrees. Research published in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice suggests that doctoral-level training provides clinicians with broader diagnostic competency and deeper grounding in the scientific foundations of treatment (Baker & Benjamin, 2000).
Our practice was founded by Dr. Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., a University of Florida graduate and alumnus of Sarasota’s Pine View School with over 20 years of clinical experience. Dr. Davenport’s vision was to create a practice where every client receives care from a doctoral-level psychologist using the most effective evidence-based methods available — not a one-size-fits-all model.
Our practice integrates multiple evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and trauma-focused approaches. This flexibility allows us to match treatment to the individual rather than forcing a standardized protocol. The National Institute of Mental Health recognizes that effective psychotherapy often involves tailoring approaches to the specific condition and individual needs of the client.
We offer a comprehensive range of psychological services including individual therapy for adults, couples counseling, child and adolescent therapy, psychological testing for ADHD, autism, learning disorders, and gifted/twice-exceptional identification, family therapy, and sports psychology. Each service is delivered by doctoral-level clinicians who match their approach to the individual, not the other way around.
Why Venice Residents Choose Davenport Psychology
Living in Venice and South Sarasota County presents unique mental health considerations that our psychologists understand from years of serving this community. From managing the stress of hurricane seasons to navigating retirement transitions and the social dynamics of seasonal population shifts, our clinicians tailor treatment to the specific realities of coastal living in Southwest Florida.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that nearly one in five U.S. adults experiences mental illness in any given year, yet fewer than half receive treatment. Common barriers include stigma, difficulty finding qualified providers, and long wait times. At Davenport Psychology, we address these barriers directly: our psychologists answer the phone personally, we offer same-day and next-day appointments when available, and we maintain a practice environment built on privacy and confidentiality.
We operate as a private-pay practice, accepting payment via cash, check, or Zelle. We provide superbills that many clients successfully submit to their insurance for out-of-network reimbursement. This model ensures that your treatment is determined entirely by your clinical needs and your psychologist’s professional judgment — not by insurance company restrictions on session frequency, duration, or approach. For clients seeking the flexibility of remote care, we offer telehealth services across 40+ states through PSYPACT authorization.
Ready to Take the First Step?
Whether you are seeking support for yourself, your relationship, or your child, our doctoral-level psychologists in Sarasota and Venice are here to help.
Call (941) 702-2457 to schedule a consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the right psychologist in Venice, FL? Look for licensed psychologists with doctoral degrees (Psy.D. or Ph.D.), verified credentials through the Florida Department of Health, and a track record of community trust. Reading patient reviews, checking awards and recognitions, and scheduling an initial consultation to assess fit are all effective steps. At Davenport Psychology, we encourage prospective clients to call us directly to discuss their needs before committing.
What is the difference between a psychologist, therapist, and counselor? A psychologist holds a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) and completes extensive supervised clinical training. Therapists and counselors may hold master’s degrees with varying levels of supervised experience. The APA notes that doctoral training includes advanced coursework in psychological assessment, research methods, and differential diagnosis that distinguishes psychologists from other mental health professionals.
Does Davenport Psychology accept insurance? We operate as a private-pay practice to ensure treatment decisions are based solely on clinical judgment. We accept payment by cash, check, or Zelle and provide superbills for out-of-network insurance reimbursement. Many clients successfully recover a significant portion of their session costs through their insurance.
What ages do you treat at the Venice office? Our Venice office serves clients of all ages. We provide child and adolescent therapy for young people, individual therapy and couples counseling for adults, and specialized services for older adults navigating retirement, health concerns, and life transitions.
Can I see a Davenport Psychology psychologist via telehealth? Yes. Several of our psychologists hold PSYPACT authorization, allowing them to provide telehealth services to clients in 40+ participating states. This is ideal for seasonal residents, travelers, or anyone who prefers the convenience of remote sessions.
References
Baker, D. B., & Benjamin, L. T. (2000). The affirmation of the scientist-practitioner: A look back at Boulder. American Psychologist, 55(2), 241–247. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.2.241
Norcross, J. C., & Lambert, M. J. (2018). Psychotherapy relationships that work III. Psychotherapy, 55(4), 303–315. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000193
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2024). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2023-nsduh-annual-national-report
American Psychological Association. (2006). Evidence-based practice in psychology. American Psychologist, 61(4), 271–285. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.61.4.271
National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Psychotherapies. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies
Florida Department of Health, MQA License Verification. https://mqa-internet.doh.state.fl.us/MQASearchServices/HealthcareProviders
PSYPACT (Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact). https://psypact.gov/
Venice Gondolier Sun. Best of Venice Readers’ Choice Awards. https://www.yoursun.com/contests/best_of_venice/
SRQ Magazine. Best of SRQLocal. https://www.srqmagazine.com/
