FAQ

Information about Therapy

How Do I Know If Therapy Is Right For Me?

Many people have found that therapy helps them relieve stress and cope with everyday challenges and past negative experiences.

It can be overwhelming to begin therapy.  At Bloom we provide validation and support to each client to make every session as comfortable as possible.

Therapy helps us by addressing the past, present, and future related to our thoughts, feelings, beliefs, experiences, and behaviors. 

Through therapy you can develop insight into causes of uncomfortable feelings or negative beliefs about yourself, learn to approach the past with more acceptance, prevent past patterns continuing, develop healthy relationships and skills, and foster positive future life experiences.

At Bloom we meet you where you are at, and help move you towards where you want to be.

How Do I Get Started?

Contact us for a free and confidential phone consultation.

The consultation will involve a brief call with our administrative assistant. She will briefly gather information about you or your loved one, the goals of treatment, and personal needs. This is done to ensure that clients are paired with the Bloom therapist that is the best fit for them.

How Can I Prepare Before My Sessions?

Prior to your therapeutic intake session you will be asked to complete intake paperwork in Therapy Notes' Client Portal, and if using insurance also Headway's Client Portal.

During your intake session your therapist will review important Bloom information, your identified symptoms and reasons for seeking treatment, relevant life history, and your treatment goals. 

It is our role as your therapist to help make this session comfortable for you. Therefore, you are not expected to have all of the answers. 

After the intake session your therapist will discuss your recommended frequency of sessions and treatment methods, which will change over the course of your treatment based on your progress and needs.

We do encourage you to let us know if there are ways we can make therapy a better experience for you at any point in your treatment.

How Will I Feel After Sessions?

While therapy is beneficial, there are inherent risks. Clients will discuss personal issues in sessions that may bring uncomfortable emotions, such as anger, guilt, anxiety, and sadness, to the surface. We recommend verbalizing any uncomfortable emotions that arise during or after session with your therapist.

The benefits of therapy can far outweigh any discomfort encountered during the process, however. Some of the benefits are improved personal relationships, reduced feelings of emotinal distress, and specific problem solving.

Progress in treatment is dependent on client's motivation and follow-through, symptomology, therapeutic relationship, treatment methods, and services. While we can not guarantee benefits or predict length of treatment, it is our goal and desire to work with our clients to attain each client's personal goals for therapy and utilize the most clinically appropriate treatment methods and services.

Information about Services at Bloom

What Types Of Sessions Are Available?

Bloom offers both in-person and virtual sessions. In-person sessions are located in Stuart, Florida, while virtual sessions are available to state-wide across Florida.


We offer individual and group therapeutic sessions. Sessions typically are 1 hour in length, however may be shorter or longer, based on clinical appropriateness.


Bloom does not provide crisis-intervention. If you or a loved one are in need of emergency services please dial 9-1-1. If you or a loved one are in need of mental health crisis services please dial 9-8-8.

What Mental Health Issues Does Bloom Help With?

Bloom specializes in treating anxiety, depression, eating disorders, stress, and trauma for adolescents and adults.


In addition, specific therapists are trained to aid in other mental health concerns including: addictions, Borderline Personality Disorder, burnout, chronic pain/illness, LGBTQIA+ issues, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, maternal mental health, relationship issues, self-harming behaviors, suicidal ideations, and women's issues.

What Types of Therapy Can I Expect?

Bloom therapists are eclectic and well-trained in their therapeutic approaches. Each therapist brings their own style and training to best support each client's individual needs.

The primary treatment approaches that each therapist utilizes can be found either on their individual page or the Treatment Approaches page. Additional treatment approaches may also be utilized in addition to those mentioned on our website, however all interventions utilized are done so for individualized care and clinical appropriateness.

What Type of Environment Should I Expect For My Session?

We understand the importance of being in a safe and comfortable environment when dealing with your mental health, therefore at our office in Stuart we have created a cozy, inclusive, and private office environment.

Our staff welcomes people of ALL sizes, colors, cultures, sexes, ages, beliefs, religions, types, and abilities. 

In Stuart, we are located on the second floor, accessible by stairs and elevators. Our office has a private entrance, gender neutral bathroom, and size-inclusive furniture. We utilize sound machines to maintain privacy and a sense of calm throughout the office, while our interior decor was designed to provide comfort and warmth.

We welcome client and staff's service and emotional support animals, therefore if you have phobias of animals please discuss this with your therapist, so they can ensure your sessions occur when no animals are expected to attend.

At this time our St. Augustine office is located inside Three Branches: A Center for Wholeness. While we are renting space here, we are not affiliated with this practice. Therefore, we are unable to adjust decor and furnishings at this location.

For virtual therapeutic sessions, all sessions are held through HIPAA compliant versions of either Google Meets, Psychology Today, or Zoom. 

Financial Information

Should I Pay Privately Or Use Insurance?

Choosing whether or not to use your health insurance for mental health services is completely up to you.  To make an educated decision, please review the benefits of each option.

Benefits of Paying Privately:

Benefits of using Insurance:

What Are The Fees?

Session rates are dependent on both the clinician and session type. Our clinician's rates reflect their experience, credentials, and specializations. Therefore, our rates range from $75 to $175 per session hour.


In addition to self-pay options, specific therapists are in-network with Aetna, Cigna, Oscar, Oxford, United Healthcare, and UMR


We are NOT in-network with any Medicare or Medicaid plans, even those connected through private insurance plans. We are able to accept Employee Assistant Program (EAP) plans through only specific Cigna and Optum plans.


For all other insurances (such as Florida Blue) or therapists that are not in-network with the above insurance companies we will gladly submit out-of-network claims to your insurance on your behalf if you wish to seek reimbursement. Please call the number on the back of your card to discuss your coverage.


More specific information regarding your fee can be provided during your consultation.

Do You Have a Sliding Scale?

We understand that finances can become a barrier in treatment. If this is the case for you there is an application you can submit for a fee reduction. Reductions are based on availability as well as financial need, therefore we cannot guarantee a specific reduction until the application is reviewed.


In addition, there are programs, such as Fund Recovery, that provide financial assistance to individuals in need of financial support for our services.


If cannot in need of a heavy fee reduction we recommend looking at community or non-profit mental health agencies that receive funding to allow them the ability to provide minimally priced services.

Information about Therapist Credentials

What Does "LCSW" Or "LMHC" Mean?

There are a variety of credentials that allow a professional to provide mental health therapy, the differences are in education and training.

Specifically, Licensed Clinical Social Workers or LCSW's and Licensed Mental Health Counselors or LMHC's are professionals that can offer mental health therapy.  

The social work framework for mental health therapy takes into account not only the individual client's emotional and psychological makeup, but also social and environmental factors that impact the well-being of the client.  

The mental health counseling framework is a holistic mental health process with attention to contextual influences on a client's life.  It focuses on the strengths and wellness of the person, identification of their individual stressors and level of functioning, and preservation or restoration of their mental health.

LCSW's and LMHC's must have a Master's degree in their relevant field and fulfill state licensure requirements, such as an examination, trainings, clinical experience, and supervision.

At Bloom, we have both LCSW's, Karen Moore and Alyssa Hickey, and LMHC's, Melissa Lichtenberger and Sydney Reese.

What Does "CEDS" Or "CEDS-C" Mean?

Professionals who demonstrate clinical expertise in eating disorders are eligible for the credential of Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS).  

Individuals with the International Association for Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp) Certification designations (CEDS) are health care professionals who have met rigorous educational, work experience, and skill requirements, have made a commitment to stay abreast of current developments in the field through continuing education, and have agreed to comply with the Association's ethical principles.

iaedp offers the most widely respected certification process for specializing in eating disorder treatment.

At Bloom, Karen Moore is a CEDS-C, and Sydney Reese, Alyssa Hickey, Melissa Lichtenberger, and Elizabeth Rubin are all actively in the process of obtaining the CEDS credential.

iaedp Approved Consultants (CEDS-C), such as Karen, are professionals that have previously obtained a CEDS and are approved through iaedp to provide consultation hours to other professionals seeking the CEDS designation. 

Due to the multi-disciplinary work required to treat eating disorders, CEDS-C are able to provide consultation to those outside of their profession seeking a CEDS. For example, Karen can provide CEDS-C supervision to therapists, RDN's, and medical professionals.

Additionally, as iaedp is an International Association, CEDS consultation can be provided across state and national lines.

What Does "RCSWI" Or "Licensed Eligible Therapist" Mean?

Licensed eligible therapists are professionals that can offer mental health therapy.  They are individuals that are actively pursuing credentialing as a licensed therapist.  There are various  titles for licensed eligible therapists, dependent on their Master's degree.  Specifically, Elizabeth Rubin is a Registered Clinical Social Work Intern (RCSWI).  

RCSWI's are individuals that are actively pursuing the credentialing of Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). RCSWI's must have a Master's degree from an accredited social work program with specific graduate level coursework and practicum hours, obtain clinical experience, and weekly qualified supervision. 

What Does "Masters Level Intern", "MFTI", or "CMHI" Mean?

Masters level interns are individuals enrolled in an accredited therapeutic Master's program that can offer mental health therapy. They have completed all prerequisites required by their graduate programs to participate in obtaining their clinical experience with qualified supervision at both their university and Bloom.

There are various titles for masters level interns, dependent on their Master's degree.  Specifically, Raquel Rojas is a Marriage and Family Therapy Intern (MFTI) and Aubrey Oughterson is a Clinical Mental Health Intern (CMHI).  

Raquel is enrolled in Touro University Worldwide's Marriage and Family Therapy Graduate Program. This program is accredited by COAMFTE (Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Famiyl Therapy Education).

Aubrey is enrolled in Wake Forest University's Clinical Mental Health Graduate Program. This program is accredited by CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).


1111 SE Federal Highway

Suite 206

Stuart, Florida  34994


150 Kent Road

Suite 1B

St. Augustine, Florida  32086


772-212-2935


contact@bloomMHhealing.com

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