Frequently ASKED QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy
ANSWERS TO ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER
frequently asked questions
Questions I Hear from Women Considering Therapy at Seaside
Hi, I'm Gail Gerbig, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida with nearly three decades of experience in medical and mental health settings.
Seaside is SRQ Magazine’s 2026 Platinum Winner for Best Mental Health Service and Guide to Florida’s 2026 Regional Winner for Best Individual Therapist.
If a question isn't answered here, please reach out or schedule a Shoreline Conversation.
Who Seaside is For
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Women, mid-30s through midlife, navigating anxiety, burnout, life transitions, and the emotional side of perimenopause and menopause.
Many women at Seaside are the one everyone else leans on — at work, at home, and in their friend group. They are composed on the outside, but running on empty on the inside.
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Anxiety that's louder than it used to be.
Burnout from years of over-functioning.
Midlife transitions — a marriage ending, a career shifting, kids growing up or leaving, and / or a parent aging.
And the emotional side of perimenopause and menopause: the mood swings, the brain fog, and all the moments you don't feel like yourself.
"I don't feel like myself anymore" is a completely valid reason to reach out.
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Yes — I'll help you to understand how this impacts your mood, stress level and your ability to feel like yourself.
And when something's better addressed by a medical provider such as a primary care physician, a gynecologist, a psychiatrist — I will encourage you to follow up with them.
I'm figuring out my own version of midlife right alongside you — just a step ahead of you on this shoreline.
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Yes. Most of the women I work with are along the Gulf Coast of Florida between Tampa and Naples.
Whether you're in a city like Tampa or St. Pete, a beach town like Anna Maria or Siesta Key, or somewhere in between, sessions are online.
I'm licensed to work with women anywhere in Florida.
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Seaside Mental Wellness is based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.
The mailing address for Seaside is 8433 Enterprise Circle, Suite 100, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202.
Please note that all sessions are completed online through the Grow Therapy platform.
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If you've been "handling it" for a long time and stopped making it onto your own list, you're describing the women I work with.
Most of the women I see are functioning well by every outside measure. That's often the problem.
If you worry that you're overreacting: you're not the first woman to feel this today. And you won't be the last.
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I focus on the everyday overwhelm of high-functioning women in midlife.
Some needs are better cared for by a different provider. I'll help you find that person rather than go beyond what I do well.
That includes:
Mood disorders (like bipolar disorder), personality disorders, and any high-acuity mental illness
Trauma and PTSD as the primary focus of treatment
Addiction and substance use, eating disorders, suicidal ideations, and self-harm
Anything requiring medication management, crisis intervention, or care following a recent hospitalization
If you're navigating any of these, the kindest thing I can do is point you toward a therapist who specializes in this.
If you're in a crisis, please call or text 988, or go to your nearest emergency room.
Getting Started at Seaside
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No, you do not need a referral for therapy. You can reach out and book directly through the Seaside website.
When you click Book Your Appointment, you'll go to the Grow Therapy platform.
Create your profile, verify your insurance benefits, and schedule your first session — all in one place.
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Yes — that is what the Shoreline Conversation is for.
It's a free 15-minute call, by phone or video, with no prep and no obligation: a first step to find out if Seaside is the right fit.
It's simply a way to ask your questions and determine your next steps.
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Our first session is all about getting to know you and understanding what brought you to Seaside.
We'll talk through what's been weighing on your mind and what you're hoping to work towards in the future.
By the end, you'll have a clearer sense of how we'll work together and a few steps to move forward.
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Most women start with weekly or bi-weekly therapy sessions.
Once you're feeling more like yourself, we can move toward the monthly Anchor Sessions or quarterly Compass Check-Ins.
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This looks different for everyone. I can't give you an exact number of sessions.
Some women feel lighter fairly quickly, even after the first few conversations.
When emotions or situations are more complex, it can take more time to work through.
What I can tell you is that we'll work through this together to figure out the best support for you on your journey.
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When you've found your footing, many women change to support that is more spaced out rather than ending altogether.
For established clients, I offer two ways to keep the support you've built in place at a pace that fits where you are in life now: one) monthly Anchor Sessions and two) quarterly Compass Check-Ins.
The Seaside Approach
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Warm, collaborative, and grounded in nearly three decades of clinical experience.
I use a mix of evidence-based approaches — the mind-body connection, cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused, and strengths-based work — depending on what you need that week.
I'm also the daughter of an engineer, so I tend to think in terms of frameworks — usually a pattern of three.
When we're working through a decision, I'll often bring three options to the table instead of one: your top choice, your backup, and your backup to your backup. You'll leave most sessions with something practical to take with you.
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In the beginning, we'll spend time understanding what's going on and what you'd like to be different.
From there, we will talk things through, notice what keeps coming up, and figure out what will help in your day-to-day life.
I won't hand you a one-size-fits-all plan. We'll work through it together. My clients have a name for the moments when something finally clicks — golden nuggets — and those are what we're after.
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Often, yes — but nothing that turns your life into another to-do list.
The point is that the work doesn't stay within our hour together. It stays with you in your everyday, which is where it matters most.
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Yes. Your emotional and physical well-being are connected.
We'll take note of the patterns that affect how you feel day to day — like how you're sleeping, which has a way of impacting everything else, especially through perimenopause.
I'll help you to understand these connections and how they impact your mood, stress level and your ability to feel like yourself.
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A book, an app, or a chatbot can provide you with a technique or an answer in the moment. Sometimes that helps for a little while. But it doesn't truly know you.
Therapy involves having a real relationship with someone — supporting you, guiding you, and when needed telling you the truth even if it's not what you were hoping to hear. That's where the magic happens. The aha moments — the ones that come from someone who actually knows your whole story.
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That's how most of the women I work with feel in the beginning.
So many women reach a point — often somewhere in midlife, perimenopause, or menopause — where they look at their own life and think, I just don't feel like myself anymore.
Foggy, irritable, going through the motions. That's reason enough to reach out.
Privacy & Online Sessions
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Yes. What you bring into our sessions stays between us and is protected under HIPAA.
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We meet over a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. You'll get a link before your session.
All you need is a device, a stable connection, and a quiet space where you can speak freely.
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For what I focus on — anxiety, burnout, life transitions, the emotional side of midlife — yes.
Online therapy can be just as effective as in-person for these concerns.
Many women tell me the connection during our sessions feels just as real onscreen.
Investment & Logistics
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Yes. Gail Gerbig, LMHC of Seaside is in-network with several major plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and United Healthcare.
Because coverage varies by plan, I recommend verifying your insurance benefits through Grow Therapy before you schedule.
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Private-pay sessions are $175.
I provide an itemized bill each month that you can submit to your insurance for any out-of-network reimbursement your plan may offer.
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Sessions are available Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 5 PM EST.
All sessions are online — no commute, no waiting room — so it's easier to schedule a time that fits in your calendar.
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Your session time is reserved just for you so I ask for at least 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel or reschedule.
Sessions canceled with less than 24 hours' notice, along with missed appointments, are subject to a $100 late cancellation fee.
Local to the Gulf Coast
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Yes. Seaside Mental Wellness has been named SRQ Magazine's 2026 Platinum Winner for Best Mental Health Service and 2025 Silver Winner for Best Local Therapist.
Seaside Mental Wellness has also been recognized by the Guide to Florida as the 2026 Regional Winner for Best Therapist and 2025 Regional Winner for Best Therapy Practice.
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Yes — I've been invited to share Seaside's perspective on WENG's Suncoast Show and Dr. Victoria Andarcia’s Healthful Roots podcast.
Seaside has also been featured in Lakewood City Lifestyle's 2025 Health and Wellness Issue as well as Voyage Tampa Magazine.
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Yes. As a client, you'll receive my Preferred Providers Guide — a curated collection of local providers in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, and Sarasota that focus on women's health, functional medicine, bodywork, movement, and more.
The guide is a starting point, not a formal referral or endorsement, to explore additional support and resources that feel aligned with your therapeutic goals.
Ready to Dive In
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When you click any Book Your Appointment, you'll be directed to the Grow Therapy platform.
Create your client profile, verify your insurance benefits, and schedule your first session — all in one place.
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Join The Seaside List and you'll get my FREE guide, “5 Things Worth Knowing When You Feel Anxious and Overwhelmed”, plus occasional notes from Seaside.
You can also follow along at @seasidementalwellness on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.
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If you have any questions, email info@seasidementalwellness.com or call the office at 941.541.3970.
Seaside is based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. Sessions are available online across the state.
the seaside list
From the Shores of Seaside
Join and you'll get the FREE guide “5 Things Worth Knowing When You Feel Anxious and Overwhelmed” — for when everything feels like a lot.
Plus occasional updates, resources, and wellness tools from Seaside delivered straight to your inbox.
find joy in the in-between
Let’s Dive In.
So much of life happens in the in-between.
I would be honored to help you find more balance there — and maybe even some joy. Even on the days it's hard to see.
