Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy

Seaside Mental Wellness is located in Lakewood Ranch and provides therapy for women throughout Florida, including Bradenton, Sarasota, and Gulf Coast communities. These frequently asked questions explain how counseling works, what to expect, and whether therapy at Seaside is the right fit for you.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Where is Seaside Mental Wellness located?

Seaside is based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. The mailing address for Seaside Mental Wellness is 8433 Enterprise Circle, Suite 100, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202.

I am licensed in the state of Florida and provide therapy for women throughout Florida, including Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Venice, Naples, and surrounding Gulf Coast communities.

Does Seaside offer in-person or online therapy sessions?

Seaside Mental Wellness is based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida and provides online therapy sessions for women throughout Florida.

All sessions are conducted virtually through Grow Therapy, a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform. This allows you to connect with a licensed mental health counselor from the privacy and comfort of your home.

Whether you live in a vibrant city like St. Pete or Tampa, a quiet little beach town like Anna Maria or Siesta Key, or somewhere in between like Bradenton or Sarasota, emotional support for women is just a click away.

You can schedule directly through any Book Your Appointment link, which will guide you to the platform.

How much does therapy cost?

Private pay sessions at Seaside Mental Wellness are $175 per session.

I am IN NETWORK with over 35 insurance providers, including Aetna, Ambetter, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Florida Blue, Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, Optum, and United Healthcare.

Insurance benefits help therapy become more accessible and affordable.

THERAPY QUESTIONS

Who is Gail Gerbig, LMHC of Seaside Mental Wellness?

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida and the owner of Seaside Mental Wellness.

With nearly 30 years of experience in mental health and medical settings, I specialize in supporting women navigating anxiety, emotional burnout, life transitions, and perimenopause. I also work with therapists and healthcare professionals seeking support for compassion fatigue, professional stress, and midlife transitions.

To read more about my background and professional journey, visit the About Gail Gerbig page.

My approach at Seaside is practical, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy, and the mind-body connection. You can explore more about my clinical style on the Therapeutic Approach page.

I have received local and regional recognition for my work in mental health and have been featured in publications and interviews focused on midlife wellness and emotional resilience. You can view these on the Recognition & Features page.

In addition to providing therapy, I offer educational talks and workshops for wellness communities and professional groups. Learn more on the Speaking & Workshops page.

Who is therapy best for?

Seaside Therapy is best for women who are experiencing anxiety or high stress; navigating life changes like divorce, career changes, retirement, health challenges, or relocation; feeling the toll of perimenopause or menopause; seeking more clarity, confidence, and connection; working on boundaries and a sustainable self-care routine; coping with grief or age-related medical changes; or feeling emotionally overloaded by relationships, careers, and caregiving.

Learn More:

Therapy for Anxiety | Therapy for Life Transitions | Therapy for Perimenopause | Therapy for Therapists

Seaside Therapy is not for women who are experiencing severe depression, suicidal thoughts, thoughts of harming themselves, self-harm behaviors, auditory hallucinations, delusions, history of Baker Acts, mood disorders, personality disorders, complex trauma, substance abuse or gambling addictions.

If you are experiencing a crisis, please contact 988 or your local emergency service.

What can I expect during my first session?

Your first session is a chance to slow down, breathe, reflect, and reconnect with the part of you that has been overlooked.

We’ll spend time connecting on what brought you here, what you’re hoping to change or explore, and what challenges you’ve been carrying. Together, we’ll begin mapping out what healing and support can look like for you.

By the end of the session, you can expect a clearer sense of how we’ll work together, a supportive place to begin processing what’s been weighing on you, and practical next steps to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

How often should I schedule a session?

Women begin with weekly or biweekly sessions to build a strong therapeutic foundation.

Some clients continue with that schedule, while others gradually change to monthly or seasonal check-ins for ongoing therapeutic support.

How long should I be in therapy?

There’s no one-size-fits-all model.

Sessions at Seaside are designed to be sustainable and aligned with what feels right for you — whether you're in a season of change or seeking more consistent therapeutic support.

Some women seek short-term and solution-focused therapeutic support, while other women prefer ongoing therapeutic support throughout midlife.