Mental health care in America has a representation problem. Studies show that BIPOC and LGBTQIA individuals are significantly more likely to report feeling misunderstood or dismissed in therapy—if they can find culturally competent providers at all. Growing Center Counseling LLC is building a practice model designed specifically to address that gap.
Founded by Stephanie Safos-Moriarty, a licensed clinician with more than two decades in behavioral health, the Florida-based practice has quietly established itself as a multi-state provider of trauma-informed therapy services that prioritize identity-affirming care. Licensed across Florida, Virginia, Connecticut, and Washington, the telehealth practice serves adults navigating anxiety, depression, life transitions, and relationship challenges—particularly those who’ve struggled to find therapists who understand the intersection of identity, culture, and mental health.
Beyond Symptom Management
What distinguishes the practice clinically is its integration of talk therapy with somatic-based techniques—an approach that aims for what Safos-Moriarty calls “root-level healing” rather than temporary symptom relief. The model emphasizes helping clients develop both cognitive insight and embodied resilience, a framework that requires more time and clinical sophistication than the brief intervention models many insurance-driven practices employ.
This woman and minority-owned practice has carved out a niche among high-functioning professionals and individuals in transitional life phases who are willing to invest in longer-term therapeutic relationships. The LGBTQIA-affirming mental health services offered aren’t positioned as a specialty add-on, but as foundational to how care is delivered across the board.
Scaling a Mission-Driven Model
Now, Growing Center Counseling is preparing for its next phase: transitioning from a solo practice into a full group model. The expansion isn’t just about adding clinicians—it’s about creating a structured mentorship pathway for emerging therapists, particularly women, who are committed to culturally responsive care.
The move reflects broader shifts in how independent practices are thinking about growth. Rather than simply increasing client volume, the focus is on building sustainable infrastructure that can support both clinicians and clients across state lines. With telehealth eliminating geographic barriers, practices like this one are able to serve underserved populations without requiring clients to live near a major metro area.
The planned expansion includes upgrades to operational systems, strategic marketing, and community partnerships designed to increase both client capacity and clinical training opportunities. It’s a model that positions affirming counseling services not as a niche offering, but as a scalable, ethically grounded business structure.
For an industry still grappling with workforce shortages and access inequities, the trajectory of practices like Growing Center Counseling offers a glimpse of what intentional growth can look like—rooted in clinical excellence, cultural competence, and a long-term vision for expanding equitable access to care.