In a field where finding the right therapist can feel like an impossible search, Growing Center Counseling has built its reputation on being the practice that people find when they’ve been looking for someone who truly understands them. Founded by Stephanie Safos-Moriarty, a licensed clinician with more than two decades of experience in behavioral health, the woman and minority-owned practice has quietly become a go-to resource for adults seeking more than surface-level symptom management.
What started as a solo practice has evolved into a multi-state operation serving clients across Florida, Virginia, Connecticut, and Washington. The telehealth model isn’t just a convenience—it’s a deliberate strategy to expand access to trauma-informed therapy for BIPOC and LGBTQIA individuals who often struggle to find providers trained in culturally responsive care.
Beyond Symptom Management
The practice distinguishes itself through an approach that blends traditional talk therapy with somatic-based techniques. Rather than focusing exclusively on managing anxiety or depression symptoms, Safos-Moriarty’s framework emphasizes what she calls “root-level healing”—addressing the underlying patterns and experiences that drive emotional distress.
This methodology resonates particularly with high-functioning professionals and individuals in major life transitions who have tried therapy before but found it lacking. Many clients come seeking help with identity exploration, relationship challenges, or the complex intersection of cultural background and mental health—areas where generic therapeutic approaches often fall short.
Building a Group Practice Model
With demand consistently outpacing capacity, Growing Center Counseling is now transitioning toward a group practice structure. The expansion goes beyond simply adding therapists to the roster. Safos-Moriarty is developing a mentorship program designed to support emerging clinicians, particularly women, who share the practice’s commitment to affirming and culturally responsive mental health services.
The move addresses two challenges simultaneously: increasing client capacity while creating professional development pathways in a field that often lacks structured mentorship. By training the next generation of therapists in trauma-informed, identity-conscious care, the practice aims to amplify its impact beyond what any single clinician could accomplish alone.
Strategic Positioning in a Growing Market
The multi-state licensing strategy has proven particularly valuable as telehealth becomes standard practice in mental health care. Being able to serve clients across four states provides both stability and flexibility, allowing the practice to maintain continuity of care even as clients relocate or travel.
Looking ahead, the focus remains on controlled growth that doesn’t compromise the relationship-centered approach that defines the practice. The goal isn’t to become the biggest provider, but rather to be known for accessible, high-quality therapy that serves communities often underserved by traditional mental health systems.
For Safos-Moriarty, the expansion represents a natural evolution of the practice’s founding principle: that healing isn’t about fixing what’s broken, but about creating space for authentic growth. As the team grows, that philosophy remains central to everything Growing Center Counseling does.
