Learn more about AIM Counseling through our F.A.Q

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about our mental health services, therapies, and insurance. Learn how to start your healing journey with AIM Counseling.

Getting Started & Appointments

How do I become a new client or schedule an appointment?
  • Fill out our secure New Client Questionnaire.
  • We use your answers to find the best therapist for you.
  • Your therapist will contact you within 1-2 days to schedule.
  • Choose between in-person or online video sessions.

You can also reach out to our team directly via our Contact Us page.

What insurance plans do you accept?
  • We are in-network with: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United Healthcare, Medicare, and Tricare.
  • Note: Insurance does not cover education or skills training services.
  • No insurance? We offer fair self-pay rates and sliding scale options for students and those who need financial help.

Please contact our Billing Administrator for specific questions.

Where are you located and what are your hours?

We are located in Bonita Springs, Florida at:
9200 Bonita Beach Rd SE #106, #210, & #213 Bonita Springs, FL 34135

Our regular hours are:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

View our full Contact details and Map →

How does the therapy process work for young adults (ages 17-29)?

Getting help is easy with our 3-step process:

  • 1. Match: Fill out our secure form to find the right fit.
  • 2. Connect: Your therapist will reach out within 1-2 days.
  • 3. Start: Choose in-person or online sessions to begin feeling better.

Learn more about Young Adult Mental Health Support →

Specialized Therapies & Services

What evidence-based therapies do your clinicians use?

Our team uses proven therapies to help you reach your goals. These include:

  • CBT & TF-CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to change negative thinking, and Trauma-Focused CBT.
  • DBT & REBT: Therapies to help you handle intense emotions and tolerate distress.
  • ERP: Exposure and Response Prevention, highly effective for OCD and severe anxiety.
  • Gottman Method: Proven skills for couples therapy and marriage counseling.

Learn more about our General Patient Services →

How does an Adult ADHD assessment work, and do you look for "masking"?
  • Our two-part ADHD test goes beyond simple surveys. We look deeply at Executive Function (like losing track of time, staying organized, and finding motivation).
  • We also look for the "Perfectionism Mask." This happens when highly capable people hide their ADHD struggles. They work so hard to appear fine that it leads to extreme burnout.

Learn more about Adult ADHD Care → or take our free Adult ADHD Self-Assessment.

What is the "Diagnostic Gap" in Adult ADHD and how does gender affect it?
  • Many adults with ADHD are misdiagnosed with just anxiety or depression. This is the "Diagnostic Gap."
  • Gender plays a big role in how ADHD looks:
    • Men often show active signs, like taking risks or acting restless.
    • Women often show hidden signs, like mental fog and extreme exhaustion from trying to look "perfect."

Read more about the Adult ADHD Diagnostic Gap →

What happens during an EMDR session?
  • EMDR helps the brain unfreeze and heal from trauma.
  • During a session, you focus on a hard memory while following a back-and-forth movement. This is called Bilateral Stimulation (BLS).
  • We may use moving lights, tapping, or alternating sounds. This mimics the brain's natural REM sleep to help heal painful memories so they no longer trigger you.

Learn more about EMDR Therapy →

What should I expect physically and emotionally after an EMDR session?

EMDR kicks off your brain's natural healing process. Because your brain keeps working after the session ends, you might notice:

  • Highly vivid dreams.
  • Brief mood changes or waves of emotion.
  • Feeling physically tired.

These are normal signs that your brain is healing and usually fade in a few days.

Learn more about the 8 Phases of EMDR →

How is Brainspotting different from traditional talk therapy and EMDR?

Brainspotting is based on the idea that "where you look affects how you feel."

  • Vs. Talk Therapy: Talk therapy uses the thinking part of your brain. Brainspotting reaches the deeper, emotional parts where trauma lives.
  • Vs. EMDR: EMDR uses back-and-forth movement. Brainspotting has you hold your gaze on one specific spot. This is great for people who have a hard time talking about their trauma.

Learn more about Brainspotting Therapy →

How does Schema Therapy heal emotional wounds?

Schema Therapy helps break deep, self-defeating habits using four steps:

  • 1. Relationship Building: The therapist models safe, healthy support.
  • 2. Emotional Healing: Using guided imagery to rewrite painful childhood memories.
  • 3. Thinking Changes: Using flashcards and facts to break down false beliefs.
  • 4. Behavior Changes: Practicing new, healthy habits in real life.

Learn more about Schema Therapy →

How do you help with the physical stress of a divorce?

Major life changes can force your body into "fight-or-flight" mode. This causes deep physical exhaustion and tension.

We don't just talk about the sadness. We use mindfulness and gentle movement to help your body release trapped stress and feel safe again.

Learn more about Mental Health Support for Divorce →

Do you offer mental health support for athletes and sports teams?

Yes! We offer Mental Performance Coaching to help athletes at all levels. We help you:

  • Manage performance anxiety.
  • Overcome the fear of getting hurt again.
  • Build mental toughness.

We offer private 1-on-1 coaching and team workshops. Learn more about Athlete Coaching or Sports Teams Performance.

Pediatric, Youth & Group Programs

What does the pediatric assessment process look like?

Before starting therapy, we do a thorough check-in. We gather details about your child's:

  • Mental health and medical history.
  • School and social life.
  • Family patterns or past traumas.

We also use simple surveys to check for anxiety, depression, and learning needs. Learn more about Pediatric Mental Health →

What is a Trauma Trigger Safety Plan for children?

We help children and teens create a custom Safety Plan. This plan points out what triggers them and gives them simple, concrete steps to calm down when they feel upset or unsafe.

Explore our Pediatric Support →

Do you work with neurodivergent or twice-exceptional (2e) children?

Yes. We focus on your child's strengths in a welcoming space. We help kids and teens with:

  • ADHD
  • Autism
  • Learning differences
  • Giftedness (2e)

We help them build confidence and learn to speak up for their needs. Meet our Pediatric Team →

How do you involve parents in the child's therapy process?

We love having parents involved! We offer Parent Training to teach you:

  • Gentile ways to guide behavior.
  • How to build steady daily routines.
  • How to calm down together as a family.

Our goal is to build strong, connected parent-child bonds. Learn more about our Parent Modules →

Can you help children with challenging behaviors like bedtime resistance?

Yes. Our youth experts specialize in tough behaviors, such as:

  • Fighting bedtime.
  • Refusing to go to school.
  • Sensory issues.
  • Talking back or refusing to listen.

We teach parents hands-on steps to lower stress at home. Learn more about Pediatric Behavior Education →

What group therapy and social skills programs do you offer?

We offer fun, interactive groups to help kids and teens connect:

What is a Psychoeducation Prescription Plan?

Our skills program teaches self-awareness and emotional intelligence. After a short test, we create a custom plan with up to 10 sessions.

Based on your age, we teach life skills like:

  • Naming your feelings.
  • Understanding others.
  • Speaking up clearly.
  • Setting boundaries.

Learn more about our Psychoeducation Program →

Community & School Solutions

Do you provide trauma-informed training for schools?

Yes. We help schools build safe, supportive classrooms. We offer:

  • Consulting for school leaders.
  • Workshops for staff.
  • Tools for teachers to calm students and manage tough behaviors.

Explore our Schools & Staff Services →

For Professionals & Students

What are the phases of the Masters Level Internship Program?

Our internship has three main steps to help you grow:

  • Phase 1: Covers billing, admissions, and basic clinical skills.
  • Phase 2: Involves observing sessions, taking notes, and practicing theories.
  • Phase 3: Requires the intern to lead therapy, manage tough cases, and learn how to end treatment properly.

Learn more about the Graduate Intern Program →

Which universities do you partner with for your internship program?

We proudly partner with Hodges, Nova, FGCU, UCF, UWF, and Liberty University. You must be enrolled in a mental health or social work master's program to apply.

Apply for our Intern Program →

What does Clinical Supervision with Amie Thomas involve?

Amie Thomas provides expert guidance to help new therapists move from the classroom to the real world. Supervision covers:

  • Discussing tough cases.
  • Understanding privacy laws (HIPAA).
  • Preventing therapist burnout.
  • Planning real-world treatments for state licensure.

Learn more about Clinical Supervision with Amie →

What is included in the medical provider office rentals?

We offer flexible hourly, weekly, and monthly office rentals for therapists and medical providers. Our private offices include:

  • A dedicated web page profile.
  • A modern tablet check-in system.
  • Free secure Wi-Fi and printing services.
  • A staff kitchen and 24/7 security cameras.

View available Office Spaces →

Do you offer clinical cross-referrals for office renters?

Yes. Providers renting our space can receive client referrals from AIM if they are a good match.

In return, we ask that you offer one hour of mentoring to our student interns for each referral you receive. Learn more about becoming an Affiliated Provider →