Joel Bergman , LMHC

Joel Bergman has spent two decades working in the field of addiction and related mental health concerns. He holds certification as a Certified Addiction Professional (CAP), works as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Florida - a credential that designates formal licensure to provide mental health counseling - and is recognized as a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) under the Department of Transportation. He earned a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Springfield College in Tampa in 2011 and is pursuing a Doctorate in Human Services Administration at NOVA Southeastern University.

Throughout his career he has supported both adolescents and adults facing addiction and co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. He focuses on helping people address substance use, behavioral challenges, and the underlying issues that affect daily functioning, with the goal of helping individuals become more productive and improve their overall quality of life.

Joel has held leadership roles across treatment settings, including Clinical Manager positions for Big Bear Behavioral Health in Hillsborough, Sarasota, and Manatee counties, and a two-and-a-half-year tenure as Clinical Director at the ACTS Adolescents Residential program. For several years he served as Clinical Director of 7 Summit Pathways Treatment Facility. Together with his wife he has operated a treatment agency for the past eighteen years, running a Transitional Living Program, providing outpatient individual therapy, facilitating interventions for families and friends of people with addiction, and delivering professional trainings in New York and Florida.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Joel Bergman draws from several evidence-informed approaches to tailor treatment to each person’s needs. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and collaboration so clients can explore values, build self-awareness, and develop coping strategies - it often helps with issues like depression, self-esteem, and relationship concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns; it can be effective for anxiety, mood symptoms, addiction-related triggers, and managing impulses. Motivational Interviewing is a goal-oriented, client-focused method that helps people find their own motivation to change, which is especially useful for substance use and ambivalence about treatment.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Joel works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their goals, preferences, and circumstances, adjusting strategies as progress is made. Clients are treated as partners in planning their care.

Online therapy offers flexible options including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to fit counseling into busy schedules and to continue work during life transitions. These formats support regular contact, timely support during difficult moments, and consistent therapeutic progress without the need for in-person visits.