FOR ME
I am overwhelmed, anxious, burned out, or at a crossroads.
Individual counseling for stress, anxiety, career pressure, relationships, depression, and major transitions.
Check consultation availability →SAME-WEEK CONSULTATIONS • FORT MYERS + FLORIDA TELEHEALTH
Therapy for people who are used to having it together.
You can be successful, responsible, and still feel overwhelmed. I help adults, couples, and teens 13+ with anxiety, burnout, relationship strain, school or family pressure, and major life changes.
Dr. Brian Bakalar, Ed.D., LMHC, NCC
Florida Licensed Mental Health Counselor • MH16706
Free 15-minute consultation • No commitment • Please do not send sensitive clinical information through ordinary email, text, or this scheduling form.
Same-week consultations
Practical. Collaborative. Goal-oriented.
Individual and couples counseling with traditional talk therapy and optional experiential techniques when appropriate.
START HERE
What brings you here?
You do not need to know exactly what kind of therapy you need. Choose the closest starting point and we can figure out the rest together.
FOR MY TEEN
My teen seems anxious, withdrawn, irritable, or under too much pressure.
Counseling for teens 13+ around school, confidence, friendships, family communication, performance pressure, and change.
Teen & family counseling →FOR US
Our relationship is strained, disconnected, or stuck in the same patterns.
Couples counseling focused on communication, conflict, trust, connection, transitions, and difficult decisions.
Start with a brief consultation →WHO I HELP
You do not have to be in crisis for therapy to be useful.
I work with adults, couples, and teens ages 13+ who want a private, practical place to understand what is happening, improve relationships, build healthier coping strategies, and create meaningful change.
Anxiety, stress & burnout
When your mind will not slow down, responsibility feels heavy, or you are functioning but exhausted.
Relationships & couples
Communication, conflict, trust, separation, changing expectations, or difficulty feeling connected.
Career & leadership pressure
Difficult decisions, workplace strain, leadership stress, professional identity, or uncertainty about what comes next.
Life transitions & direction
Divorce, grief, relocation, family change, aging, loss, or the sense that your current life no longer fits.
TEEN & FAMILY COUNSELING • AGES 13+
When your teen seems overwhelmed, withdrawn, anxious, irritable, or simply not like themselves.
Support for school pressure, anxiety, confidence, friendships, family communication, major changes, sports or performance pressure, and the transition toward greater independence.
ABOUT DR. BRIAN BAKALAR, ED.D., LMHC, NCC
Experienced clinical care without an institutional feel.
I bring more than a decade of experience across counseling, crisis intervention, case management, university mental-health services, and behavioral-health leadership. I have worked with people facing everyday stress as well as some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
That background informs a calm, direct, collaborative style. Sessions are designed to help you understand patterns, make sense of what is happening, and turn insight into changes that are realistic in your actual life.
Florida LMHC MH16706National Certified CounselorEd.D.
View verified Psychology Today profile ↗
WHAT SESSIONS ARE LIKE
Conversational, thoughtful, and focused on change.
I do not believe therapy has to feel scripted to be meaningful. We can speak honestly about what is happening, identify patterns that are keeping you stuck, and build strategies you can use outside the therapy room.
Who are you?
Who do you want to be?
How do you get there?
YOUR FIRST SESSION
- Clarify what brought you in.We start with what is happening now and why you decided to reach out.
- Define what you want to change.We identify the outcomes that would make therapy feel worthwhile.
- Understand the patterns.We look at stressors, relationships, habits, strengths, and the context around the problem.
- Build an initial direction.We agree on practical next steps and an approach that fits you.
EXPERIENTIAL THERAPY
Sometimes insight comes from doing, not only talking.
Experiential techniques are optional and used only when they fit your goals, comfort, privacy, and clinical needs. Traditional talk therapy remains available in every session.
Therapeutic photography
Intentional photo prompts can help surface themes around identity, relationships, stress, values, and change.
Expressive music
Meaningful songs, lyrics, emotional reactions, memories, and playlists can become structured prompts for reflection. This is a counseling technique, not music therapy.
Counseling in Motion
My walk-and-talk counseling option. When clinically appropriate and logistically available, movement and an outdoor setting can support reflection and conversation.
Real-life practice
Behavioral experiments and role rehearsal can help you test assumptions, practice boundaries, and prepare for difficult conversations.
Other techniques I may incorporate
Depending on your goals, sessions may also include structured journaling, guided reflection or imagery, perspective-taking exercises, values clarification, and individualized between-session practice.
WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER
Start with one conversation.
Most clients begin with standard per-session counseling. The consultation is free, there is no membership requirement, and fees are shown here for transparency.
INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING
Individual therapy
$100 / 50 minutes
For adults seeking support with anxiety, burnout, relationships, career pressure, life transitions, depression, or personal direction.
TEEN COUNSELING • 13+
Teen counseling
$100 / 50 minutes
For teens navigating anxiety, school pressure, confidence, friendships, family communication, major changes, and growing independence.
COUPLES COUNSELING
Couples counseling
$150 / 50 minutes
For couples working on communication, conflict, connection, trust, transitions, and relationship decisions.
OPTIONAL MONTHLY CONTINUITY
Available after you get started.
You never need a membership to begin therapy. These options are for established clients who want more predictable recurring time and additional continuity.
Private Therapy
$575/month
- 4 private 50-minute sessions
- Protected recurring weekly appointment
- Optional experiential or between-session exercises
Concierge Therapy
$1,000/month
- 4 private 50-minute sessions
- 2 scheduled 15-minute check-ins
- Priority scheduling and rescheduling
- Secure non-emergency messaging
Executive Concierge
$1,500/month
- 4 private 60-minute sessions
- Up to 4 scheduled 15-minute check-ins
- Priority scheduling and non-emergency messaging
- Authorized care coordination and quarterly extended session
Monthly options are discussed after consultation and clinical onboarding. They are not emergency, crisis, or 24/7-access services. See full fee information and Good Faith Estimate notice.
FOR REFERRAL PARTNERS
A private-pay counseling resource you can keep on hand.
Physicians, attorneys, financial professionals, fertility and wellness practices, and other trusted community professionals are often the first people to hear when a client is overwhelmed, burned out, struggling in a relationship, or navigating a major life transition.
I welcome appropriate referrals for adults, couples, and teens ages 13+ in Fort Myers and throughout Florida by telehealth.
FORT MYERS & FLORIDA
Counseling in Fort Myers and online throughout Florida.
In-person counseling is available in Fort Myers, Florida, and secure telehealth is available to clients located in Florida at the time of service. If you will be traveling, please discuss your location before an appointment so legal and clinical options can be reviewed.
COMMUNITY & PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
Practical conversations about mental health for real-world audiences.
I am available for selected talks, panels, staff education, and community conversations for healthcare practices, businesses, professional groups, and community organizations.
When Success Stops Feeling Successful
Recognizing burnout, disconnection, and the hidden cost of carrying too much for too long.
High Functioning, Still Struggling
Why capable people often delay seeking support—and how to recognize when stress has become something more.
The Psychology of Major Life Transitions
How career changes, relationships, caregiving, health concerns, relocation, and loss can affect identity and decision-making.
Interested in a program for your organization?
Tell me about your audience, goals, and preferred timeframe.
Request a speaking program
SAME-WEEK CONSULTATIONS AVAILABLE
Start with a brief conversation this week.
I am currently accepting new clients. Send your basic contact information and I will follow up to arrange a free 15-minute consultation and discuss the earliest available options.
Phone239-579-7472
AvailabilitySame-week consultation openings
ResponseRoutine inquiries answered within 2 business days
Need immediate help? This form is not monitored for emergencies. Call 911 for immediate danger or call/text 988 for crisis support.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Before you reach out.
How quickly can I get started?
I am currently offering same-week 15-minute consultations when scheduling permits. During the consultation we can discuss fit, format, and the earliest available therapy appointment. Availability can change, so the best first step is to reach out.
Do you accept insurance?
This is a private-pay practice. A superbill may be available when appropriate for you to submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Reimbursement is not guaranteed.
Do I have to join a monthly plan?
No. Individual and couples counseling are available on a standard per-session basis. Monthly plans are optional and intended for clients who want more consistent reserved time and continuity.
What do you mean by experiential techniques?
They are optional counseling methods that involve more than conversation alone, such as therapeutic photography, expressive music and music-based reflection, behavioral experiments, structured journaling, guided reflection, and role rehearsal. I also offer Counseling in Motion, my walk-and-talk counseling option, when clinically appropriate and logistically available. These approaches are integrated into counseling and are not presented as separate expressive-arts or music-therapy services.
Do you work with teens?
Yes. I work with teens ages 13+ and their families. At the beginning of treatment, we discuss goals, parent or guardian involvement, confidentiality, communication, and the limits of confidentiality related to safety and legal requirements. Learn more about teen counseling.
Does concierge care mean unlimited access?
No. Check-ins are scheduled, messaging is non-emergency, and routine messages are answered within 2 business days. The practice is not continuously monitored.
What if I am in crisis?
This practice is not an emergency service. For immediate danger or a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. For crisis support, call or text 988.
SAME-WEEK CONSULTATIONS AVAILABLE
If you have been thinking about therapy, start with a brief conversation.
A complimentary 15-minute consultation gives us a chance to discuss what is happening, what you are looking for, and whether working together feels like the right fit.