Founding Story
Bridge Counseling and Wellness was founded in 2016 by mental health professionals Nicole Sartini and Juniper Owens. Bridge grew out of a gap in the mental health landscape: the need for a holistic, integrative approach to care. We were the first integrative mental health practice, and we continue to lead the way — including through our signature free yoga classes for clients, which have become a cornerstone of why folks choose Bridge every day.
Since then, Bridge has evolved alongside the communities it serves, continuing to innovate while emphasizing accessible, high-quality services. Co-founder Nicole Sartini now directs Build Better Health, a provider-led 501(c)(3) working to fix what's broken in health care — including making sure insurance works for both clients and clinicians.
Bridge has also expanded into supporting clinicians through continuing education: every clinician who partners with Bridge has access to training at no additional cost. Most Bridge therapists are certified integrative mental health professionals with additional certifications and specialized training.
The mental health landscape has changed dramatically. Venture capital and tech have steadily moved into nearly every part of service delivery — virtual therapy, counseling centers, and insurance billing. This means that increasingly, an algorithm does the heavy lifting instead of an experienced clinician, profits aren't reinvested in the communities being served, and decisions are made based on shareholders' needs, not the clinicians or clients.
We see this as an emerging issue of great importance — one that affects both quality of care and the working conditions of mental health professionals.
Bridge has always prioritized quality services, clinician wellbeing, and community investment — and always will. As the cost of living rises and wealth inequality widens, high-quality therapy is harder to access than ever. Insurance costs keep climbing, but reimbursement rates haven't kept pace — so more therapists are opting out of insurance altogether. It's an understandable choice, but it leaves private-pay rates out of budget for many.
In this landscape, Bridge holds the line and maintains its values of accessible, exceptional care and service to the community. We keep therapy accessible through sliding-scale rates, student rates, and by accepting most major insurance plans. We make this work by building strong community relationships, keeping our budget lean, and partnering with clinicians who share our values.
Why clinicians choose Bridge...
If you're looking for a supportive community and an admin team that handles everything so you can focus on what you love — the clinical work — Bridge could be a good fit for you.
Full-service administrative support. Our team handles intake, scheduling, insurance credentialing, claims management, and billing — including audits, denials, and payment processing — so you can focus on your clients instead of paperwork.
Clinical supervision and growth, built in. New team members get 90+ days of face-to-face onboarding and a team-support phone tree for after-hours consultation. Monthly intervention exchanges and workshop development support is available to all, and pre-licensed clinicians (LPCA & CSW) receive dedicated supervision toward board-required hours.
Ethical leadership and real community ties. Bridge is 100% clinician-owned and operated, with regular CEO availability and active advocacy for fair insurance reimbursement. We maintain direct referral networks and give back through ongoing partnerships with local organizations.
Inviting offices, ready to go. Fully furnished locations, professional cleaning services, and a full, HIPAA-compliant technology suite — so you can walk in and start seeing clients, with minimal set up.
Provider benefits and wellness. Employer-sponsored health plan with monthly contribution, annual percentage increases for fully licensed providers, paid birthdays and end-of-year bonuses, team outings, and crisis support when you need it.