Inspiring Conversations with Abby Klima of Rooted Blooms Therapy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Klima.

Hi Abby, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When I was a freshman in high school, I had this incredible mentor who took me to coffee a few times a semester. I loved my time with her! She took the time to listen and get to know me, to encourage me, and help me grow in loving who I am. Since I enjoyed one on one time with her so much, I started getting coffee with friends. While I wasn’t mentoring them, one on one time with people became my favorite thing to do. I would wonder “is there a way where I can get coffee with people for the rest of my life?”

Around the same time, I also learned about human trafficking. The fact that slavery still existed devastated me and I had to do something. I learned about an organization that fights modern-day slavery and became heavily involved. Through them, I learned about the importance of and impact of aftercare for survivors. In my experience with them, I realized how important justice and helping people know their dignity was to me. From then on, all I have wanted to do is help people recover from and find heal after enduring horrific trauma.

From the combination of my time with my mentor and this organization, I decided I wanted to become a counselor. From there, I pursued my bachelor’s in psychology and my master’s in counseling. Through different internships, I realized I loved working with children and delighting in their world. Ever since then, I’ve been intentional to tailor my experience to working with children and I’ve been a play therapist for 4 years.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I would say it’s been a road full of zig-zags, inclines, and drop offs! There’s a lot involved in becoming a counselor that is not taught in graduate school but is learned through experience (I’m guessing most careers are like this, though!). In other words, there have been a lot of struggles. But I think the hardest thing has been learning how to set boundaries around my work so that I can minimize burnout and experience some balance in life. It has taken a lot of trial and error and the boundaries I need change depending on the season, but I think I’m finally starting to find some good and sustainable rhythms with boundaries.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Rooted Blooms Therapy?
I am a Clinical Counselor who offers individual counseling for children, teens and young adults. I’m passionate about working with people who experience big emotions or who may be highly sensitive, have low self-esteem, have endured difficult experiences, and/or who are navigating transitions (such as moving, divorce, starting at a new school, a death, adoption etc.). I operate from a collaborative, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approach, and I’m intentional to curate each step of therapy to the unique personality and needs of each person who walks through my door. Specifically, I’m trained in EMDR (Eye Movement, Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy), DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), and Play Therapy (specifically, Experiential Play Therapy and Adlerian Play Therapy). I’m also in the process of becoming a Registered Play Therapist.

In August 2023, I started my private practice. It took a while to pick the name, but I landed on naming it it ‘Rooted Blooms Therapy’. The name ‘Rooted Blooms Therapy’ holds deep meaning for me as it captures my approach to therapy and my hope for my clients. I believe the core, or seed, of each person who comes through my door is good and desires harmony. But life is often chaotic and, most times, things get in the way of that seed’s roots, growth, and ability to bloom. My goal as a therapist is to tend to both what is going on underneath the surface (such as the roots leading to what is growing above ground) and above the surface (the behaviors we’re observing and context to the behaviors) through compassion, curiosity, and connection (with some special therapy tools) so that they can begin healing, growing, and, one day soon, bloom. While this will look different for each individual, my hope is that my clients walk away from therapy with tools to navigate big emotions and unexpected transitions, the ability to identify and express their needs well, and with an increase in peace and confidence.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Whenever I think about my childhood, the first thing to pop into my head is going to my maternal grandparent’s lake cottage in Wisconsin. My family had a blast there; fishing, boating, tubing, playing in the water, making s’mores, running around and more. I especially loved when we got to go there over the 4th of July because this tiny town had a boat decoration contest, epic fireworks to watch from your boat, and the sweetest parade. I’m so grateful for those times!

Pricing:

• 60-Minute Counseling Session is $140
• I do take insurance (Aetna, Cigna and United) and work with an EAP called Lyra.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rootedbloomstherapy.com/

Image Credits
Photos by Reagan Denine Photography Branding by Jessica Gutierrez