Connection is the heart of healing
At the Bloomington Center for Connection, we believe that people grow through and toward connection. Often, isolation lies at the root of emotional pain. Healing happens in relationships. Our mental health services, grounded in Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT), empower individuals to heal through connection and create mutually growth-fostering relationships.
Healing Through Connection
At the BCC, healing isn’t about fixing what’s broken, it’s about nurturing authentic connection. Rooted in Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT), our approach honors your capacity for growth, authenticity, and mutual care. Here, therapy is not about adapting to a disconnected world; it’s about creating a where you can thrive. We offer several paths to healing through connection—groups, couples and family work, and individual therapy—all shaped by RCT.
Unlike approaches that seek to change individuals to cope with, or adapt to, dysfunction, RCT focuses on creating environments where individuals feel seen, valued, and supported. Through mutual empathy, authenticity, and shared power, we work to break cycles of shame and chronic disconnection.
What is Relational Healing?
People grow through and towards relationship. When life feels painful or stuck, it is often because connection has been disrupted — with ourselves, with others, or with the larger world around us. In Relational-Cultural Theory, we call it “chronic disconnection,” or even “condemned isolation.”
Our approach
Our services are designed to help individuals, families, and communities heal and grow through connection. Whether you’re seeking individual therapy, group support, or innovative approaches like relational gaming and sand tray therapy, our offerings meet you where you are. We specialize in addressing a wide range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, relational challenges, stress, and the impact of systemic oppression.
For those looking to connect creatively, we also offer opportunities to explore growth-fostering relationships through expressive arts. These experiences invite participants to create together in a supportive, connected environment, blending creativity with relational healing.
We also provide relational intensives—ideal for families, couples, adult family groups, primary relationships, or communities seeking deeper connection and healing.
What makes our approach different?
Relational-Cultural Therapy helps us understand those disconnections and find new ways of being together. Rather than focusing only on symptoms, we explore the stories, identities, and cultural expectations that shape your experience.
Healing happens as we are met with empathy, curiosity, and respect — in relationships where vulnerability is supported, differences are honored, and growth is mutual.
Accessible, affirming care
We are committed to making therapy accessible. Our therapist-in-training program offers high-quality, low-cost therapy, supervised by experienced clinicians. This allows individuals with financial barriers to receive excellent care while supporting the growth of new therapists. Community members who choose to work with a therapist-in-training benefit from both fresh perspectives informed by the latest research and seasoned supervision behind the scenes.
For the 2024-2025 academic year, Sydney Hastings-Smith is offering sliding-scale mental health services. Please check their appointment availability to learn more.
Relational Groups
Another way to keep relational wellness accessible is to explore it through our relational groups. Relational Groups usually meet weekly and are process groups designed to help individuals build and experience growth-fostering relationships. They offer a supportive environment to heal and grow alongside others, creating the connection we all need to thrive.