My desire is to come alongside you during life transitions, relationship issues and stressful times to provide a supportive and caring environment that assists you in dealing with life's difficulties. I work with women, adolescents and families struggling with anxiety, depression, addictions, faith-based issues, stress management, trauma, childhood sexual abuse, grief and relationship problems.

Starting therapy can be scary, overwhelming, frustrating, and/or exhausting. There are so much options.. and if you're not a therapist yourself, many of the terms and specialties are new for you and probably don't mean anything yet. If you're not sure what exactly you're looking for, but know you want help and support, you're in the right place. I'll explain the process, walk through what next steps are and work with you along the way to answer questions and make sure what we are doing continues to feel supportive of your needs.

I offer my clients a safe space to explore questions and thoughts that they may not feel comfortable sharing with others. We will look at the feelings that come up for you in difficult situations and also share the wins together. We can keep things in the moment and focus on what's currently happening, or explore how past experiences have shaped you.

Everyone's needs are different, and there is not a one size fits all to therapy. I believe the relationship is the most important part of this process, and with a strong connection to your therapist (hopefully me!) real change and understanding can happen. If you're ready to start, please reach out and we can walk through this together.

A little information about me. I have been in the field of Human Services since 2008. I am an associate licensed mental health counselor (LMSW) since 2018. I have practiced in both public and private practices. I am in the process of sitting for my full licensure in the State of Georgia. I am a graduate of University of Southern California. I hold a master's degree in social work with a minor in military families. I work with ages 11(+), families, couples and veterans. I provide evidence-based therapies and I am a certified hypnotherapist, a therapy that is helpful for the client struggling with trauma.

Emily specializes in working with individual adults and teens (15yo+). She has extensive experience working with young adults and college students having difficulty with anxiety, depression, life stage transitions (moving, graduation or career change), suicidal thoughts, self-esteem, relationship concerns, and dating. Having assisted collegiate student athletes as well as working with athletes at the professional level, Emily understands the unique pressures of being an athlete and the impact on mental health. She has a passion for helping her clients maximize their quality of life and perform to their greatest potential in every area of their lives.

Emily is also a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). This certification equips Emily to assist clients with mental health concerns affected by disabilities, traumatic brain injury and chronic health conditions. It allows Emily to address both the mental and physical components of wellness, thus improving clients’ daily functioning and their overall quality of life.

Hi, thanks for reading my Bio! I've been a psychologist now for 30 years. Over that time, I've helped more than 10,000 people. This is my 3rd career - I started as a Domino's Pizza manager, then a computer programmer for IBM. I became a psychologist after seeing my own psychologist during a difficult divorce. I learned so much from that experience that I knew it was right for me - so I went back to school. I've also completed 90% of a post doctoral certificate in neuropsychology.

I find that most people I work with are interested in one of two kinds of therapy. First, some people are interested in problem solving / solution focused therapy - finding solutions to life's many problems. I use brain science and the design of human beings to develop creative shortcuts to these problems. I've created my own names for them, such as the 'what else' technique, or reverse psychologizing yourself, or the 3 P's of grieving, or the 'outside the box' technique.

Other people want to understand themselves at a deep level. Perhaps they find themselves making the same mistakes in life. Or they wonder 'how did I get here?' The want to understand their personality structure and to make deep, long lasting changes - to become, not necessarily happier, but more successful and satisfied with life. During this process, I describe what I consider to be 'the ultimate in mental health.'

And now you know ... The rest of the story!

I am passionate about working with clients of all ages to holistically support their mental health journey. My goal is to empower and support clients through processing and managing their needs academically, professionally, and personally. I utilize a feminist approach to CBT with elements of mindfulness. I also incorporate art therapy and play therapy into my treatment of adolescent and teen clients.

Stress just. won't. stop. and “work-life balance” seems like an impossible feat. Your stress has been building for FAR too long; you can't remember the last time you weren’t so overwhelmed or anxious. You can't stand how irritable you’ve become, especially around those you love. Your go-to de-stressors just aren't cutting it anymore - or it's a struggle to use them, and you’re growing tired of your own procrastination, rumination, and withdrawing from others. You want to be more present in your life & relationships. You want to feel like your old self again - or a new, calmer self - on a path of continued growth and success. You want more for yourself and are ready for change.

I can help by co-creating a brave & safe space and validating you - especially when it feels like no one understands. With Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), we can help you feel quick relief from prior traumas and distresses, eliminate triggers, and move forward feeling lighter and calmer. We'll rebuild coping skills for relief now & prevention later. I'll challenge you (with care), offer accountability, and use your strengths to help you meet your goals. Ideally, we'll also laugh together and connect as humans.

You're struggling now and contacting therapists only to then wait for responses is frustrating. Skip the waiting and take another step toward relief now by scheduling a brief phone consult directly on my website!

Are you a woman feeling stressed out, exhausted, and over committed? Are you worn out from trying to be perfect? Feel like you're at a breaking point and things have to change, but aren't sure where to even start? That's where I come in.

I have a passion for helping women, so that's all I do! My clients struggle with anxiety, depression, grief, life adjustments, or feel lost about who they are. I've walked beside thousands of women as they've reached their goals over my 20+ years as a counselor and coach.

If you're serious about making a change, I invite you to schedule a complimentary 30 minute phone call with me so we can make sure we're a good fit for one another - don't waste your time hoping to find the right counselor. Be sure! Call me today!

Life can get overwhelming sometimes, and everyone has an opinion on how you should manage it. No matter what you’re dealing with, someone always suggests a quick fix— anxiety: “just calm down;” depression: “just be happy;” or disordered eating: “just eat.” The reality is, if it were that simple, we would all be perfect people and never struggle with anything in our entire lives. That’s just not human nature. So if that’s not the answer, how do we grow and change? How do we resolve the deepest, most wounded parts of ourselves?

There’s a quote by Christine Langley-Obaugh that I love, which says, “We repeat what we don’t repair.” We have to sit with those uncomfortable parts of ourselves—our anxiety, depression, disordered eating, grief—and figure out when and why it showed up. What is it trying to tell us about ourselves and our experience?

That’s what the therapeutic space is for. We put other pieces of our lives on hold for an hour, to sit and listen and process. From there, we can establish a different way for the brain and body to communicate with one another; a way that allows for expression without overwhelm. It’s a process that can take some time, but it is oh so worth it.

Joy Fortanbary completed a Masters of Arts in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling from Richmont Graduate University and also holds a B.A. in Public Relations Journalism from the University of South Carolina. She is an Associate Professional Counselor by the Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, And Marriage and Family Therapists. She is also a National Certified Counselor by the National Board of Certified Counselors and an ASAT-Candidate from the International Institute of Trauma and Addictions Specialists. Additionally, Joy has specialized training in EMDR, a therapeutic technique designed to help people struggling to process trauma.

Joy is passionate about partnering with individuals on the journey towards interpersonal healing that leads to generational change. She believes the most powerful growth happens in the context of relationship, which leads to her commitment to provide a genuine space marked by curiosity and collaboration.

Joy enjoys working with individuals navigating various challenges such as trauma, sex and love addictions, life transitions, anxiety, depression, and relationship conflict. Joy utilizes an integrative and holistic approach in the process of helping clients reach their personalized goals and lead a life more by design and not by default.

Joy gained valuable experience working with both individuals and groups in private practice and treatment center settings. Prior to counseling, she worked with leaders to establish national and global organizational partnerships at a large nonprofit in the Atlanta area. In her free time, Joy enjoys traveling, yoga, and spending time with her family.