I have 10 years of experience working with individuals. I first started working at the school systems doing Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) to kids struggling with different diagnosis. (More on ABA later!) I also worked at an agency working with high crisis behavior such as self-injury and high magnitude aggression for children 2 to 18 years old. Later on, I got to manage two Adult Family Homes for people with developmental disabilities (autism, down syndrome, etc). I got my masters at Gonzaga University and continue to grow my experience as an intern at Frontier Behavioral Health where I got to see clients with Borderline Personality Disorder, PTSD, anxiety, depression and more. I have seen and counseled many different people with different diagnosis and various challenges. I highly enjoy working with autistic adults as well as anybody going through any life transition.

Disclaimer: I am a neurodivergent affirmative therapist. I do not run under ABA practices and I am here to help talk about healing from any form of therapy that did not suit your unique needs.

My passion is working with the LGBTQ community and with couples. I have worked in many settings and in my own LCSW counseling and consulting practice since 1987. I am originally from the East Coast and came to California, originally the Bay Area for 30 years and San Diego for the past 9, and have worked in medical, acute rehabilitation and outpatient psychiatry for the majority of my career.
I am trained in the Gottman model of couple's therapy, in DBT, CBT, ACT, Trauma resiliency, Prolonged Exposure therapy and CPT.
My most extensive training in the last 7 years has been with gender affirming care.

I have been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2008. I graduated from Georgia State in 2005 with a Masters in Professional Counseling. For the last 20 years I have been working with North Point Ministries and currently working as a Director in the Care Network.
I work with adults navigating a difficult season in life including; boundary issues, divorce/separation, marriage, anxiety, self-worth, co-dependency, life transitions and grief.
After 13 years of marriage, I navigated through a difficult and devastating divorce. In the midst of heartbreaking brokenness, my faith in God strengthened as I trusted in His grace and promises. I am now happily remarried and have a strong desire to help women in their own journey.

Marquita is a National Certified Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor serving residents of Colorado, Florida and Georgia in her virtual practice, Whole Heart Counseling. She serves individuals who desire healing from anxiety, depression, relationship conflict, life transitions and work-life concerns.

Children and young adults have such unique issues to navigate in today’s world. As a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor, I want to create a space for children and young adults to process where they are no matter what that looks like. As a therapist, I specialize in working with clients that struggle with anxiety, depression, life changes and adjustment to different phases and stages of life. Young people are constantly growing and changing. I work with clients to process their growing pains through self-expression.

As a former school counselor, I have a heart for helping young people overcome challenges and realize their strengths. Expressive arts and creativity are often at the core of our sessions. Whether that is writing, drawing, or other forms of art, we can use those skills to help you process and externalize even the most challenging emotions. My biggest goal is for you to be able to utilize your passions in the healing process. Ultimately, therapy is a brave space where I guide you in taking ownership of your story and experiences. It would be an honor to start that journey with you!

When I am not with clients, I spend my time supporting my alma mater, the University of Georgia! Go dawgs!!

Laura Baker MA, LPC, NCC, CPCS
Exhale Counseling
Exhale Counseling and Consulting Services
www.exhalecounselingsvcs.com
laura@exhalecounselingsvcs.com
770 892 6287
Co-Founder of Exhale Counseling (07.07.2020)
I am trained in EMDR

Sarah is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) specializing in working with women on identity formation and development, developing healthy relationships with others and self, life-stage transitions, and grief and loss.

Sarah holds a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University and a Master of Science in clinical mental health counseling from Mercer University. Her dual training is reflective of her passionate interest in the relationship between spiritual health and mental health. She has been formed by her professional experience in hospital, palliative care/hospice, and mental health settings and by her international volunteer work in Mother Teresa's Home for the Dying in Kolkata, India.

Sarah seeks to support her clients in building lives of meaning in alignment with their values. She incorporates narrative techniques to explore the wisdom in her clients' stories, and she integrates existential theory as clients navigate questions regarding relationships, trauma recovery, identity, purpose, and spirituality. Sarah believes in the power of the therapeutic relationship and empowers her clients to be active participants in their own growth process.

Katie Blum is a Licensed Professional Counselor who earned her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Katie holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology from North Central College. Her training experiences include the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with a wide range of presenting concerns including anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD and behavior concerns, anger, academic difficulties, interpersonal and relationship issues, self-esteem, executive functioning difficulties, and sleep troubles. She has experience providing psychotherapy services in person– both individually and within group therapy settings– in schools, and via tele-psychology platforms. Katie uses empirically supported assessment and treatment modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), working alongside clients as they integrate new tools and strategies into their everyday life.

Katie’s approach to therapy focuses on meeting clients where they are at and helping them reach their self-determined goals. She does this by focusing on helping clients define their strengths while providing proven strategies to build resilience and strengthen everyday coping. Additionally, Katie values well-rounded, individualized care by coordinating with outside entities including schools, primary care providers, and psychiatrists.

I believe that creating a warm, safe, and respectful environment is pertinent to establishing a healthy therapeutic relationship with my clients and helping them to achieve their therapy goals. I strongly believe that therapy is a collaborative process between myself and my clients with the overarching goals of improving relationships, emotional regulation, self-understanding, adjustment, and life satisfaction.

I work with children, adolescents, and adult clients through the use of individual, couples, and family therapy. I frequently incorporate the use of the Brainspotting method to help clients of various ages process through a wide range of highly stressful, activating and traumatic experiences that prevent them from fully engaging in aspects of their life. I also have been trained in Collaborative Practice; information regarding this approach to divorce can be found at www.CollabAtlanta.com.

For my adult clients, therapeutic issues typically focus on depression, anxiety, interpersonal relationship concerns, self-esteem and self-worth, communication difficulties, marital/relationship discord, and life transitions. Therapy focuses on identifying a client’s own strengths and challenges, empowering him/her to cope more effectively with life’s struggles, and improving relationships and overall functioning through insight, self-awareness, and healthy decision-making skills and coping resources.

With my children (ages 5 and older) and adolescent clients, common issues include divorce, depression, anxiety, OCD, mood dysregulation, behavioral difficulties, ADHD, family conflict, school performance issues, and social difficulties, such as peer conflict, bullying, and poor social skills in general. I believe that an important component in working with children and adolescents is the inclusion of the family, as I believe that making changes within the family system is the foundation to therapeutic progress. Family therapy typically centers on improving family communication and relationships, assisting parents in coping with their child’s emotional or behavioral issues at home, and building healthy boundaries, expectations, and family roles.

In addition to therapy, I am experienced in conducting psychological and psychoeducational evaluations. Such evaluations are a tool for identifying a client’s cognitive and academic skills, assessing for learning disabilities and developmental delays, and obtaining information regarding a client’s mental health. Evaluations can yield a wealth of information to help with treatment and educational planning and the identification of appropriate interventions.

I received my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and my M.Ed. in School Counseling from The University of Georgia. Prior to earning my doctorate, I worked as an elementary school counselor. I have been in private practice in the Atlanta area since 2006. In addition to private practice, I have been an adjunct instructor at Georgia State University with the Department of Counseling and Psychological Services and served on the board of the Division of Women and Girls for the Georgia Psychological Association.

I look forward to meeting you and the opportunity to help you address the barriers or concerns that are interfering with your happiness and ability to live life to the fullest!

I’m passionate about helping individuals and couples create happier more peaceful lives.