Are you stressed? Are you finding it hard to navigate what life is bringing you? Are your relationships suffering? If you responded “yes” to any of these questions, I would love to help you! Stress, anxiety, depression, and a host of other troubles can be a challenging yet normal part of life. Handling these issues on your own can make them seem impossible. You do not have to go it alone when counseling is available. I offer culturally competent counseling in a safe environment. I use multiple therapeutic modalities and intervention strategies to help you attain wellness in the face of negative societal stressors. My work is also informed by my Ph.D. in Communication Studies and over two decades as a professor/scholar. Life can be a challenge! I want to help you gain more balance and harmony. You are too valuable to suffer in silence. Call or email to request a FREE Phone Consultation today! Together, let’s work to create the joyous life you deserve.

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!

My name is Hannah Simmons and I am an associate licensed marriage and family therapist. I have been in practice for two and half years and work with a variety of presenting concerns including anxiety, depression, women's issues, infertility, grief and loss, and life transitions. I work with clients from all backgrounds and walks of life as well as all ages form 6 and up. I use a mix of solution-focused brief therapy and narrative therapy to help my clients gain the tools and strength they need to use these skills in their daily life.

I have been a professional counselor in Private Practice for 11 years in Fayette County Ga. I love working with adults to help them become more self aware with self efficacy to navigate life’s transitions and difficulties. This is journey we take together. Fell free to call with any questions about the counseling process

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.

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!

Melanie is an Associate Professional Counselor. She completed her Bachelors in Photojournalism through the University of Georgia. While completing her BA she discovered that what she most enjoyed about Photojournalism was getting to know people, and to help them tell their stories. Realizing her passion to help people to experience and tell their story well, led her to complete her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Denver Seminary.

While completing her master’s she worked in a college setting counseling young adults dealing with anxiety, depression, and relational issues. After moving back to Georgia, she worked extensively with adults managing a range of mental health problems. She is passionate about working with teens, young adults, and individuals on issues of grief and loss, life transitions, career concerns, and relationship issues. Additionally, she enjoys helping couples rediscover joy in their marriage.

She seeks to create a warm and supportive environment where her clients feel heard and valued as they develop skills and process emotions to face life’s challenges. Melanie helps her clients pursue their goals through a holistic approach, using a variety of treatment methods that take into consideration a client’s physical, relational, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.

In her spare time, Melanie enjoys spending time with her family, enjoying the outdoors, reading, and baking. She is a member of the LPCA of Georgia.

Logan received his Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Richmont Graduate University. He also holds certificates in Marriage & Family Therapy and Trauma Counseling. Prior to receiving his Master’s, Logan received his BA in Psychology from the University of Kentucky. In between his time at Kentucky and enrollment at Richmont, Logan spent two years overseas traveling to 20+ countries working with various organizations.

Logan has experience working in a private practice setting and a residential recovery center for addiction. Through these experiences, he’s been able to walk alongside people going through a spectrum of issues.

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.

I am an experienced Associate Marriage Family Therapy who is dedicated to helping children, teenagers, and adults cope with mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and adjustment issues.