Life is always "whelming" when it becomes "overwhelming" it might be time to reach out for help. I'm skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced at helping people overcome life's challenges. Life is also full of inevitable transitions-going away to college, changing careers/jobs, moving, loss of a spouse or parent, becoming an empty-nester, becoming a caregiver for a parent to name a few. If your feelings, thinking or actions are impairing you and/or hurting others you care about please give me a call. I work effectively with both individuals and couples. My approach to counseling is based in Cognitive and Mindfulness strategies.

As a therapist, I work with you to create an atmosphere of acceptance, safety, and affirmation. I work on a holistic and collaboratively level so that parts become a whole and your life begins to move in the direction that you desire. Also, as a life coach, I work with clients who are not necessarily in crisis or a struggle but are seeking a career change or who merely want to flourish in their personal and/or professional lives.

***Waiting list in effect.*** My counseling approach is informed by deep respect for individuals and their strengths. I can help you to effectively face challenges that arise during transitions and periods of high stress. We collaborate to help you to move forward on your path to self-growth and change. Clients find relief from anxiety, obsessive thinking, compulsive behavior, interpersonal stress, career change, depression and "feeling stuck." Specialties include trauma/PTSD, stress reduction, couple/partner interaction and communication, and family-of-origin issues (including families affected by substance abuse).

I am passionate about helping individuals to transform areas of their life where they have been feeling stuck. I work with clients with relationship issues, anxiety, depression, trauma, sexual or childhood abuse, grief, and spiritual counseling. I have a relaxed, open and collaborative style of working and connecting. I focus on understanding what has affected your life and the resulting emotions. Our focus together is to clear negative thinking and beliefs to shift the way you experience life in a way that works for you.

Chris has been in private practice since 1991, serving individuals and couples in our community. She also has been adjunct faculty at UGA and UNG teaching undergrad psychology courses. Chris has a solid understanding of the struggles we face navigating the difficulties of life where her knowledge and compassion facilitates growth and healing for individuals within their selves and in their relationships. Chris's style of therapy is one of warmth and engaging with each person in the story of their life and the difficulties within that. She creates an open and inviting atmosphere for people to explore themselves.

I value and respect the skill used to seek support, healing, and personal growth through therapy. It is my hope and belief that this shows in the relationships I build with clients. In my work, I partner with individuals to discover and reinforce their unique strengths while helping them uncover their potential for living fulfilling lives. I specialize in treating people with anxiety, depression, or repeated unhelpful behaviors. I also help people work through past trauma and difficult memories.

I work individuals and couples to help build better relationships and coping strategies for times of conflict and change. Having worked for several years with substance abuse groups along with anger management and family violence intervention, I have helped people of all ages to move beyond the negative self talk and low self esteem in order to be successful and thriving in their personal lives and relationships with others. I also offer EMDR to address trauma. Because I believe there is not a single way to deal with life, I like to meet my clients where they are in their own lives and help them to accomplish their personal goals.

With 30 years experience in counseling, I have dealt with a wide range of problems and situations and continue to love the challenge! With respect and gentle guidance I will walk you through your process. I see individuals and families of all ages and gender. I am comfortable with severe mental illness as well as situational depression and anxiety.

If we work together, our conversations will be directed at finding what will work for you. You will bring your life and it's stories, what is working and what you have thought might be done differently to move you in a new direction. You will define what is important for you and set the pace with which your work moves. I will bring to the conversations my genuine curiosity, my 46 years of experience and observations of what others have done in situations similar to yours; my willingness, knowledge, skills and energy directed at guiding you toward your goal(s).

People come to me feeling overwhelmed, confused, frustrated, and worn out. My goal is to provide compassionate support to my clients during painful transitions, help them gain clarity, develop coping tools, and improve communication skills. Couples come to me feeling disconnected and resentful. I help partners learn new, effective ways to communicate. I build on couples' strengths to help them find a fun, passionate, and intimate way of living. Parents come to me feeling heartbroken and confused by their interactions with their children. I help parents heal their own childhood wounds so that they can parent in a loving way.

I believe that couples and family therapy can provide a uniquely powerful context for relational growth. Relate well to yourself - have a fair and meaningful connection with your anxiety, pain, and goals. Relate well to your partner, family, friends, and job - deepen bonds and communicate. We can relate well - let's collaborate on strengthening connections in your life!

**Currently accepting clients** You deserve to live your best life and to experience it in the most authentic way possible. In challenging times, what once worked may fail us, and we find ourselves needing some help finding our way. The unpredictability of life creates an underlying level of sadness or anxiety that is all at once overwhelming. I would like to help you find your way through, so that you may move closer to your authentic self, where self-compassion becomes a foundation for living.

We may sometimes feel that we are not able to embody our identify and beliefs. Feeling you should be something you are not is unbearable: what is core to you can be honored, and what is not can be examined and then embraced, accepted or changed. What we choose to value, and how we pursue those values, dictate what we are to become. Some things cannot be changed, and yet we can choose how we move around them. Being true to yourself can sometimes seem like a difficult choice, and we all must decide when and how to realize our potential, even in the face of adversity.

You are carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. You're going through your day with the constant fear of not being a good enough mom, partner, employee. You feel lost and overwhelmed as you fight to present yourself as someone who has it "all together." Your friends and family don't know how alone you feel because you don't want to be a burden to them. The ghosts of your past torment you, reminding you constantly that if you had been good enough to begin with then you wouldn't have been hurt so badly. It's all your fault, your mind is racing, and you don't know how to make it stop.

I am the founder of Kind Recovery and offer shame-free addiction treatment in Athens, GA. I know nearly 75% of individuals struggling with substance misuse have a history of trauma. I know the risk of developing a substance use disorder is directly linked to a person's exposure to adversities such as childhood abuse, toxic stress, and dysfunctional relationships. I'm proud to specialize in helping those seeking recovery find the deep healing required for success. In the face of an invisible epidemic, trauma and substance misuse, you need an ally who sees you, knows your worth, and can help you move towards the life you deserve.

I am most passionate about sex education and sexual freedom. I work with clients with a variety of needs, though I especially love to help clients work through sexual shame and repression in order to lead happier, more fulfilling lives. I view my job as the catalyst that helps my clients discover and grow the strength and potential they already possess. I want my clients to leave my practice feeling empowered with an increased sense of identity, self-esteem, and sense of peace.

I hope you find help and relief for what you are seeking counseling for. My name is Lee Jackson, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia. I have practiced privately for five years, specializing in anxiety, depression, life changes, spiritual issues, grief and loss relationship/couples counseling. I enjoy providing tools for clients that help manage their Anxiety and OCD. I have a particular interest in these areas . My background is in school counseling, I've logged many years with students and parents providing therapy to those across many different age demographics.

Are you seeking a qualified Christian therapist who will not make assumptions, but respect and help you develop your own unique story and journey? Have you heard that therapy is for the weak or the small in faith, for those who haven’t prayed enough about their problems or circumstances? Are you looking for a place where you can feel safe and comfortable to explore how God is working in your life and how to be equipped to overcome depression, anxiety, addiction, or past trauma?

Are you struggling with your self-image? Do you find yourself feeling fine one moment and unhappy in the next? Are you struggling to manage or let go of your anger? Are you feeling anxious, depressed, or struggling to establish a sense of identity? Are these issues impacting your relationships with your coworkers, friends, family, or partner? If any of these issues resonate with you and you feel ready to embark on a journey towards healing, I am here for you.

*Currently accepting new clients, including late afternoon hours* Are you feeling anxious, sad, or depressed? Perhaps experiencing fears, flashbacks, or just a nervous or heavy sensation? Perhaps you just need an empathetic, listening ear? There is hope! I work together with my clients in a calm, non-judgmental, refreshing manner, identifying the source of the concerns, and then together attempting to clear it out from the source. The goal is often not just to manage symptoms, rather to completely eliminate them. I utilize a variety of models customized to the needs of each unique individual.