Therapists in Atlanta, GA

Thank you for viewing my profile. You also may visit my websites: www.erikapluhar.com and www.wholeheartpsychotherapy.net. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Certified Sex Therapist and Supervisor. I work with adult individuals and couples who have difficulties with relationships and sexuality. My approach supports the integration of the mind, body, and spirit. I take into consideration each individual's background as well as the dynamics in the relationship. My treatment philosophy combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with deeper emotional process and attachment/EFT work.

Is your life and your behavior impacted by events from the past? That's a very common side effect of trauma. Trauma impacts the ways in which we respond to every day stimulation and can shape our choices in healthy and unhealthy ways. According to research, more than half of men and women have experienced a trauma in their life time and 2 out of 5 women and 1 out of 6 men have experienced sexual trauma. You're not alone in this pain and I would love to help you through it. Using talk therapy combined with EMDR, we will build a safe place for you to process your hurt and be able to unwind what the brain has been holding on to.

I work with adult individuals of all backgrounds, bodies, and beliefs. I provide clients with a safe, therapeutic space where they can speak their truths, process past and present events, build insight and self-awareness, and develop skills to become aligned with a more contented, empowered self. My perspective is strengths-based, LGBTQIA-affirmative, and integrative.

Does anxiety feel like it is hard to manage? Whether it's anxiety about your relationship, your sex life, your job, your social life, or your life in general, the symptoms are all too regular and familiar: racing heart, stomach churning, and feeling like you can't breathe just to name a few. If only you could just wish the anxiety away with logic. Your friends or partner tell you to just relax and stop overthinking, but you can't! Your mind won't listen. No matter how hard you try, you just can't get your mind to stop.

I have served clients in psychiatric care for over 16 years, facilitated psychosexual Trauma Systems Therapy for over 9 years, led couples and family therapy for over 8 years, and have been actively working with HIV prevention and sexual health education of other sexually transmitted infections and diseases for over 8 years. I am a Doctor of Health Education and Promotion and I am exceedingly committed to sexual health, behavioral health, and mental health.

Creating safe spaces where disappointments, shame, or fear can be processed through is my goal as a therapist. Whether your journey is short or long, I aim to come along side you for support as you find peace and personal growth. Whether it's working with young adults, families, or couples the goal is to create change that is tailor made for the individual or family unit. My therapeutic style is authentic, warm, and inviting; and I work from a strengths based perspective that promotes inner healing and self compassion.

It is important to find a therapist you connect with. My clients find that my warm and compassionate approach to therapy makes it easy to connect with me. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and AASECT certified sex therapist (CST), I counsel couples looking to improve their relationship, find ways to re-connect and build a healthier, more satisfying relationship. I specialize in working with individuals and couples experiencing sexual difficulties such as low/high sexual desire, painful sex (i.e. vaginismus, vulvodynia, etc.), orgasm difficulties, and intimacy issues after cancer.

You are trying to find your way through the labyrinth, and you feel something is holding you back. You look for a safe place, but you don't see it. Something is preventing you from having a healthy relationship and satisfying intimacy. "Why am I here?", you might ask yourself. You and I will work together to identify your challenges and use your strengths to make your world a better place. I offer individual, relationship, and sex therapy to help you get the life, relationships, and pleasure you want. People of all lifestyles, backgrounds, and experiences are very welcome.

I work with adults seeking to optimize intimate relationships and embrace the vitality that comes when we express our full sexual selves. I believe in the healing power of authenticity, secure connection, and self-acceptance. My passion and focus is working with clients to strengthen emotional and physical intimacy and healthy engagement by improving communication, building or rebuilding trust, releasing shame, and embracing self-acceptance. I have experience working with neurodiverse clients as well as clients struggling with anxiety and depression. I am sex-positive, kink-, queer-, trans-, and consensual non-monogamy-friendly.

My goal as a therapist is to provide a warm, affirming space to help you heal and embrace your most authentic self. My work draws from trauma-informed, feminist, and body-liberated ideologies to create space that facilitates healing from trauma, exploration of identity, and finding freedom from limiting thoughts and beliefs. When you are looking for someone with whom you can share your experiences, doubts, and questions, I am here to listen with empathy and support. My specialties include life transitions, relationship growth and challenges, sex therapy (kink + poly welcome!), trauma treatment, and LGBTQIA+ wellness & identity work.

Compassion. Collaboration. Change. Seeking help takes courage, and choosing a therapist can be an empowering, but intimidating first step. I strive to cultivate a meaningful relationship with each of my clients, so it can feel safe to explore your story. Together we look for themes and identify next right steps. I specialize in helping clients who struggle with the effects of childhood and complex trauma, addiction, marital and intimacy issues, life transitions, boundary difficulties, and self-esteem. I enjoy working with men and women of all ages and stages of life who want to improve their relationships with themselves and others.

My clients are often frustrated, lost, confused and at their breaking point in their sexual relationships. They have shame or guilt regarding some aspect of their sexuality. They question their sexuality, ruminate over whether they are “having sex the right way?” and struggle to connect to their partners and their own bodies. My clients are curious about exploring their sexuality, motivated to heal their trauma and face cultural messages to achieve wellness, pleasure and liberation.

Problems with sexuality can create anxiety, fear, shame, guilt, depression, or low self-esteem. If there are issues with sexual performance, sexual trauma, low sexual desire or satisfaction, premature ejaculation, sexual behaviors, sexual identity, or any sexual frustrations, you may feel disconnected from yourself and others. You are the incredible artist of your story, I serve as the nonjudgmental canvas. Sex is meant to be a beautiful expression of self, attraction, and desires. Together, we will explore experiences, thoughts, or behaviors that prevent you from living a sexually satisfying existence.

Are you troubled by self doubt, questioning your or your partner's level of commitment, or contemplating walking away from a relationship? Perhaps you are feeling disconnected from others or frustrated by an unsatisfying sex life. Is the conflict in your family extreme? Are you struggling to coparent effectively? You may be single and exasperated by the drama that sometimes comes along with dating. Or, a parent who is helplessly watching your child or adolescent struggle educationally or in social relationships. If any of these statements resonate with you, I can help you navigate your journey to contentment, confidence, and bliss.

I have a unique, vibrant psychotherapy practice that focuses exclusively on sexuality and relationships. I encourage you to visit my website to get an idea of who I am and how I work. Since beginning my practice in 2001, I have done extensive training in sexuality. I am an AASECT-certified Sex Therapist. I work with individuals and couples and treat people who have all sorts of sexual concerns, from medically-related sexual problems to relationship stressors, affair recovery, recovery from traumatic events, or sexual identity issues. I have developed a specialty in treating men with low/absent desire and/or erection problems.

I work with individuals and with intimate partners. With a warm, accepting and curious style, I have helped clients with challenges like depression, anxiety, stress, traumatic childhood events, self-doubt and narcissistic abuse. In my approach, I helps clients to understand the relationship between themselves and their situation—personal, societal and cultural—in order to create healing, self-compassion and personal growth.

You are completely overwhelmed with your partner - and maybe even yourself. It may be because of racing thoughts and anxiety, issues in the bedroom (like sexual pain or low sex drive), or even desperately trying to pick up the pieces after an affair. I am here to help you get to the root of your relationship concerns so that you don't repeat the past, but create a more meaningful relationship from this point forward.

Amy Howard is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in the Buckhead area of Atlanta. She is also certified as a Sex Therapist by the American American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT). Amy completed her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia majoring in Child and Family Development. She earned her Masters of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Auburn University. Amy completed a masters thesis on the topic of married women’s sexual satisfaction.

Does it feel like something is just "off" when it comes to your sex life? I work with people in committed relationships who are struggling with lack of sex, sex feeling like a chore or just feeling like you're on different pages with intimacy. Through my Pathway to Passion method, I help my clients to feel genuine desire again, gain confidence initiating sex and stop censoring themselves. The result is that they feel excited again and are closer than ever before. No topics are off limits with me and all sincere goals and concerns are welcomed. I'm kink-knowledgeable, poly-affirming, LGBTQ-allied and sex worker allied.