Therapists for college students near Georgia State University

I view the soul as your mind, will, and emotions—the essence of who you are. Trauma can leave wounds that shape your view of yourself and the world, leaving fractures in your soul. Healing to me is not about ‘fixing,’ but about meeting yourself with compassion, understanding the protective patterns that once kept you safe, and reconnecting with the authentic self beneath them. I believe that every person carries an innate capacity for healing, even when pain and shame feel overwhelming. I trust that our wounds, when met with love and grace, can become openings to deeper wisdom, resilience, and growth. I also believe that healing is not a linear path—it unfolds gently, at your own pace, when safety and compassion are present. My work is rooted in the belief that wholeness is possible. "Grace softens the pain, love holds the wound, and compassion leads the healing.” The approaches I use are grounded in years of experience walking alongside survivors of trauma. Together, we’ll work with tools that go beyond surface-level coping and actually reach the root of what’s happening in your body and brain. Through Brainspotting, we can access and release the deep, unprocessed experiences that often drive anxiety and overwhelm. With trauma-informed DBT skills, you’ll learn practical ways to manage emotions, reduce shame, and build resilience. Using somatic approaches, we’ll gently reconnect with your body’s wisdom so that you feel more grounded and safe in your own skin. All of this work is held within a compassion-centered framework—because healing isn’t about fixing what’s ‘broken,’ it’s about meeting yourself with kindness and learning to trust your own inner strength. My goal is for you to leave therapy with tools you can carry with you anywhere—simple, effective practices that help calm your body, quiet your mind, and create space for peace.

I appreciate that reaching out for help is not always easy. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe in expressing your feelings and fears, hopes and desires; and to help you obtain a sense of control over your life. Changes can result in unexpected and often unwelcome transitions that can provoke anxiety. This can impact relationship difficulties and other aspects of life. With a gentle and sensitive approach, I help you to feel supported and skillfully guided to manage and reduce anxiety, access hidden strengths and potential and develop new skills for living a more balanced and possibly joyous life.

I am a therapist who integrates cognitive-behavioral techniques and systems theories into my clinical treatment of children, adolescents, and college students. Because I greatly value interdisciplinary work, I strive for successful collaboration with social workers, physicians, and educators in the provision of holistic behavioral healthcare for my clients. I have additional specialized training in trauma & behavioral sleep medicine. Being nationally certified in TF-CBT, I work with victims of childhood abuse, providing evidence-based treatment to promote healing & recovery. In my behavioral sleep medicine work I provide interventions to reduce sleep disturbances & improve daytime functioning for my clients. Further, in my work with college students I provide cognitive-behavioral interventions to address mood and anxiety symptoms, improve academic functioning, and enhance coping skills. I often operate from a feministic perspective, with the goals of empowerment, increasing self-esteem, and healthy boundary development.

If you are new to therapy or if you've met with a therapist before, I commend you for recognizing your need for supporting yourself right now. If you are experiencing problems related to drugs and alcohol, anxiety, depression, anger, or stress management, I feel confident that I can help you to deal with these issues effectively. I take a mindfulness-based approach in working with clients, which incorporates a main focus of learning to accept and be with whatever is happening in the present moment. This can help create clarity and present a reasonable solution to challenges. If you are interested in working with me, please reach out to me at anytime.

I am so honored you found yourself here. I believe therapy works best when you feel deeply understood—not analyzed or rushed. Before I’m a therapist, I’m a human who values gentleness, curiosity, and compassion. It’s truly a privilege to sit with folks as they share their stories, their pain, and hopes for something different. I have a special passion for working with neurodivergent (or “neurospicy”) humans and those whose nervous systems have been shaped by trauma. Therapy with me moves at a pace that honors your body, your boundaries, and your unique way of being in the world. There’s no pressure to perform or “fix” yourself. My work is grounded in experiential and somatic approaches, meaning we don’t just talk about what’s happening—we gently explore how your experiences live in your body, emotions, and relationships. This can be especially powerful for healing complex trauma, navigating chronic pain and reconnecting with parts of yourself that may have learned to stay guarded. If you desire to connect with a therapist that cultivates a safe space for you to explore healing without judgement and approaches your experiences with curiosity and empathy I invite you to this space. As a fellow neurodivergent, chronically ill, queer woman - I understand how exhausting life can be. Let us explore what living authentically means for you.

I work with individuals struggling with life transitions, relationship problems, anxiety and other painful emotions. I have over 10 years of experience treating adolescents and adults and everyone in between. Working with students and aspiring young professionals is a population I'm passionate about working with. I strive to empower clients through developing greater self-awareness, acceptance and motivation to accomplish their goals. Therapy is a powerful tool that anyone can benefit from when the courage and motivation is present and I believe should be accessible to all. I work with students and launching young adults on a sliding scale rate to prevent cost from being an automatic barrier to seeking support or trying counseling for the first time.

Do you find yourself constantly wondering if you measure up? Have passing thoughts that if people knew the real you they wouldn't hire you, be your friend, respect or admire you? Holding yourself to a high standard provides some amazing benefits AND it can really hold you back if it's an all-or-nothing situation. When your worth and value are on the line in every interaction, you live in a constant state of anxiety and have a hard time resting or enjoying your down time. When I was in my twenties, I was anxious and depressed but I never would've used those labels at the time. My life was great on paper – I thought I was happy because I thought should be happy. Then, in the moments when I noticed that I wasn’t feeling great, I beat myself up for not being positive and upbeat or grateful enough for everything I had. I thought that just feeling kinda sad and worried most of the time was normal and inevitable. The truth is, it is pretty normal, but it's not inevitable. In fact, part of what drives me to help people is that the level of unease I felt seems so common. I strongly suspect that there are people suffering needlessly who don't know that there are ways to feel better. One thing to know up front: working with me is weird! My clients who've been to therapy before or seen it on TV are often surprised by a few things about my practice. There's homework, and we'll both be writing things down in sessions. We won't just talk about the things you think and feel, we'll work together to change them for the better.

I work with individuals and couples in Georgia who are seeking support for various mental health challenges. Many of my clients have difficulties related to anxiety, depression, and past trauma that get in the way of enjoying life and thriving to their fullest potential. I also work with people who are diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and related conditions. The foundation of my therapy is a collaborative relationship based on warmth and acceptance. I look beyond the mental health “condition” and seek to understand you as a person, influenced by your identities and past experiences. I will work collaboratively with you to develop goals for therapy and a plan to attain those goals. I provide a tailored therapy experience by utilizing a variety of evidence-based approaches, including CBT, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), interpersonal therapy, emotion-focused couples therapy, and the Gottman Method. Overall, I seek to empower you with the skills to live a meaningful life based on your personal goals and values. Whether you are interested in individual therapy or couples counseling, I am looking forward to connecting with you and working together to create the change you are seeking. Feel free to visit my webpage to learn more about me and my work!

I work with individuals who may be successful in many areas of life but still struggle to understand and manage their emotions, especially as they navigate difficult life transitions or deal with symptoms of depression and anxiety. In our work together, we will explore how you relate to others and how you may relate to the world, as well as examine underlying thought patterns and how those might influence your emotions and your behaviors. I also offer comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations for concussion / traumatic brain injury, attentional disorders, and other neurological conditions.

**Practice Introduction** Ellie Vinings is a behavioral health practice dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based mental health care in a welcoming and supportive environment. The practice serves a diverse client population, including children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Clinicians work with individuals experiencing concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, relationship challenges, stress, and other emotional or behavioral difficulties. Through personalized treatment plans and a collaborative approach, Ellie Vinings strives to help clients build resilience, improve well-being, and achieve their personal goals.

Jaime Stepansky (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist. Jaime is grounded in LGBTQIA+ affirming and neurodiversity-affirming practices and specializes in treating individuals who experience challenges related to their identity, as well as individuals who experience difficulties with emotional regulation, impulse-control, complex trauma, grief and loss, anxiety, mood disorders, and ADHD. Jaime Stepansky (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist. Jaime is grounded in LGBTQIA+ affirming and neurodiversity-affirming practices and specializes in treating individuals who experience challenges related to their identity, as well as individuals who experience difficulties with emotional regulation, impulse-control, complex trauma, grief and loss, anxiety, mood disorders, and ADHD. Jaime is an integrative and collaborative therapist, incorporating different approaches based upon the needs of individual clients. Jaime’s work is grounded in a strength-based, relational, and playful approach. Her treatment modalities include play therapy, sand tray therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), DBT and CBT techniques.

College is a time of immense growth, but it can also feel like you're expected to have everything figured out. The pressure to choose the right major, land the right internship, and map out your entire future can feel suffocating. I know this firsthand - I changed careers a few times before finding my path in counseling. I understand what it's like to sit with the uncertainty of wondering whether you're on the right track and feeling like you're falling behind while everyone else seems to have it together. Whether you're adjusting to a new campus, navigating the independence of college life, or struggling with anxiety and depression, I provide a space to unpack those pressures and reconnect with what actually matters to you. I also enjoy working with student-athletes. Balancing the demands of academics and athletics comes with a unique set of pressures. When so much of your identity is tied to performance, it can be difficult to know who you are outside of your sport. There are a lot of challenges involved such as adjusting to a new team environment, managing the weight of expectations from coaches and peers, or facing burnout and the emotional toll of competition. Together, we can work to build resilience that extends beyond the field or court and help you develop a stronger sense of self that isn't solely defined by your achievements. In therapy, I offer a warm, collaborative approach where healing happens through genuine connection. I believe people suffer most when they are living out of alignment with their own values and desires rather than the expectations placed on them by society, family, coaches, or culture. Part of our work together is identifying those messages and exploring which ones are truly yours.

My goal in the therapy process is to help create a safe and effective space for you. Change can be difficult and sometimes scary. It's important to have the right person "in your corner" to help you tap in to your inner wisdom and navigate the challenges that you're facing. I have experience working with many presenting concerns including substance abuse, disordered eating, body image concerns, women's issues and navigating life transitions. I also have personal experience with type 1 diabetes, and I work with clients navigating the disease and co-occurring mental health concerns. My goal as a therapist is to help you identify and utilize your strengths while also challenging you to try new approaches that can lead to different experiences. I believe in giving you a safe, supportive and non-judgemental space to explore what's really going on in your life. That starts with helping you develop insight around your struggles and patterns. We then work together to identify and practice ways to move forward and make real and meaningful changes towards the life you want to lead. I am able to be reached via email or phone for questions and appointment scheduling. I also offer free 15 minute phone consultations to help you determine if counseling with me is a good fit. The best way to schedule a phone consultation is via email. My practice offers both in person and virtual tele-health sessions to help accommodate busy schedules.

Who would you be if you believed you actually could? If you knew you already are? My approach to therapy centers on the belief that “healing is making whole.” Whether dealing with issues of addiction, depression and anxiety, self-knowledge and self-worth, sexual orientation and gender identity, trauma or relationship concerns, life transitions attention is, therefore, given to the whole of the individual – heart, mind, body and soul. So many of us feel stuck, repeating patterns of behavior we consciously experience a desire to let go of. What keeps us doing what we believe we don’t want to do is that we are disconnected from the places within us where our actions come from. In my work with clients I care most about helping others uncover their truth – without judgment. I see psychotherapy as an invitation and permission to reveal, explore and practice embodying the wholeness of who we are, in order to develop a greater sense of fullness, choice and empowerment in our lives. And I very much see psychotherapy as a partnership and a journey, one which I am repeatedly humbled and grateful to be allowed to accompany others on. In addition, as a certified yoga instructor, the teachings of classical yoga inform my psychotherapy work with both individuals and couples. Yoga ‘on the mat’ may be a possible element of our work for interested clients, but more often this takes the form of our exploring how to live and practice the principles of yoga ‘off the mat.’

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I address anxiety stemming from social, school, and family dynamics, providing the necessary support to navigate these changes. I assist in the transition from college to career, including complexities in dating, family, and work, offering a safe space to explore self-identity and achieve life goals. We will collaborate using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Narrative Therapy. What does this mean? It means we will identify the false scripts keeping you stuck and create a new storyline where you are the main character shaping your life. In my space, every uncomfortable feeling is accepted, and every question is worth asking. Whether you’ve never sought counseling before or have been in therapy for years, I believe my approach is unique. My goal is to empower you and watch you succeed. So, let's connect and collaboratively rewrite your narrative.

At Ash Tree we have therapists that utilize a trauma informed and strengths based approach to meet the needs of our clients. We have therapists that specialize in working with complex trauma and PTSD, anxiety, ADHD, and other life transitions.

We all deserve the space to be seen and heard. I'm a genuine therapist who will meet you where you are and work with you on your unique path to self-discovery. I'm a therapist who is already your advocate because I deeply believe you deserve to be treated with dignity and respect no matter who you are. In the counseling room, you'll find me to be genuine, creative, and laid back. Cup of coffee in hand, I'm here to journey alongside you! Online sessions also available.

We work best with patients who are looking for personalized, attentive psychiatric care. Our providers combine careful medication management with brief psychotherapy, taking time at every visit to connect with you as a whole person. We don't believe in overmedicating. We believe in listening, asking the right questions, and finding the simplest, most effective path to you feeling well.

I welcome clients 20+ with life issues including anxiety, life transitions, self-compassion practice, family/relationship/boundary issues, self-esteem, stress of parenthood. If you feel burnt out, like you are doing too much, and that saying "no" feels overwhelming to consider, I might be a good fit for you. In addition to psychotherapy, I received training in Mindfulness and Meditation which helps with anxiety, emotional awareness, and self-compassion. I also use DBT skills training because I find that some behavioral work can be useful depending on each client's therapeutic process. I look forward to joining you in your journey when you are ready.