Kirsten Banks is a Georgia State Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a nationally Certified Interventionist (CAI and CIP), and a Certified PC Trauma Therapist. She earned her BA and BS degrees in Sociology and a minor in Rehabilitative Services in Women’s Studies from the University of Florida in 1998. In 2005, she earned her Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling from Argosy University.  Kirsten has worked in the addiction field for over 20 years and specializes in substance use disorders, mental health, codependency, and trauma, as well as families, couples, and individuals struggling with addiction and mental health issues. She is the founder of Therapeutic Recovery Network and offers counseling, intervention, and consulting services for mental health and substance abuse. Kirsten uses a network approach to facilitate the necessary services for each individual in the family. She has found that this collaborative approach is the most effective. It allows her to assess and develop a tailored plan for individuals and families to find their paths to healing. In addition to her work as a therapist and interventionist, Kirsten has extensive involvement in the local area to help combat the impact of drug addiction on the community. She developed and facilitates a local support group and an online support community called Parent Recovery Network (PRN) for parents and grandparents with loved ones struggling with addiction. 

Sha Wortman is an Associate Professional Counselor who has been working in the mental health field since 1994, serving in healthcare and hospice settings as well as elementary and high schools. She earned a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Education in School Counseling from Georgia State University. Sha served as a school counselor, working with students, families, and staff for 20 years. She has worked with diverse populations from a variety of backgrounds.  Life is challenging! Changes, both good and not so good, can be difficult to navigate. Sha feels blessed to help others explore feelings, identify and utilize strengths, and build skills like improving executive functioning. Her work is deeply rooted in faith, and she understands we all have unique stories and our backgrounds shape how we operate and heal. Sha has been married since 1996 and has four growing and grown sons. She and her husband have been foster and adoptive parents. When not working, Sha can usually be found gathered around a firepit with music and her favorite people.   

Brittany is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist, and a National Certified Counselor in Georgia. Her passion is helping children, age 3 up to young people age 25 and their families restore and rebuild the peace they’ve lost in their lives. She believes humans are designed to be intimately connected with others in loving and secure relationships. When that connection and safety become absent or broken because of life’s difficulties, emotional pain and behavioral issues often arise that are difficult to navigate alone. Brittany’s focus is on providing individuals (ages 3–25) with the tools they need to overcome their inner struggles, navigate challenges, and develop resiliency. Some of her specialties include working with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, self-harm and suicidal ideation, ADHD, low self-esteem, divorce, grief, social skills/peer relationships, behavioral issues, transitional issues, and parent-child attachment work (helping parents connect with their children to build more meaningful relationships). She loves partnering with parents and other important professionals to help children reach their goals and succeed! Brittany has worked as a counselor in a variety of settings, such as nonprofit organizations, animal-assisted therapy programs (utilizing dogs, horses, and dolphins), private practice, and the school system. She primarily uses play therapy and cognitive-behavioral approaches to help her clients achieve self-awareness and emotional healing. In her free time, Brittany enjoys spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, traveling, and playing sports.

Nicole Thaxton, PhD, LPC, CPCS, is the co-founder and clinical director of Atlanta Wellness Collective with locations in  Roswell /Alpharetta, Marietta, and Acworth, Georgia. She is known for creating meaningful relationships and treatment plans with her clients and has worked with children, teens, adults, and families in private practice since 2016. Dr. Nicole understands “high-achieving” individuals and families and the unique challenges they face related to anxiety, stress, pressure, perfectionism, grief and loss, divorce, relationship issues, and trauma. When appropriate, she enjoys working with clients who wish to incorporate their faith into counseling. Dr. Nicole is highly effective at working with parents to set goals and better understand the challenges their teen is facing. Contact Dr. Nicole at www.atlwell.com.

Meet Chelsea King, a dedicated mental health advocate and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice. Chelsea earned a master's degree in psychology and counseling from Troy University and a bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology from Albany State University. She holds the esteemed National Certified Counselor (NCC) certificate. Chelsea's specializes in treating clients facing depression, anxiety, trauma, and substance abuse. She also specializes in adolescent therapy and premarital support.  Chelsea's passion for mental health extends beyond her work in private practice, Therapeutic Impressions Counseling. Chelsea serves as a clinical assessor for Clayton County, where she conducts comprehensive assessments to diagnose clients and facilitate appropriate clinical treatments. This work reflects her deep commitment to helping others achieve mental and emotional well-being. Chelsea's dedication to serving the Lord through helping others extends to her entrepreneurial endeavors. She founded The Yoni Company, a small business dedicated to feminine health products. Her products can be found in small businesses across Atlanta, Georgia, and Columbus, Mississippi. Demonstrating her heart for missions and charitable initiatives, Chelsea donates reusable pads to communities in Uganda, Africa, in an effort to positively impact women's health globally. In her free time, Chelsea indulges her creative side with pottery, tends to her beloved plants, and explores nature trails with her faithful canine companion, Ghost.  

Do you struggle with anxiety that affects your day-to-day life? Do you feel overwhelmed by your relationship and worry you’ll make the wrong decision? Have you had life changes that have been difficult to accept? You’re not alone. While you may feel isolated, you’re not the only one experiencing anxiety and uncertainty. And things can get better. I help clients learn healthy coping skills to explore and manage anxiety, life changes, and relationship issues. I use mindfulness techniques (breathing skills), CBT, and narrative therapy. For every session, I seek to create a warm and inviting space where clients feel at ease to be vulnerable and discuss and explore change. It’s important to me to provide a safe place for cultural diversity and differences in gender and sexual orientation.  I believe that anxiety doesn’t have to control your life or change your dreams. If you’re ready to take the next step, reach out today for your first appointment!

Throughout the last 10 years, James has enjoyed working with children, teens, young adults, couples, and families in numerous settings. For the past 20 years, he has served in various leadership positions in church and non-profit agencies. James and his beautiful wife, Saba, moved to Atlanta, Georgia early in 2020. James is Jamaican-American and was born and raised in Miami, Florida. As a youth pastor, his passion for counseling blossomed and led him to pursue a master of arts in clinical mental health counseling through his denomination of origin at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee. He later developed a holistic theological approach to counseling that incorporated Baptist and reformed insights integrated with clinical theory through a biblical perspective. James completed his doctorate in education at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2019. He is an assistant teacher there and shares a diverse voice in higher education. His dissertation focused on resilience and spiritual maturity. James integrates his passion for discipleship, leadership training, and strengthening believers to overcome life’s obstacles to help you practically experience the abundant life that Christ came to give us. He has served those who have experienced hurt, loss, anxiety, depression, anger, abuse, race-related issues, and trauma through insights provided by the Word of God. He is an advocate for those who desire to pursue truth and seek healing from setbacks and encourages clients to consistently apply what they learn and set accountability systems to maintain lasting joy. James is available to help those who desire to make change happen. He believes in second chances. We all fall short at times, but it takes courage, dedication, and patience to work through hard circumstances.

Do you find yourself feeling down, more overwhelmed than usual, or perhaps worried about every little thing? Are you going through a significant life transition or experiencing some form of loss? At some point, we will all face an unexpected change, some form of trauma, or will need a listening ear.  Leola D’Aversa is the founder of Healing at the Source, LLC where her passion is to help young adults heal and navigate life's challenges. Leola is a licensed professional counselor and grief-informed professional in GA. The Colorado native holds a master’s degree from Argosy University and a BA from Spelman College. Her specialties include anxiety, depression, and grief. Leola believes that therapy is collaborative. She will work with you to process your feelings, change unproductive thoughts and behaviors, and build upon your strengths so that you can live a happier, more fulfilling life. 

Bryan Stickney is a dedicated therapist in Atlanta who specializes in helping clients with depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, and addiction. His deep commitment to guiding others on their transformative journey toward healing and personal growth began with his own struggles with addiction and mental health. During his recovery, he experienced the immense value of therapy, which led him to realize his own calling to make a direct and meaningful impact on people’s wellbeing. Driven by this purpose, he earned a master’s degree in social work from Kennesaw State University. He also holds an undergraduate business degree from The University of Alabama and spent several years in the corporate world prior to becoming a licensed therapist. Those formative years taught him invaluable skills in leadership and effective communication and provided him with a unique perspective on how to view human interactions. Bryan's comprehensive academic journey has equipped him with an understanding of the human psyche, the intricacies of mental health, and a diverse range of therapeutic approaches. Throughout his career, Bryan has had the privilege of working in various clinical settings, from residential treatment at Skyland Trail to being a lead therapist with Caron Treatment Centers, where he focused on addiction and dual diagnosis treatment. Most recently, he's been dedicated to private practice, where he's meticulously honed his clinical skills, leveraging Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.  If you're seeking therapy for addiction, substance use disorders, depression, and/or anxiety, Bryan's expertise and personal experiences uniquely equip him to guide you toward the life you deserve. His mission is to empower you to navigate life's complexities, attain self-awareness, and cultivate the resilience necessary for a fulfilling life. 

Nicole is passionate about partnering with adults, adolescents, and couples in achieving their personal goals and on their journey toward healing in an emotionally safe and accepting environment. She works in areas including substance use, personal identity, spirituality, adult autism, anxiety, depression, adult ADD and ADHD, childhood trauma, chronic pain, grief and loss, social anxiety, relationship difficulties and conflict, difficulties with communication and assertiveness, and blended family dynamics. Nicole teaches skills for communication and conflict resolution and, while incorporating empathy and compassion, utilizes various interventions including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. Nicole is an associate professional counselor who earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Richmont Graduate University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Auburn University. She has worked in long-term residential treatment for substance use disorder and in private practice. She is under the supervision of Heather Cobb, LPC, CPCS.