Nichole Walker is a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor and National Board-Certified Counselor who has worked for 12 years with children, teens, and adults. She earned her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of South Carolina, a master of education degree in guidance counseling from Cambridge College, and a post-graduate certificate in marriage and family therapy from Argosy University. Nichole is well-versed in working with a diverse socioeconomic population and with people from different backgrounds. Her work with clients is guided by these core principles: simplify, believe, grow! As a virtual therapist who delivers healing and wellness, Nichole partners with clients so they leave their sessions feeling empowered, confident in their abilities to face life's challenges, and able to facilitate overall balance and healing from within. In essence, clients learn to live their best lives. Virtual counseling sessions are customized in a safe space for teens and adults seeking support with anxiety, stress management, setting boundaries, and establishing and maintaining healthy relationships. Nichole welcomes the opportunity to begin your journey toward growth and healing—and a better you! Schedule your free consultation at simplifylife.clientsecure.me/.

The desire to help others, modeled by my parents, took me to Wartburg College, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in social work in 2010. Afterward, I advanced to the position of program director at a community-based agency providing mental health support services to adults with chronic mental illness. In 2013, I earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Northern Iowa. I then became a medical social worker for a large home healthcare provider. From 2017 to 2021, I worked for the Veterans Health Administration, serving veterans and their spouses and caregivers. While at the VA, I counseled those living with PTSD, anxiety, depression, substance abuse disorders, and physical disabilities, providing them with patient advocacy, group therapy, individual therapy, and couples’ therapy. I am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and in the treatment of addictions. I am currently pursuing training and certification in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). As a therapist, I am grateful to come alongside people in their journey for change while applying interventions to support their recovery, restoration, and healing. Being raised in a Christian household laid the foundation of my relationship with Jesus Christ. Still, it was not until college that I truly depended on the Lord for my mental, physical, and spiritual strength and experienced the healing power of his grace. Scripture reminds me that all relationships with self and others improve through faith and love. Self-love and loving others are navigational tools we can use amid any storm we face. My hope is that every person I encounter experiences a caring, empathetic, nonjudgmental spirit from me, no matter their individual faith background. I welcome all clients from any faith or with no faith background at all.  My goal is to encourage children, adolescents, adults, and couples by focusing on their strengths while empowering them to build upon interventions and coping skills. With a warm and attentive approach, I encourage mutual feedback, believing this keeps the therapeutic relationship honest and helpful. I realize that reaching out for counseling is difficult, but the fact that you are reading this indicates you are ready to make a change. Call me at Family Renewal Counseling at 678-631-7639 to schedule an initial consultation.

After high school Scott Bonk joined the Marines. It was during his time in the Marines that he learned about Christ and began to have a relationship with Jesus. Scott was active in church while stationed in Hawaii.   After spending four enlightening years in the Marines, Scott went to seminary at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. Scott earned a bachelor's degree in Biblical studies in 1991. During his time in college, Scott went on several missions trips to London, Hungary, and throughout the Soviet Union.    In 1992, Scott traveled to Lithuania where he taught at the university. After returning home from Lithuania, Scott was accepted into the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Harding University.      After earning a master's degree in marriage and family therapy Scott worked for the Christian Counseling Center in Paducah, Kentucky. Scott has also practiced in Alabama and Arkansas, working mostly with teenagers struggling with substance abuse issues.    In 2003, Scott moved to Georgia. He worked for Creative Consulting Services helping individuals with developmental disabilities.      Scott also worked for the state of Georgia as a supervisor and social worker, again serving individuals with disabilities. Scott worked for the state of Georgia for almost 10 years.    In 1996, Scott also opened up his own private practice at Heritage Baptist Church, serving individuals in his community. Scott's primary focus has been working with couples in crisis.

Brent is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist in Cumming GA. Since 2010, he’s been helping couples, children, teens, and individual adults improve their relationships, navigate change, and learn new ways of coping with the challenges of life. Brent works with a wide range of client populations, but a common thread through all sessions is a deep passion for enhancing relationships and communication. No matter whether a client is 3 years old or 83 years old, being able to sustain healthy relationships and communicate about needs and wants is central for happiness, success, and well-being in life. This applies in relationships with others, but also in the relationship people have with themselves. Though he considers his formal training in the mental health field to be valuable, it is his experience as a client in therapy that has best prepared him to be of help to others. Brent has experienced tremendous growth and healing through the therapy process, and it motivated him to make a midlife career change to become a therapist. Brent has been happily married since 2010 and has two children.

Jim brings a rich blend of life and professional experience to his practice to enhance his ability to walk alongside people facing difficult challenges. Jim particularly has a heart for couples that lack the deep connection they long for. He has completed training and has experience in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT), which is an approach to couple counseling that has been proven to help couples deepen the bond between them. Furthermore, Jim has experience working with couples whose relationships have been injured by infidelity or betrayal. As a PREPARE/ENRICH facilitator, he enjoys working with premarital couples that desire an enriching experience as they prepare for life together. In addition to working with couples, Jim has extensive experience working with individuals, both adults and adolescents, who find themselves distressed or impaired because of anxiety, depression, grief, or traumatic events. He has training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a highly effective therapy to help people impacted by trauma in their lives.

Janna Barroso is a licensed clinical social worker who has worked for more than 20 years in social work settings, including mental health, trauma, sexual assault, family preservation, and school social work. She believes in a strong therapeutic relationship as the foundation of counseling. Janna utilizes an eclectic approach to therapy, including solution-focused and strength-based perspectives along with cognitive behavioral and mindfulness techniques. Her goal is to guide each individual toward reaching their self-defined goals.

Debbie is a marriage and family therapist and enjoys helping individuals, couples, and families discover new pathways of change. She believes that when people understand how they’ve learned to attach to others, it makes their change more transformational than behavioral. Debbie is PREPARE/ENRICH certified and level 2 trained in Gottman method, both excellent models for couples. Because of the unique needs of step-families or blended families, Debbie has completed advanced training in step-family therapy with Ron Deal, nationally known expert on this population which allows her to understand and treat the needs of these families. Unique pre-marital counseling for these couples is also available.  With her specialized training from Postpartum Support International, she also seeks to walk alongside women who are struggling emotionally with the changes that occur in pregnancy and afterward. Debbie is also trained in IFS therapy, a model used for many issues including trauma and gentler than EMDR. Recognizing spirituality is vital to growth, Debbie encourages any level of faith integration of which the client is comfortable. She has been walking with the Lord for over 40 years and received her master’s degree from Richmont Graduate University, a Christ-centered counseling program.

Anchor Counseling and Wellness, LLC seeks to provide a professional, healthy, and safe environment where clients can heal and grow. Dawn's desire is to help people on their journeys toward living a fulfilled, beautiful life.  Dawn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 15 years’ experience in a variety of social work settings, including community and individual mental health, family preservation, infants and children with developmental delays, and school social work. Utilizing an eclectic therapeutic approach, Dawn focus on solution-focused perspectives with cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavioral strategies. She observes a Christian belief system for those who choose to incorporate their faith into session work. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in social work from the University of Georgia. Go Dawgs! She is the married mother of three beautiful children. Dawn has been a foster parent, and she enjoys working with families involved in the fostering process. She treasures the time with her family and loves being outdoors, playing sports and gardening. She also enjoys boating, reading, and doing volunteer work. 

Through listening and the therapeutic relationship, Liza works with clients to highlight their strengths, resilience, and propensity for positive change in times of stress, challenge, and pain. Guided by the client’s needs and inclinations, Liza seeks to engage them in a process of healing and metamorphosis, whether small or large. She meets clients where they are, pairing her personal background with her training in cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, the expressive arts, mindfulness, and narrative therapy. She enjoys working with adults and children, individually or in groups. When needed, she provides family counseling for parents and children. Liza is experienced in working with clients with depression, anxiety, anger, or relationship issues. She encourages the use of healthy coping skills and mindfulness practices. With children, she uses art, books, and activities to engage children and help solidify therapeutic goals.  Liza has four children and enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and friends. She also enjoys making pottery, running, hiking, traveling, reading, and cooking.