Christina recognizes how difficult it can be to reach out for help when you've hit your limit or just need some guidance and support through a current stumbling block. Christina enjoys helping parents struggling to understand their child's feelings and behaviors. She believes in the "whole family" approach, where she can provide space for both parenting strategies and the child's expression of emotions through Play Therapy. She works individually with parents and children of all ages. She helps parents understand the impact of their own upbringing, so they can work through any unresolved triggers as they now parent their own children. Christina helps adults struggling with life stressors or transitions, childhood trauma, grief and loss, and relational or family struggles. She has extensive experience with parenting, behavior difficulties with children, complex trauma, grief and loss, and anxiety.  Christina is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist, and trained EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapist. She has a private practice in downtown Decatur.

Trish Hastings is a licensed professional counselor and board certified counselor with an MA in counseling and a post-master’s certificate in counseling (similar to a specialist’s degree) from Regent University. In private practice in NE Georgia since 1996, she offers individual and marriage counseling and generally works with clients from age 14 to senior adults. When the client agrees, she incorporates psychology and faith-based principles. Trish has worked in a variety of settings conducting therapy with individuals, couples, families, and groups with a diverse clientele who present with a wide range of issues, including relationship challenges, depression, anxiety, abuse, trauma, stress, grief, anger, codependency, compulsive behaviors, and faith-based concerns.   Committed to offering therapy that is professional and competent, Trish is supportive, nurturing, and thorough from the initial assessment throughout the therapeutic process.  Her aspiration is to come alongside clients in a collaborative manner with God and the clients to assist in their journeys toward freedom, healing, and wholeness. She views each client as having value, dignity, and being worthy of respect.

Heidi does some of her best work as a therapist with young adults and adults who are facing a life transition and are motivated to make changes. Together we will explore the roadblocks and thinking patterns that may be holding you back from achieving your goals. With a rich background in career counseling, Heidi recognizes the value of seeking and defining your God-given identity and purpose in life. Through knowing who you are more clearly, you can take steps to plan out the life you want to create for yourself. Her goal in counseling, using a holistic and psychoeducational approach, is to help you gain insight and empower you to take steps to reach your fullest potential.  As a certified PREPARE/ENRICH facilitator, she works with couples, helping them better prepare for their marriage. As a career development facilitator, Heidi is passionate and equipped to assist high school and college-age students and adults who are exploring and/or pivoting in their career path.  Heidi believes that some of our greatest growth comes out of our hardest seasons in life. If you’re experiencing a challenging season, she considers it a privilege to hear your story and walk alongside you on your journey. Heidi is accepting clients at the Roswell location or virtually for Georgia and Texas residents. 

Maureen S. Bixler, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker with a Master’s and Bachelor’s of Social Work from the University of Georgia. She has years of experience working with children, adolescents and families in both individual and group settings. She has worked in different social work settings such as schools, in-home counseling and child welfare. Maureen created Live Life Counseling, LLC in 2014, with the main goal to help others live life to its fullest potential. Maureen offers a holistic, healing approach to therapy. She utilizes many different treatment modalities; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Existential Therapy, Family Systems, Attachment and Bonding Based Parenting, Strength Perspective and Client-Center Therapy. She offers individual, couple and family therapy. Often clients come to her with complex trauma which surfaces through addiction, anxiety and or depression. She utilizes Dialectical Behavioral Techniques (DBT) and Progressive Counting (PC) which allow a client to work through their issue and underlying trauma. In every session with Maureen she hopes to be a place for one to feel heard, validated and encouraged. Maureen loves spending time with her husband and being a mom to their four young children.

In my work with couples, adults, and teens, Sonia’s hope is that clients will leave therapy confident in their strengths, equipped to make wise choices, and empowered to maintain healthier lives and relationships. She works to alleviate negative symptoms within the context of current circumstances, help identify the root of challenges, and modify unhealthy cognitive and emotional processes. Sonia’s interventions help clients break through an impasse and equip them with practical solutions for future problem solving. She offers targeted, short-term counseling or in-depth therapy that identifies and replaces negative patterns. In couples counseling, Sonia helps partners break negative cycles, learn effective communication skills, build deeper connection, co-parent effectively after divorce, or heal after an affair. She uses Dr. Gottman's research and other approaches, customizing treatment with questionnaires that speed up the process and give a clear picture of strengths and deficits. She also conducts premarital counseling assessments. Sonia offers eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), a physiologically-based therapy for the treatment of conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, complicated grief, and adult or childhood trauma.

I’ve been walking alongside individuals on their healing journey since 2015. I have an embodied approach to therapy that connects the heart, mind, and body, which I believe are connected—so having a holistic plan for healing is key. I specialize in trauma work and also work extensively with anxiety, depression, and family-of-origin issues. I earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a specialization in family studies from Corban College. I went on to earn a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Grace College and Seminary. I hold certifications in Brainspotting and am a Clinical Trauma Professional.  Depending on the client’s needs I integrate various approaches, including Narrative Theory, Parts Work (based on Internal Family Systems), Exposure Response Prevention, Cognitive Behavioral Theory, and Attachment Theory. The works of Bessel van der Kolk, Dan Siegel, Curt Thompson, and Dan Allender have greatly influenced my understanding of the origin stories of both our wounding and healing. I love working at the intersection of clinical counseling and Christian spiritual formation. If clients wish to integrate their faith into their healing journey, I am more than happy to meet them where they are. I have been married for 18 years and have 3 kids ranging from ages 8 to 14. I hail from the Hoosier State and have been cheering on IU basketball since I was a little girl attending games at Assembly Hall. My husband and I have been in ministry for the entirety of our marriage, and he is now pastoring a local church in Alpharetta.

Since 2016, Max has worked in counseling with children and adolescents in a school setting and with clients of all ages at an agency. Max has helped clients address concerns related to ADHD, high-functioning autism, anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide, anger management, addiction, self-esteem, careers, bullying, and relationships. Max counsels largely from a cognitive behavioral and person-centered therapy orientation and also offers dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Max earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Regent University. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor. To recharge, Max likes to read, bicycle, attend concerts, spend time with family, volunteer at church, and play his acoustic or bass guitar.

Emily has always been drawn to serving others and knew she wanted to choose a “helping” profession. She graduated from Liberty University in 2012 with a master’s degree in professional counseling. As a graduate intern, she worked at an inpatient substance abuse treatment center. She also worked in a program that provides in-home parenting education and social services. These experiences gave her opportunities to work successfully with people of diverse backgrounds and with a variety of issues. In short, she has loved meeting people, hearing their stories, and partnering with them as a counselor. Counseling aside, she enjoys going on adventures with her family, hanging out with her dog, reading, traveling, dreaming about traveling, and learning Russian.

Katherine enjoys working with adolescents, young adults, and adults experiencing a variety of concerns such as perfectionism, anxiety and stress, eating disorders and disordered eating, body image and self-esteem issues, trauma and PTSD, OCD, difficult life transitions, and relationship issues. She desires the counseling relationship to invite peace and safety, encourage bold self-reflection, and bring about helpful change. Katherine is grateful for the opportunity to sit with clients in the realities of whatever they are experiencing, whether it’s tears, questions, anxiety, laughter, anger, or simply a desire to know oneself better. Katherine grew up in metro Atlanta and understands performance-oriented culture and pressure well. She is especially passionate about working with those struggling with perfectionism, whether in work, academics, sports, people pleasing, high achievement, or other areas of life. She is encouraged by opportunities to integrate one’s faith into counseling when desired. She seeks to maintain a space characterized by respect, openness, and curiosity.  Katherine earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Richmont Graduate University in Atlanta and a bachelor’s degree in human development and family science from the University of Georgia. She has specific, advanced training in trauma-focused CBT, providing an evidenced-based framework to help individuals experience healing from traumatic events.  Outside work, Katherine enjoys spending time with her husband, family, and friends, being outdoors, practicing yoga, reading, rock climbing, sipping on iced lattes, and watching movies. She is a pre-licensed counselor under direction and supervision. A note from Katherine — “In a world that feels increasingly characterized by hurry, distraction, and stress, it can be daunting to decide to pause and take stock of how you might really be doing. I consider it an honor to witness my clients' stories and navigate the counseling space with delicate yet sure care.”

Sarah is a graduate of the University of North Georgia where she received her Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in College Populations and Student Affairs. Prior to the University of North Georgia, Sarah attended Georgia College and State University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a Minor in Creative Art Therapies.  Sarah utilizes multiple counseling theories but at her core she is a Person-Centered therapist with influences from Existential, Cognitive Behavioral, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral, and Internal Family Systems.  Sarah believes each client is the expert on their own experience. Therefore, she is coming into their world and their experience to understand, support and walk alongside clients as they navigate their concerns. She aims to create a non-judgmental and empowering environment where clients feel comfortable and supported. Sarah believes in a collaborative therapeutic relationship where the client’s best interests are the focus.  Sarah’s specialties include but are not limited to: adolescents (10+), young adults, and adults with concerns regarding anxiety, addiction, trauma, executive functioning, interpersonal effectiveness, LGBTQIA+ informed, ADHD, Autism and life transitions (going to college, job changes, divorce, etc.).    When she isn’t seeing clients, Sarah is often spending time with her husband, daughter and their dog, reading a book, spending time outside or taking a pottery class!