Dara delights in assisting couples and individuals in challenging situations. She enjoys working with couples as they prepare for marriage as well as couples confronting crises who require more than mere skill building for an enduring solution. Problems such as recovering from an affair or betrayal or overcoming the effects of pornography and compulsive sexual behaviors can destroy a marriage without guided intervention, but Dara is available to join a couple in the fight to preserve their marriage and establish a more intimate and satisfying partnership. To facilitate her goals with couples, she has received advanced training in emotionally focused therapy (EFT), earned a specialization in Christian sex therapy, and received training to become a certified sex addiction therapist (CSAT). Her plans are to complete the final module of CSAT training in August 2019. In individual therapy, Dara assists those who have experienced loss, abuse, trauma, or relational problems. She has received training in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and internal family systems (IFS). She particularly enjoys working with those suffering from betrayal trauma.

Madison received an undergraduate degree from UNC Chapel Hill and her master's degree in social work from UNC Charlotte. Madison received training in play therapy and other courses to advance her knowledge of children and families. She has spent time in a private practice as well as an integrated health center.    Madison has a passion for working with young children, adolescents, and families who need a safe place to process and grow. She utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy and child-centered approaches to help individuals. She commonly helps clients navigate anxiety, depression, ADD/ADHD, and behavioral concerns. Madison aims to provide a space where clients feel the love and grace of Jesus.    Outside of the office, Madison enjoys nutrition and fitness, going to coffee shops, and being with friends and family. 

Women and adolescents face unique challenges in our culture today. From adolescence to adulthood, each individual's journey is filled with both expected and unexpected changes. In spite of so many ways to connect with others via technology, many of us feel more isolated than ever before. And while social media opens many doors to opportunity, it can also bring unintended negative consequences such as the comparison factor, fear of missing out, and an unhealthy desire to manage our image. Though this can be unsettling and overwhelming, Victoria holds to the belief that there is always hope! She specializes in treating women and adolescents who are experiencing anxiety, depression, eating disorders, grief, divorce recovery, and young-adult life and career transitions. She uses her training and experience to help individuals explore their beliefs about God's love, God’s forgiveness, and other important questions in a nonjudgmental environment. Victoria believes that by addressing the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual self as a whole, clients are better equipped to see personal growth and lasting change as opposed to just a temporary fix. Her desire is to provide a safe place for you on your journey in whatever season of life you find yourself.

Micah Moore believes that the process of therapy should be collaborative and relational. He works closely with each client to better understand their unique experience and needs. He’s passionate about helping clients experiencing anxiety and depression, life transitions, identity issues, relationship issues, and spiritual issues. Each client is important, and Micah considers it an honor to join you on your journey toward healing, personal growth, and wholeness.    Micah values authenticity and connection and hopes that by believing in his clients, they will feel empowered to believe in themselves. With students and teens, he’s highly effective in working directly with parents to better understand their teen's challenges and what they are going through. When appropriate, Micah also enjoys working with clients who wish to incorporate their faith into counseling.    Micah is a Georgia native and currently lives in Cobb County. He’s a graduate of the University of Georgia and is working toward a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at Richmont Graduate University in Atlanta.    At Atlanta Wellness Collective, Micah is closely supervised by an in-house clinical supervisor, meaning that his clients benefit from having multiple counselors whose time and expertise are applied to working with them. Micah is currently under the supervision of Jonathan Smith, LPC. Micah also offers counseling sessions at a significantly reduced rate.

"Being a teenager has never been harder.” “You are a brave, courageous person.” “Depression and anxiety are no joke.” These are statements Chip makes every day in his office to validate the very legitimate concerns his clients bring to him. He considers it a great honor to walk alongside his clients as they walk and talk out their issues. Chip has over 15 years of experience working with teenagers, adults, and families in private practice and in-home, residential settings. For the past three years, he feels that he has found his greatest joy by working in a private practice setting where he builds healthy, trusting relationships with his clients who are looking to make changes in their personal life and within their family. Chip is patient, compassionate, and not afraid to share a bit of his own story if it’s helpful in facilitating someone's healing and growth. If you are reading this, it means you are ready to take a new step in your life. Counseling isn't necessarily the easiest thing in the world, but it is one of the bravest and often one of the most rewarding.

Above and Beyond Counseling Services was designed to incorporate God (Above) and clinical therapeutic techniques (Beyond) into counseling services. Our staff all have different clinical treatment modality training, but all have a core belief that without God our treatment is limited. We offer individual, marriage, and family counseling. We also serve children as young as 5 in our office. Most children come into our office with behavioral issues that the whole family needs support with. We offer classes to help families with parenting skills and therapists to help parents with the stress. Our hope is that when one family member comes into our office with the "symptom," the whole family considers treatment. Most mental health symptoms are a part of a system, not isolated to one person. We also offer several support groups because life is hard! It's our hope that when you come into a group here you'll feel comfortable and realize others are in the boat with you. Depression Support Group, Wounded by Infidelity, Survivors of Sexual Abuse, Positive Discipline Class, and Bible studies are here to support our community.

My passion is helping couples and individuals understand their current story of shutdown or strife so healing can begin.  I started where you are. I was smart and competent in many ways, but I didn’t understand how my early relationships and experiences affected the choices I was making. I struggled the first few years of marriage and felt defeated. Almost three decades later, I find joy helping couples and individuals find a new way.  In sessions with couples, I use Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) to track the steps in the relationship's negative cycle, a cycle of disconnect that you’ve unconsciously fallen into over time. We step away from blame and discover that the vulnerable feelings of rejection and abandonment are fueling the cyclical fights. We see that under surface tensions are attachment cries: Are you there? Do I matter?  In individual sessions, I use Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) to help you explore how your default responses might be getting in the way of the love and the life you want. These default responses are related to your attachment style. Instead of feeling defeated by your repeated "failings" or “mistakes,” you’ll see that you make sense in the context of your life’s experience.  Read more about my approach and schedule a free consultation with me here: https://newstorycounselingatl.com/services

Melissa is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with a Master of Science in professional counseling from Georgia State University. She is passionate about serving children, individuals, and families through counseling. She has a passion to see her clients thrive so that they are able to overcome challenges that are negatively affecting their lives. Melissa is committed to assisting in the process of growth to help clients break dysfunctional cycles. She approaches therapy with individuals, children, and families using creative methods. Since obtaining her degree, Melissa has received continuing education and specializes in providing play therapy services for children ages 4–12 and is trained in working with children who experience anxiety, anger, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social skills, among other issues. In addition, Melissa enjoys helping adult women who are facing challenges and difficulties such as depression, anxiety, and more, as well as adults with anxiety, and couples facing conflict. Melissa has served in various settings using her skills in the role of kindergarten teacher and church staff member.

As a mental health counselor, Johanna strives to help you achieve your goals and the life you desire and deserve. Johanna creates a comfortable, safe environment where you can collaborate with her to identify the root of a difficult issue, whether it be anxiety, a stressed relationship, or a stressful work environment. Johanna teaches coping techniques and strategies critical to treating your concerns, helping you uncover practical, effective methods that appeal to your strengths and preferences so you can move toward healing.    She views therapy as a way for individuals to discover blind spots. Johanna has been where you might be now—feeling like all hope is lost and things could never get better. A therapist changed Johanna's mind when he helped change her life; Johanna has been dedicated to the mental health field ever since.   Johanna knows that counseling can point the way toward self-improvement, enhanced coping skills, and holistic well-being and happiness. Though they wouldn’t have imagined it possible, clients who suffered from severe anxiety disorders have overcome their fears working with Johanna. She’s also helped clients overcome severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and eating disorders. Johanna's desire is to work with clients on their journey of self-improvement and life-changing  transformation. 

Whether you or a family member is struggling with depression, anxiety, anger, or relationship problems, you are here because you're looking for a change. Jason enjoys helping people move past the band-aid approach to a problem to really finding lasting change. Early on in his work with clients, he collaborates with them to find practical interventions that will bring relief. Then they explore the internal and external factors that can keep people stuck. The more understanding people have about themselves and their situation, the better they’ll know what to do about it. Jason provides a safe environment for clients to process their struggles. He wants to make sure he understands their life from their perspective. He encourages, challenges, and is present with his clients as they face their hard places.