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.

Burke is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in the state of Georgia. He received his Bachelor of Arts in business marketing at Auburn University and his Master of Science in professional counseling from Richmont Graduate University. His therapy focuses include but are not limited to life transitions, couples (dating, married, and engaged), depression, adolescent males, grief, and anxiety. He does not work with clients struggling with autism. Burke is trained in the PREPARE/ENRICH method and also completed an emotionally focused therapy (EFT) externship. In addition to his work in restoration therapy, he has also attended the Healing the Wounded Heart conference at the Allender Center. Burke served as a therapist at the Atlanta Mission: Shepherds Inn and the Hope Counseling Center from 2014 to 2015. He also served as the access center clinician at the Ridgeview Institute from 2015 to 2017. Since 2015, Burke has served as a therapist and Marriage Intensive Co-Facilitator at Lifegate Group.

Dr. Lori is a clinical psychologist and licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) who specializes in the effects of anxiety on individuals as well as relationships. She helps clients find the ways that they are disconnected, which lead to depression and other health issues. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Lori has worked with hundreds of clients both domestically and internationally to improve the quality of their lives. Her clients include CEOs and high-level executives of multi-billion-dollar companies, foreign diplomats and royalty, professional athletes, and Emmy award-winning producers. As a therapist, Dr. Lori is dedicated to joining you on a journey to improve your life and relationships. She compassionately walks beside you and guides you to wellness. As you discover your unique truth, Dr. Lori helps you find ways to connect with your deep wish for belonging and happiness within yourself so you can function as you were meant to. Dr. Lori authored The Effects of Texting on the Marital Relationship and writes a weekly blog. In addition, she contributes to countless magazine articles and appears on podcasts to encourage others to be engaged and connect with others.

Monica specializes in working with adult individuals and couples, including dating, premarital, and married couples. She received her BA from Davidson College and her MA from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She helps individuals gain freedom from past and present unproductive patterns and assists couples in reestablishing emotional safety and connection in their relationships. Since she entered the counseling profession over a decade ago, she has worked to bring both passion and a commitment to professional excellence to the therapy room. She believes in the power of psychotherapy to transform lives and heal hearts. She offers up-to-date knowledge and skills as she helps her clients have the lives and relationships they deserve. Research shows that the power of the therapeutic relationship is the greatest indicator of a positive outcome for clients. Her counseling style reflects this truth, as her work is rooted in the relationship and trust established between therapist and client. This unique relationship allows her to work collaboratively with each of her clients as she hears their concerns and aids them in reaching their goals.

Erin is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC); a National Certified Counselor (NCC); and a Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor (CPCS). She earned a master’s degree in community counseling from the University of North Georgia and a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and special education from the University of North Georgia.  Erin has dedicated her career to helping children and adolescents overcome hardships, regardless of the severity of the issue. While working in the school system, she helped elementary-aged children meet their academic goals. Later she helped adolescents and their families achieve stability while working as the Assistant Director of Cottage A/Youth Services for both the inpatient and partial programs at Ridgeview Institute. Erin enjoys working with individuals, groups, and families. She has experience working with clients in crisis and with mood disorders including anxiety, depression, and anger. She also enjoys working with families in conflict, clients with behavioral difficulties, and resistant clients.  She uses Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques to help children and adolescents learn healthy coping skills. Erin has extensive training in DBT, which can be greatly beneficial for adolescents. The technique can help with issues, including but not limited to suicidal thoughts, self-harming behaviors, anger or explosive emotional outbursts, isolation, anxiety, panic attacks, and disordered eating. DBT can also help adolescents more effectively communicate with their parents, handle difficult situations, and understand and navigate their emotions.  ​ ​Erin believes that behaviors are meaningful rather than random. Often when children act out, they are trying to get a need met or communicate with someone. Understanding the cause of behavior can help bring positive and lasting change. Erin believes that the use of art therapy allows children and adolescents to communicate in a natural manner so that the cause of behavior can be understood. She also feels that using creative expressive therapies can help bring positive change into children’s lives. 

Jennie is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) who provides therapy for individuals, couples, and families. She graduated with a Doctor of Ministry in spiritual formation and leadership from Portland Seminary of George Fox University. She holds a Master of Arts in professional counseling and received a Christian sex therapy certification and a spirituality and counseling certification from Richmont Graduate University. She also received a certification in spiritual formation with the London Cohort of the Renovaré Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation. Jennie is a certified facilitator for the PREPARE/ENRICH Premarital Counseling Program and is certified in Christian sex education from the Christian Association of Sexual Educators. She graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from the University of Georgia. Jennie is devoted to using the tools of Christian psychotherapy, prayer ministry, and spiritual formational resources to help individuals discover a deeper relationship with God in the midst of their life struggles. She is dedicated to the continual development of excellent, individualized, clinical services for her clients.

Sharon is the owner and therapist at Renewed You Counseling Services, LLC. To Sharon, counseling is not just a job but a passion and part of her life's purpose. She feels blessed and honored to be able to come alongside people and give them tools they need to find hope, purpose, and healing from their pain. The truth is, we all experience challenges in life and have a choice whether to allow challenges to push us down or raise us up. Sharon will be a champion for your growth and a support through the adversity. She loves to help adults and kids who have experienced trauma, anxiety, low self-esteem, or relationship issues to not just go through their challenges but to grow through them as well. As a result, Sharon's clients gain self-awareness and confidence while feeling both empowered and renewed! Sharon specializes in the treatment of trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, adjustment disorder, codependency, child and adolescent mood and behavior problems, parenting skills, divorce and breakup recovery, life coaching, and Christian integration. She is also trained in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), which has a high degree of effectiveness.

Tracy has been a counselor in the Woodstock area for 16 years and greatly enjoys her work. In her practice, she sees adults, teenagers, and couples. Tracy helps clients who have varying issues and specializes in relationship issues but will work with most things outside of addiction and eating disorders.

Marriage is complex. Most couples reach a point when they desire more intimacy and closeness than they are currently experiencing. Before long, the relationship in which we are meant to feel the safest leaves us feeling frustrated, distant, and insecure. Due to benign neglect or something more nefarious such as unresolved trauma, addiction, or affairs, couples find themselves ill-equipped to face the forces that cause all marriages to drift toward disconnection. As a counselor and pastor and through personal experience, Matt has seen and experienced the loneliness and pain that broken relationships cause. He uses collaborative, structured, and emotionally focused processes to create a plan for increasing connection while identifying and minimizing barriers to intimacy. Every person deserves to have the skills and knowledge to close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. You don't have to wait. Therapy can be a way to be understood and understand yourself and your spouse, but the process shouldn't be a mystery. Matt teaches couples how to speak the language of emotion, heal their wounds, and strengthen their bond.