Relationships can be a great source of joy and connection. They can also be really tough. When we get stuck, feelings of hurt, frustration, and loneliness can overwhelm us so much that it seems impossible to get back the sense of closeness and safety we long for. Ellen specializes in helping people work through these tough relationship issues and stresses related to change. As a certified emotionally focused therapist, she is committed to listening to her clients’ concerns and helping them heal and rebuild; cope with the stress and depression that often accompany relationship problems; and become more aware of how they may undermine what they want for their life and those they share it with. Ellen is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and founder of Relate Counseling. With over 13 years of counseling experience, she is an EFT Supervisor Candidate ; a Certified PREPARE/ENRICH Facilitator; and has additional training in the Enneagram, the Gottman Method, human attachment, human sexuality, and trauma recovery. Ellen favors emotionally focused therapy, the Gottman Method, and the Enneagram, which are all research-based and/or spiritual approaches that have been proven to help couples and individuals.

Emily earned her Masters of Arts from Dallas Theological Seminary in Counseling in Dallas, Texas and her PhD in Christian Counseling from International University. These programs provided a theological and psychological integration model as many people’s understanding of God/higher power impacts how they makes sense of challenges and learn to cope during times of difficulty. She uses her past personal and professional experience to help female clients struggling with anxiety disorders.

Kim has a Master of Arts in professional counseling from Richmont Graduate University and is a licensed professional counselor. She enjoys working with individuals, couples, and families who desire stronger and healthier relationships. Kim has a heart for integrating Christ into the counseling process while meeting individuals where they are in life. It is her desire to help people lean into their faith and community in the midst of critical circumstances. Kim has worked previously in private practice and inpatient settings. Her areas of focus include anxiety, depression, grief, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), trauma, life transitions, women's issues, pre-engagement, premarital, marital distress, and parenting. She has specific training in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and provides an evidenced-based framework to help individuals experience hope and healing from traumatic events. Kim is certified as a PREPARE/ENRICH facilitator and includes this structure as a helpful tool when working with couples. When she is not in the office, Kim loves spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys being outdoors in nature and going on hikes.

If the challenges in your life are louder than the solutions, know you are not alone. All people go through moments like this, and at Elise Berryhill Counseling, you will find a warm and compassionate environment where you can heal, grow, and thrive once again. Serving the Metro Atlanta area, Elise is a licensed professional Christian counselor who wants to listen as her clients share the experiences of their life and its challenges. She partners with her clients to determine what is working well for them and to identify what areas may need adjustment for their emotional well-being and relational satisfaction. She guides the counseling process toward gaining awareness and offering a new perspective with fresh insight. Clients will find their time with Elise to be collaborative, practical, and purposeful toward the life they were intended to live. Elise’s goals for her clients are that their satisfaction will come from a life well lived as God has purposed for each one, that they will face future circumstances with greater confidence, and that their relationship of love with Christ and others is ultimately their greatest source of joy.

Nicole Mateo, LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), CPCS (Certified Professional Counseling Supervisor) is a Bilingual (Native Speaker) Therapist with Comprehensive Care Associates. She has been in practice for over 20 years with specialty in trauma, sexual abuse, multicultural issues, maternal mental health and early childhood mental health. Nicole has received training in play therapy, family functional therapy, emotional focused therapy, EMDR and rapid resolution therapy.

Laura is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University where she received her B.A. in Psychology from the Honors Program. She then moved to Atlanta and earned her Masters of Family Therapy degree from Mercer University. She gained extensive experience in her clinical work at Laurel Heights Psychiatric Hospital where she worked with children and adolescents as well as their families in an inpatient setting. She also has specialized training that helps her work with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities from the Nisonger Center at The Ohio State University. She is comfortable adapting the therapy to the appropriate developmental level of the child or adolescent as well as including art therapy and play therapy techniques into her sessions.

Dr. Howell earned an academic scholarship right out of high school, but it was 30 years, a successful landscaping career, and four daughters down the road before she would complete her undergraduate degree. As she debated about defining her career choice, she felt God's leading to become a counselor. Her education and life experiences have equipped her to understand many of the issues facing those in need. After completing a Master of Arts in counseling, she started her own practice in the Dawsonville area. Dr. Howell earned her Doctor of Philosophy in psychotherapy in 1999 and has continually built upon that base by taking postgraduate certification courses covering a variety of areas: Nutrition Response Testing®, women's issues, grief, inner memory healing, stress management, anxiety disorder, and divorce recovery. Over the last 20 years in the profession, Dr. Howell's experiences have been extensive. She has had the opportunity to counsel individuals with a wide range of needs and has provided services for a number of local institutions and groups. Dr. Howell believes that for the maximum benefit, it is important to treat the individual’s "whole person"––spirit, soul, and body.

Dr. Ashley is a North Carolina native but is happy to now be a Georgia Peach! She specializes in both therapy and psychological testing services and sees ages three and up for comprehensive psychological, psycho-educational, and neuropsychological testing. Dr. Ashley also sees clients for individual therapy with an eclectic perspective. Her warm and friendly attitude makes her a good fit for children, teenagers, and families alike.

Dr. Penny Hays is a licensed psychologist who specializes in school-related problems with children. She conducts psychoeducational evaluations to diagnose learning disabilities including dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and attention deficit disorders.

Vickie is a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed professional counselor, certified sex therapist, a nationally-approved AAMFT supervisor, and a nationally-approved clinical supervisor (ACS). She has a master's degree in counseling from Georgia State University and a master’s degree from Richmont Graduate University with a specialization in sex therapy. In addition, she has completed marriage and family training from the University of Georgia. Vickie has been counseling, teaching, and consulting with several organizations since opening her practice in 1984. During her 35 years in the field, she has gained extensive experience in couples therapy, sexual issues, addiction, abuse, men's and women's issues, and spiritual issues. For 27 years, Vickie has supervised graduate students in counseling, postgraduates, and licensed therapists to teach and grow them in the field of counseling and marriage and family therapy. She is in good standing with several professional associations in the field.