Counseling is a collaborative, confidential process designed to help individuals address their concerns, come to a greater understanding of themselves, and learn effective personal and interpersonal coping strategies. It involves a confidential relationship between an individual and a trained therapist who has the desire and willingness to help them accomplish their individual goals. Because counseling often involves sharing sensitive, personal, and private information it may at times be distressing.

No one answer is right for everyone, but if you are experiencing some of the following feelings, then counseling might help:

    * Your feelings are affecting your sleep, eating, job and relationships 
    * You feel as if you can't do it alone.
    * You feel trapped and as if there's nowhere to turn.
    * You worry all the time and never seem to find solutions to your problems.
    * You've tried to change, but things aren't getting better.

    * Anxiety and depression
    * Family and relationship issues
    * Substance abuse and other addictions
    * Sexual abuse, rape and domestic violence
    * Eating disorders
    * Career changes and job stress
    * Social and emotional issues related to illness and disability
    * Adaptation to life changes
    * Grief and bereavement
    * Problems with shame
    * Problems dealing with anger

As a licensed clinical psychologist, I am trained in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders. The term mental disorder is not really an accurate term as it implies a separation between the "mental" and the "physical" which does not reflect current scientific understanding. Unfortunately a better term has not reached public consensus. In current understanding, mental disorders or mental illness are terms that are used to refer to psychological or physiological patterns that occur in individuals and are usually associated with distress or disability that is not expected as part of normal development or culture. The recognition and understanding of mental disorders has evolved over time and are based on a consensus of current formulations. A diagnosis of a mental disorder can inform treatment options and in some cases may support further evaluation regarding treatment with medication.

Individuals generally either pay "out of pocket" or they utilize their health insurance benefits.

I am currently a participating provider in the following networks:

Aetna
CIGNA
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Georgia

I am an authorized TRICARE and Medicare provider.

I am in the credentialing process with some other networks, so please let me know which insurance plan you are on.