Therapists for college students near Georgia State University

I help students who feel stuck in anxiety loops reclaim their time, confidence, and sense of control. If your mind feels constantly “on,” you’re overthinking everything, avoiding situations you used to enjoy, or using substances just to calm down or get through the day , you’re not broken. Your nervous system has learned to protect you in ways that are no longer helping. I specialize in working with college and graduate students who struggle with: OCD (including intrusive thoughts, mental rituals, and “what if” fears) Panic attacks and fear of panic Social anxiety and fear of judgment Health anxiety and body-focused fears Skin picking / excoriation and other body-focused repetitive behaviors Trauma and chronically feeling "on guard" Anxiety-related substance use (using alcohol or drugs to cope, numb, or shut the mind off) My approach is structured, skills-based, and compassionate. We’ll focus on helping you understand how anxiety and OCD actually work, learn practical tools to respond differently to fear, and gently reduce avoidance, without forcing you to “just calm down” or relive trauma before you’re ready. I use evidence-based treatments like CBT, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and nervous-system regulation, while also paying close attention to how your past experiences shape how safe your body feels now. Students often tell me they appreciate that therapy with me feels: Clear and organized (you’ll know why we’re doing what we’re doing) Collaborative and non-judgmental Focused on real-life change, not just insight If anxiety, OCD, or panic is taking up more mental space than you want, or if substances have started to feel like the only way to cope, therapy can help you build safer, more sustainable ways to get through school and life. You don’t have to do this alone. Other Offerings available on my website: The Freedom from Panic Intensive is a focused, short-term program designed for students who are stuck in panic attacks or fear of panic and want relief sooner than weekly therapy allows. This intensive helps you understand what’s fueling panic, reduce fear of bodily sensations, and practice responding differently to anxiety so panic no longer runs your life. It’s structured, supportive, and grounded in evidence-based treatment for panic disorder. The Calm Mind is a self-paced online course for students who feel overwhelmed by anxiety, overthinking, or constant nervous system activation. You’ll learn practical skills to regulate anxiety, understand how your mind and body respond to stress, and build calmer, more flexible ways of coping, at your own pace. It’s a gentle starting point for students who want tools and insight, whether or not they’re ready for therapy.

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I am motivated to serve my community by merging my clinical expertise and lived experience. This looks like a focus on work with trans people. I believe strongly that trans clients deserve trans clinicians. I also serve folks with chronic illness and neurodiversity. Trauma is an experience that most of us have and I center it in all the work I do. I am a somatic therapist. This means I am passionate about your mental and physical health. I use modalities such as Somatic Experiencing (SE) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to assist my clients on their path to heal in response to stress and trauma. If you feel compelled to work with me please reach out. I am easily available by phone or email so we can talk more. I am accepting new clients and hungry to work with folks in my community!

What’s up? I’m Jay, a mental health therapist. I am deeply committed to supporting my clients in their journey of self-discovery and growth, addressing their holistic needs with a focus on soul-work. Building a strong therapeutic relationship based on mutual trust, respect, and honor is of the utmost importance to me. I believe in tailoring my services to each individual, taking the time to understand your unique thought processes, emotional coping mechanisms, tendencies, and habits, in order to ensure that my interventions align with your way of being. Empathy, safety and care are essential to me throughout the healing journey. I hold myself and my clients accountable to the goals we set together, approaching our work with diligence, consideration, and grace. Our therapeutic space is a collaborative one, and I adapt my techniques to meet your specific needs. However, one thing remains constant: my unwavering commitment to giving my best to help you become the best version of yourself. I am intuitive and open to addressing what you bring to our sessions. My ultimate goal is to help you feel empowered with the necessary coping skills to live a value-oriented, meaningful life. Together, we can embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery, joy, peace, and mental wellness.

I work with individuals struggling with life transitions, relationship problems, anxiety and other painful emotions. I have over 10 years of experience treating adolescents and adults and everyone in between. Working with students and aspiring young professionals is a population I'm passionate about working with. I strive to empower clients through developing greater self-awareness, acceptance and motivation to accomplish their goals. Therapy is a powerful tool that anyone can benefit from when the courage and motivation is present and I believe should be accessible to all. I work with students and launching young adults on a sliding scale rate to prevent cost from being an automatic barrier to seeking support or trying counseling for the first time.

Eric Brown is a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor in Georgia who has been practicing since 2022. He has a B.S. from Georgia State University and an M.S. from Mercer University Clinical Mental Health Program. As a therapist who embodies a multifaceted identity as a Black male with humor, intelligence, emotional intelligence, and articulate communication, Eric can offer a unique and empathetic approach to therapy. Eric includes relatability and understanding, empathy, cultural competence, guidance, and psychoeducation in his practice. He specializes in treating Depression, Anxiety, Self-Image/Self Esteem, Couples/Relationship Counseling, Family Counseling, Substance Use Disorders, and Attachment Issues. His approach uses Rogerian, CBT, DBT, and is simultaneously caring and empathetic while also being honest and direct, both guiding the client and allowing them to process and vent. Outside of work, Eric enjoys meditation, chess, yoga, and traveling.

Brenda Hailey, Therapist Brenda Hailey obtained her master's degree from Mercer University in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her previous experience includes working at Metro Atlanta Recovery Residences. Brenda sees adolescents and adults individually as well as groups. She enjoys working with a wide range of behavioral health issues including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, and substance use disorders. Brenda utilizes an integrative approach specially designed to meet each individual's needs and uses techniques from a variety of methods such as Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. She has 34 years of experience in several 12 step groups which has prepared her to work with clients with eating disorders, substance use disorders and codependency issues. Brenda has also worked in the education field for 35 years specializing in adolescents. Outside of work, Brenda enjoys 12 step recovery, walking, swimming, and croqueting.

I believe in addressing symptoms in a respectful and collaborative manner. I will use my experience as a mental health professional to provide you with several options for treatment while maintaining your safety, but you will always have the final say in what the next step is. I provide very detailed initial assessments. Let's work together to build the mindset needed to live the life you want!.

Ester Pulliam is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in Georgia who has been practicing since 2013. Ester is passionate about her profession and is a good listener. Ester enjoys working together with clients and encourages them to actively participate in their care, as well as their key family members. Outside of work, Ester enjoys traveling to experience other cultures, reading, gardening, meditating, and taking long walks.

Aphroditise Edge is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia who has been practicing since 2016. She obtained her Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health at Troy State University and her Undergraduate degree in Psychology from Columbus State University in Georgia. Aphroditise can help a client with their mental health issues with being understanding their individual differences. She keeps into account how different everyone is and use that to help create individualized treatment. Aphroditise's experience includes working with adolescents and adults who are struggling with mental health while in inpatient hospitalization, incarnation, and DBT therapy within their home. These previous experiences helped Aphroditise treat clients with an array of different mental health issues like anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and suicidal thoughts. Aphroditise uses different techniques to suit each client's needs like DBT, motivational interviewing, CBT, and solution focused therapy. Arts and crafts are fun for her as well.

Adaobi Ofoma, PhD., is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a National Certified Counselor who has been practicing since 2014. She graduated from Capella University with a doctoral degree in General Psychology and a concentration in Community Counseling from Argosy University. "? Dr. Adaobi believes that the overall wellbeing of an individual encompasses an inner sense of purpose, self-control, and a meaningful existence. She believes each client is unique and stives to provide guidance to help the client make better lifestyle choices. ""

Suwanne Sancko is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia. In addition, she is a Certified Master Addiction Counselor. She holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University. She obtained her Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Sociology and Women Studies from the State University of New York at Albany. Suwanne trained at an inpatient psychiatric hospital and substance abuse treatment facility. She has comprehensive experience with assessing and counseling adolescents and adults with co-occurring disorders. Suwanne is an energetic, caring, and open-minded therapist. Her goal is to instill confidence in her clients while using evidence-based techniques. She aids clients in developing their sense of self, self-awareness and assessing their own readiness for change and growth. Suwanne is nurturing, warm, and solution focused. She is great at getting to the root of difficulties/issues to help her clients process and heal. Outside of work, Suwanne loves cooking and listening to music at the same time. Her passion is traveling and trying new food wherever she goes.

Joseph is very passionate about his work and views the therapeutic process as collaboration between equals. Joseph believes that therapy is your time and he is just a guide to help you grow from your struggles, heal from your pain, and move forward to where you want to be in your life. Joseph strongly believes in the value of discovering and using our sources of enjoyment and other personal strengths to improve our ability to deal with life's various challenges. Joseph has worked with people from all walks of life and has extensive experience working with teens and young adults on variety of challenges including gender issues, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, life transitions, trauma, and loss. Joseph enjoys nature in all of its forms and spends much of his free time engaging in a variety of outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, and camping. He also enjoys reading history, sports, playing video games, and creative hobbies such as woodcarving and painting.

Lenissa has a bachelor's degree in Clinical Psychology and had completed her master's degree in Clinical Social Work at the Smith College School for Social Work. Moreover, she as a post-graduate training in Psychoanalysis and Mental Health. Lenissa is also a certified Play Therapist. Lenissa is a committed person, with a proactive and engaging clinical approach. She believes that her learned listening skills combined with her intrinsic empathetic qualities, collaborate to establish a truly and deep connection with her clients. In her view as a therapist, this connection/relationship is the most important tool to achieve therapeutic gains. Lenissa speaks English, and Portuguese.

Tony Sykes, LPC Tony Sykes is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia who has been practicing since 2011. Tony is a clinician that serves individuals who have anxiety and depression. He works with individuals that are bipolar and teenagers and young adults who are trying to figure out who they are gender identity and sexuality wise. Tony is a part of the LGBTQIA community, so he wants to serve the community. Tony offers disability advocacy and HIV and STI processing. As you can see, Tony has many skills, plus some he didn't mention. Outside of work, Tony enjoys creativity and directing. He has done some modeling and is an author. His current passion right now is going through a rebirth of his own and creating a brand for people with disability discussing their struggles as disabled people whether sexually or mentally and some disability cannot be seen. So, the Rollon Rebel brand is being created to help build confidence within their selves. He is a mentor but is the life of the party and sometimes just wants to be alone.

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I work primarily with clients who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected. You may be struggling with substances, pornography or sexual behaviors, gambling, relationships, trauma, anxiety, depression, or problems with motivation and direction. As a former university professor, I understand the pressures of academic life. I offer compassionate, direct, evidence-based therapy to help you understand what's happening, build practical skills, and move forward.

**Practice Introduction** Ellie Vinings is a behavioral health practice dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based mental health care in a welcoming and supportive environment. The practice serves a diverse client population, including children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Clinicians work with individuals experiencing concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, relationship challenges, stress, and other emotional or behavioral difficulties. Through personalized treatment plans and a collaborative approach, Ellie Vinings strives to help clients build resilience, improve well-being, and achieve their personal goals.

I work with adults navigating eating disorders, disordered eating, body image concerns, self-worth, OCD, and perfectionism. Whether it's food, your body, uncertainty, or impossible standards, your mind may spend most of its energy trying to solve, control, or get it just right. Together, we'll work to understand the patterns that no longer serve you, so they no longer have to shape your life. You don't need to have the right words or even know exactly where to start. My goal is to create a space where you don't have to filter or perform.

Experiencing anxiety, depression or dealing with trauma can be overwhelming and isolating experiences. Feelings such as grief and loss, frustration and hopelessness can complicate all aspects of one's life. Navigating these specific challenges is overwhelming and answers can be hard to find. You do not have to suffer in silence. You are not alone. You can get through this with help. My goal is to be a support for individuals that listens and provides unconditional acceptance in a neutral environment focused on understanding, recovery and peace. My method of providing therapy emphasizes the importance of self-love, supports and mindfulness practice as a tool for healing. Finding the right fit in a therapist is essential. I invite you to reach out to ask questions, discuss your concerns, and get a sense of whether I may be the right fit for you. I look forward to hearing from you. Please visit my website www.herwellnesscircle.com or give me a call at 678-538-9614 so that we can get started on your journey to wellness. Because I am virtual I am able to see clients throughout the state of Georgia and South Carolina.