Discover how starting sand tray therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
6 therapists available in Alpharetta
Above all, I strive to create a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can heal, grow, and work towards their life goals with co...
About
Above all, I strive to create a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can heal, grow, and work towards their life goals with courage, self-acceptance, and empowerment.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor with 8 years of experience. I have worked in clinical and management roles, and deeply enjoy working with people in relationships, whether they are navigating communication struggles, intimacy issues, or seeking growth together. I have extensive experience working with active-duty service members, veterans, and military families through short-term evidence-based clinical care. In addition, I provide therapy to children, adolescents, families, couples, and individuals experiencing trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
I have my Master of Arts in Counseling from Webster University and my Doctor of Education in Marriage and Family Counseling from Liberty University and I am a Certified Sex Therapy Informed Professional. I am trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, emotionally-focused therapy, prolonged exposure therapy, and the Gottman method for couples.
I believe in meeting clients where they are to create an environment where recovery and empowerment can take place. If you are ready to begin your journey, I encourage you to schedule an appointment today!
Education and training
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I am a compassionate therapist who values open, collaborative conversations and walks alongside teens, adults, couples, and famili...
I am a compassionate therapist who values open, collaborative conversations and walks alongside teens, adults, couples, and families to help them feel truly seen, supported, and empowered in their growth.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with 6 years of experience in community mental health, hospital mental health, and private practice. I’m passionate about supporting adolescents, teens, adults, couples, and families as they navigate life’s challenges. Many of my clients feel burdened by anxiety, self-doubt, or struggles in relationships and want a safe place to rest, heal, and grow. Together, we focus on building self-esteem, setting healthy boundaries, and rediscovering joy, so you can feel more confident and at peace in daily life.
I earned my Master’s in Clinical Counseling from Point Loma Nazarene University. I use a client-centered, trauma-informed approach that blends cognitive behavioral therapy, Gottman methods, and experiential therapy. I help clients shift unhelpful thought patterns, explore emotions, and develop assertive communication and conflict resolution skills.
When you’re ready to lay down the weight you’ve been carrying, I’ll walk beside you. You don’t have to climb this mountain alone; I provide a safe, supportive space where you can bring whatever you’re facing. My goal is to offer empathy, hope, and healing as we navigate the path toward peace together. Schedule your first appointment today.
Nicole is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Georgia specializing in working with children and adults needing suppo...
Nicole is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Georgia specializing in working with children and adults needing support in coping with traumatic events, major life changes, mood and anxiety disorders, academic and career issues, as well as other stressors. She also has an extensive background working with children in foster care and families in the process of adopting. She has a BA in Literature and Philosophy from Fairfield University and received her MSW from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Nicole utilizes a client-centered, multi-modal approach tailored to the individual needs of the client. Most commonly, Nicole integrates cognitive processing, trauma-focused CBT, emotionally-focused therapy, expressive arts therapy, and interpersonal neurobiology. As a former teacher, she offers unique understanding to children and teens overwhelmed with school as well as support to parents navigating the educational system. Nicole creates a safe space for you to focus on untangling complex emotional and behavioral issues so you can feel empowered to move forward successfully. She brings insight into your strengths while helping you develop positive coping skills to get life in balance.
Stephanie Catrett is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia. She has over 8 years of experience working with ad...
Stephanie Catrett is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia. She has over 8 years of experience working with adults in the state mental health system and 6 years of experience working with adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders by providing clinical assessments and therapeutic care for individuals with anger, depression, trauma, rape or abuse, personality disorders, and behavioral disorders.
Stephanie received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, and her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health from Troy University in Phenix City, AL. She utilizes a person-centered, cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, and Christian-based approach to therapy in collaboration with the individual to determine and achieve the goals of the client. She is always striving to develop the creative and flexible skills to aid individuals to reach and maintain their therapeutic goals and live their healthiest and happiest life.
Stephanie looks forward to developing a caring and professional relationship with you to build a therapeutic alliance aimed at reaching your personal goals, building skills to reach and maintain those goals, and living the most meaningful life that you can.
As an open-minded, compassionate mother with eclectic life experiences, I understand many diverse personalities and situations....
As an open-minded, compassionate mother with eclectic life experiences, I understand many diverse personalities and situations.
Jessalyn Palmer is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Georgia and a National Certified Counselor (NCC) who has 15 years of experience working with adolescents and adults in a variety of settings. She has a keen interest in helping you through the challenges and opportunities of life through a compassionate and non-threatening process. She believes mental wellness is just as important as physical health.
Jessalyn completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from LaGrange College in 2003 and received her Master of Science in Professional Counseling from Georgia State University in 2005. She uses an integrative approach drawing from cognitive-behavioral, developmental, interpersonal, and attachment theories.
Jessalyn will help you create balance, have increased confidence, and help you to thrive! She believes in creating a warm, collaborative, positive, therapeutic relationship with each client. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and kids. She plays the cello in the local symphony and loves to walk and play with her two dogs!
I am very compassionate and genuine and I believe it is my job to empower people and help individuals to thrive in their current e...
I am very compassionate and genuine and I believe it is my job to empower people and help individuals to thrive in their current environment.
Mark Sherling is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Georgia who has over 10 years of experience providing clinical assessments and therapeutic care to adolescents and adults seeking help with addiction, depression, anxiety, anger, trauma, relationship issues, and difficult life transitions.
Mark received his Bachelor's degree in Psychology and his Master's degree in Clinical Counseling from Valdosta State University. He has a long history of working closely with individuals in crisis. Mark describes his therapy style as person-centered with a focus on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). He has have found his approach to be effective in helping clients to begin exploring their lives in a supportive environment.
Mark loves being a therapist, working with a diverse variety of clients. He is passionate about assisting you or your loved ones to be able to recognize strengths, address challenges, and work towards positive growth.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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Sand tray therapy is a therapeutic method that fosters non-verbal emotional expression through the use of sand and assorted toys, tools, and figurines. This technique helps individuals cope with conditions like stress, anxiety, and trauma through self-expression.
Sand tray therapy is a structured setting in which clients are given tools and toys along with a sand tray, and are asked to express themselves with the sand. This can give therapists a way to connect with clients or lead them to ask more specific questions. It also gives individuals the time and space to clear their minds and process their emotions and experiences, as well as allowing them to spend their energy on feeling their feelings rather than finding ways to articulate them. This can be freeing for both children and adults.
Sand tray therapy at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
Sand tray therapy can be used for a few minutes at a time or as the main focus of sessions. Depending on the concerns of the client, their symptoms, and the effectiveness of the technique, sand tray therapy might be implemented for anywhere from one session to many sessions over the course of years.
Sand tray therapy is a technique which can be used to facilitate healing in adults, adolescents, and children, allowing them to express their thoughts and feelings when words alone are not enough. In addition to its therapeutic use, sand tray can be a tool for personal growth and the development of creativity.
A sand tray therapist’s office is equipped with a specially proportioned sand tray with a blue interior, water and a large collection of miniatures, including human figures, fantasy and folklore figures, animals, buildings, objects from nature, vehicles, and others. The miniatures represent all of the elements of life-the good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly, the comforting, the frightening, the happy and the sad. The therapists at Thriveworks Alpharetta who have been specially trained in the use of the sand tray provide an accepting environment in which the client is invited to create a world in the tray using the sand and miniatures.
People think not only in words but in images. The use of the sand and miniatures activates this nonverbal manner of thinking, allowing the client to express images, emotions, perceptions, and conflicts about which they may not be able to talk. New solutions to emotional struggles can be experimented with through the “play.”
The meaning of the work in the sand tray emerges as the client shares the world with the therapist. Through the use of the sand tray, emotional struggles which previously were not conscious or could not be talked about are brought into awareness so that they can be understood and resolved. An increased capacity for self-expression, self-awareness and communication can be developed through the use of sand tray.
The use of sand tray is very effective with children who are not yet mature enough to express complex thoughts and feelings. Most children take to the use of the sand tray very readily.
However, sand tray therapy is also a powerful therapeutic tool for adolescents and adults, with whom it can be used along with verbal therapy. Working in the sand tray allows clients to move to a deep level more quickly than they might when relying on words alone.
Sand tray therapy can be particularly helpful with adults and teenagers when they are “stuck” in verbal therapy. Using the sand and the miniatures can open the way to feelings which we have been unable to reach by talk alone. For people who tend to rely too much on their intellect to the exclusion of their emotion, struggle with perfectionism, have a history of trauma or loss, or have unresolved family issues, the use of the sand tray can be especially effective. Sand tray therapy can also be employed in counseling families or couples.
If you think you could benefit from sand tray therapy, reach out to Thriveworks in Alpharetta to get scheduled for your first session. We offer evening and weekend appointments, and accept most major insurances. Call today to get started.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
Shown in ET
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