I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with a PhD in Counselor Education & Supervision and am an ACS approved supervisor. I am the Assistant Dean of the School of Counseling at Richmont Graduate University. I am a CSAT and work extensively with sexual identity issues, sexual addiction issues, PTSD, and anxiety disorders. I specialize in working with men within the LGBTQ+ community, men in mixed orientation marriages, and men who experienced childhood sexual abuse.

Do you struggle to communicate or connect emotionally with your partner? Are you and your partner having trouble with your sexual relationship or had an affair? Do you feel like your anxiety, depression, sexual/porn addiction or trauma are getting in the way your life and relationships? I can you help you address your relational or mental health issues so you can feel more connected and emotionally steady.

Research shows that you need to have a good relationship with your therapist in order to succeed in counseling, so I work hard to create an environment calm, trusting environment. I pursue further education in specialties to better serve my clients, such as Sex Therapy, EMDR, Prepare/Enrich, and Gottman. I practice from a Christian worldview and I am able to incorporate that (or not) based on my client preferences. I love to listen to people's stories and help them identify healthy, achievable goals, then work with them to reach those goals.

We will work together to learn about your unique story and create a treatment plan that addresses your specific needs. I am currently offering both in-person and telehealth sessions for individuals and couples. Contact me to book a short phone call to find out if we are good fit and answer any questions.

Samantha earned her Master of Health Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Catawba College. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor through the NC Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (#17770) and a Licensed Professional Counselor through the SC Board of Licensed Professional Counselors (#10262). Samantha is also a Certified Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist, a Nationally Certified Counselor, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, a Certified Addictions-Informed Mental Health Provider, a Certified Sex Offender Treatment Professional, and a Registered Child Forensic Interviewer. Additionally, Samantha is trained in Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy, and Somatic Experiencing.

Samantha has had the opportunity to work with patients with a variety of mental health concerns in school-based, college mental health, and outpatient settings. Her clinical focus is on severe and persistent mental health concerns, with a concentration on mood disorders. Samantha utilizes an integrative approach, combining Cognitive Behavioral, Interpersonal, and Psychoanalytic techniques. Therefore, during sessions, she commonly assists in identifying and challenging self-limiting patterns, healing from past experiences, and gaining insight into how the unconscious influences behavior. Her research interests include the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system, the development of neurodevelopmental disorders, and genetic links between schizophrenia and associated comorbid conditions.

I practice counseling from the humanistic perspective that every person is inclined to change and growth to make the best of surviving in life. I utilize person-centered counseling to promote empowerment, autonomy, and authenticity to promote self-acceptance and compassion. In the beginning of counseling, I focus on the therapeutic relationship to foster trust and make sure that you feel comfortable in the therapeutic space. Once an alliance is formed, I often utilize specific modalities that cater to your individual needs and experiences. I like to show up as myself to counseling with hopes that you will too.
In my practice of person-centered counseling, I aim to reintroduce you to your authentic self. As you become more connected to yourself, you become more connected to your inner sources of wisdom, validation, compassion, self-respect, and acceptance.
At Restore Counseling & Therapy, we place you at the center of your counseling experience. We encourage you to define the changes that you would like to see and experience. We just help you get there with the professional knowledge and tools we have acquired for you.

Do you feel a persistent sense of unease? Exhausted from the pressures of life? Frustrated with how your past is impacting you? Overwhelmed by the thought of starting therapy? Often our struggles alone feel unbearable, and the idea of addressing them only adds more stress. But you can get to where you'd like to be. It just takes learning to endure the discomfort of the growth and healing process. I am dedicated to helping you walk through the discomfort —to gain self insight, to make changes in your life, to feel more at ease, and attain your goals.

I am in network with Regence and Premera.

I specialize in working with individuals and couples who feel stuck in relationships. I work with clients to better understand their attachment styles and attune to their emotions. I also work with multicultural individuals and couples and work to help explore identities. As a second-generation Korean-American, I recognize the difficulties of navigating multiple cultural identities and the stigmas around mental health and therapy. I offer my services in English and Korean.

It is my goal to help people through difficult times and communicate better within their families. I would like to support individuals, couples and families as they learn to manage what feels too hard to do on their own. I have worked extensively supporting youth and families through post traumatic events, anger issues, anxiety, depression and adjustments. I want to help support you through this difficult time or time of adjustment.

I am a strong believer that personal growth, change, and self-improvement are attainable for anyone willing to make the decision to try. I have a long list of personal experiences that have brought me to a point in life where I can now reach out and help others therapeutically. If you are feeling stuck in your life or in a situation that feels hopeless, you do not have to suffer through it alone. I would be honored to join you right where you are and begin establishing the right tools for you to get unstuck and to find that hope that was lost or missing. Primarily, I have clinical experience working with adolescents struggling with ADHD, depression, anxiety, suicidality, autism, and oppositional defiance. Secondarily, my personal experiences fuel my desire to work with young/teen mothers, first responders and spouses/family members of first responders.

Laura Baker MA, LPC, NCC, CPCS
Exhale Counseling
Exhale Counseling and Consulting Services
www.exhalecounselingsvcs.com
laura@exhalecounselingsvcs.com
770 892 6287
Co-Founder of Exhale Counseling (07.07.2020)
I am trained in EMDR

Are you struggling to find balance and create momentum in your daily life? I am offering virtual healthcare when you need it most. Through video calls we can meet, identify what change you want to occur and create a plan that propels you to a brighter future.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), I have over 15 years of experience in the behavioral health field. Using a variety of behaviorally-focused approaches I work with my clients to help them achieve their individual goals.

I utilize a behavior analytic approach to assist my clients. This includes creating SMART goals, taking baseline data, implementing interventions, and tracking progress throughout the duration of therapy. Give me a call and let's get started!

Sarah works with the team at Tapestry Associates in Marietta square to serve women, young adults and teens and partner with them on their mental health journey.