I approach therapy as the healing of all parts of you not just one particular area or problem. I use a combination of Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Together we will navigate through the jungle of trauma, depression, and anxiety. Together, our job is to find a way to the pure, free, natural state of happiness found within your authentic self. There your triggers will no longer trigger you. You will not believe those negative thoughts as truth, and you will be freed of any baggage that trauma as placed on your shoulders.

Available to New Clients! In-person Acworth office or virtually.
Who Am I? We all desire to be heard, to be seen, to have a purpose, to know the truth, to trust, to be trusted, and to be whole. The mind, body, & spirit need to be well; we work with all three parts. Having grown up overseas, I know acculturation into the home country is a struggle. I know what it's like to be hurt by religion or church. I know what it's like to live with a narcissistic leader or family member.
I've experienced divorce, remarriage, had single-parenting struggles, learned to rebuild a family. I know the challenges of aging parents. Life is hard at any age. I am also an LGBTQIA ally.
I offer a safe space of acceptance & kind confrontation. Our lives are impacted by trauma, whether a one-time event or a life pattern. Trauma can be one-time or long-term; religious, psychological, or physical abuse by people we trust. I will walk alongside you, working through the past, accepting the present, working toward whole wellness in your future.
As your therapist, I want to be present with you where your needs may be. If it's anxiety, depression, gender identity issues, church or religion mess, trauma, aging parents, difficult kids, troubled or at-risk-marriage, toxicity, or a career change, I will listen to you. I offer an open mind but I will challenge you when you need another perspective.

Ash is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in working with adolescent and young adult males struggling with anxiety, stress, depression, ADHD, and trauma. Ash worked as a school counselor for years before beginning his clinical practice and takes his passion for working with young adults into his clinical work.

I have been supporting parents in every job or role I’ve had in adulthood whether I knew it at the time or not. My clinical work began working with teenagers in the inpatient setting. I noticed that there would be times where patients would become stable while in the hospital and then we would discharge them, only for them to return a short time later. I realized we needed to be working with the family as a whole. Then I began working with younger children, thinking if I intercepted my clients at a younger age, I could potentially prevent the struggles I saw on the inpatient unit. I slowly worked my way down in age, working in the infant and early childhood realm in mental health care. One day, I had a lightbulb moment. I noticed a trend in all of these settings: the most important and impactful work is done with parents. Most mental health difficulties in children (and even many adults!) can be traced back to early childhood. Those experiences either tend to help or hinder our roles as parents.

Malissa Truesdale-Crawford MA, LCMHCA
Malissa is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate. She is licensed in both South Carolina and North Carolina.

Malissa is most passionate about people and her motto for clients is let’s work together to become your overall “best/better” SELF!! Malissa has worked tirelessly to help children of all ages and adults feel good about themselves no matter what the past, present may look like. We work together to make “you, the client” feel whole and worthy! Malissa’s previous work stems from children and adults thus the family unit (Couples) is an area that comes naturally for her.

As we process your life path, we will use my skills in Narrative Therapy (values/importance you tell yourself), Solution Focus (where you’re heading/future self), Motivational Interviewing (why do you do what you do) and CBT (ways to change what you do). Malissa is also trained in Couples Prepare/Enrich and Brain-spotting.

It’s important to elevate all voices and stories, especially ones that haven’t felt heard before. As a minority identifying therapist and child of immigrants, my lived experiences help me connect with my clients on a deeper level. I strive to create a safe healing space for my clients. I provide therapy to individuals, age 12 and up. I have a special interest in teens, college students, adults of all ages, BIPOC individuals, those from marginalized groups, and first generation and immigrant individuals. I also have specialty training and expertise in developmental trauma, particularly with adoptees and adoptive parents.
I’m passionate about empowering my clients to overcome and work through their struggles with trauma, life stressors and transitions, anxiety, grief, depression, self-esteem, mood instability, interpersonal relationships, parenting and attachment difficulties. I find using creative and hands-on techniques to be very helpful during sessions.
You desire to feel like you’re flourishing rather than just getting by. There’s power in vulnerability. We can work together on finding those barriers, processing uncomfortable feelings and experiences and building self-regulatory skills to thrive. Let’s chat to see if we’re a good fit! Thank you for prioritizing yourself or your loved one(s).

Mary Anne is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Spanish from Furman University and a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Wake Forest University. She has experience working with children, teenagers, adults, and families in both medical and private practice settings.

Mary Anne tailors her counseling approach to fit the developmental needs of her clients. As a certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator, Mary Anne offers parenting education and values working closely with the family system to encourage positive growth and development.

Mary Anne also works with pregnant and postpartum women. Her training in perinatal mood disorders coupled with her passion for maternal mental health and experience as a mother herself allows her to serve women and families as they navigate pregnancy, parenthood, and life transitions.

In the counseling room, Mary Anne strives to create a comfortable space for clients to be their authentic self and work through their concerns. She works alongside her clients to encourage them to discover their strengths, explore ways to empower themselves, and promote healthy change.

If you are struggling to cope with stress and anxiety from past or ongoing difficulties (such as school/work stress, friendship/relationship problems, bullying, or family dynamics), I can help you process and problem-solve your experiences and offer a path forward. This includes learning coping skills and interpersonal effectiveness, as well as examining thought and behavior patterns. I enjoy working collaboratively with my clients to help them be the best version of themselves by helping them to identify their goals and to leverage their strengths to meet those goals.

Are you or your child struggling in school and you don't know why or how to help? A psychoeducational evaluation can determine if an individual meets criteria for a learning disability or ADHD, as well as highlight strengths and weaknesses and guide academic and treatment recommendations (including accommodations on standardized tests, if appropriate).

I am currently conducting all therapy via telehealth and am accepting new clients ages 12+ in DC, MD, VA, NJ, PA, & more. Psychoeducational evaluations are conducted in DC only (ages 6+). Please feel free to email me so we can set up a brief phone consultation to see if I can help. If I can't, I'll try to point you in the right direction.

Melissa Murphy, LCSW-C, LICSW, LCSW, C-DBT, is a seasoned therapist and clinical director at Bethesda Therapy, licensed in Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia. Specializing in anxiety, depression, trauma, and OCD, she employs ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) and Inference-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT), recognized as leading treatments for OCD. Melissa's expertise extends to managing mood disorders, sexual dysfunction, and pelvic pain disorders. Her approach is collaborative and strengths-based, focusing on developing personalized strategies for each client.

As a Gottman-trained couples therapist, Melissa is adept at addressing the complexities of relationships affected by ADHD and OCD. She also treats Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) and finds profound fulfillment in supporting therapists and those in helping professions. Her work is underpinned by advanced training in both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Amelia Thomas is an Associate Professional Counselor (APC007724) specializing in working with women on anxiety, depression, trauma recovery, self-esteem, identity development, young adulthood transition, and relationship concerns (including unhealthy patterns and covert narcissistic abuse). Amelia is inspired by helping women recognize their worthiness through the healing of past wounds and the strengthening of their authentic selves.

Amelia also enjoys working with college aged and young adult women as they navigate the challenges that come along with burgeoning independence, changing relationships, and major life transitions.

Amelia has worked in many settings, including a non-profit serving survivors of domestic and sexual violence, an emergency housing shelter, and a University counseling center. Her professional and personal background has led her to develop a strong desire to assist individuals in healing from the profound pain that traumatic experiences can leave behind. In helping survivors free themselves from old, ineffective patterns, Amelia seeks to support them in cultivating resilience, connection, and meaning in their lives.

Amelia obtained a B.S. in Sociology from Appalachian State University and an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Mercer University. As an APC, Amelia works under the Direction and Supervision of Mazi Robinson, MS, LPC, CPCS, NCC (LPC 006005, CPCS 1433) and Amy Robbins (LPC 3834, CPCS 83).

Born and raised in Atlanta, Amelia loves exploring the city, attending live music concerts, and cooking. She also enjoys going on outdoor adventures with her family, friends, and two rescue dogs.