Emily Ruggles

LPC, CRC

About

Emily specializes in working with individual adults and teens (15yo+). She has extensive experience working with young adults and college students having difficulty with anxiety, depression, life stage transitions (moving, graduation or career change), suicidal thoughts, self-esteem, relationship concerns, and dating. Having assisted collegiate student athletes as well as working with athletes at the professional level, Emily understands the unique pressures of being an athlete and the impact on mental health. She has a passion for helping her clients maximize their quality of life and perform to their greatest potential in every area of their lives.

Emily is also a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). This certification equips Emily to assist clients with mental health concerns affected by disabilities, traumatic brain injury and chronic health conditions. It allows Emily to address both the mental and physical components of wellness, thus improving clients’ daily functioning and their overall quality of life.

Emily specializes in working with individual adults and teens (15yo+). She has extensive experience working with young adults and college students having difficulty with anxiety, depression, life stage transitions (moving, graduation or career change), suicidal thoughts, self-esteem, relationship concerns, and dating. Having assisted collegiate student athletes as well as working with athletes at the professional level, Emily understands the unique pressures of being an athlete and the impact on mental health. She has a passion for helping her clients maximize their quality of life and perform to their greatest potential in every area of their lives.

Emily is also a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). This certification equips Emily to assist clients with mental health concerns affected by disabilities, traumatic brain injury and chronic health conditions. It allows Emily to address both the mental and physical components of wellness, thus improving clients’ daily functioning and their overall quality of life.

Lisa R. Jones

Associate Professional Counselor

About

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.

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.

Kelli Summey

LPC

About

Kelli is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has Master's of Arts in Professional Counseling from Richmont Graduate University. She has specialized training in the treatment of trauma, specifically in evidenced based practices such as EMDR, Brainspotting, and Progressive Counting method.

Her desire is to help others find freedom from the areas in life where they feel stuck. Specifically, her goal in counseling is to meet you where you are, help you identify your innate strengths, and learn how the things you have been through in the past have influenced you. She desires to create a safe space where you can move towards healing and restoration.

Kelli has worked in private practice, residential, and outpatient settings providing individual and group counseling.
Her experience has equipped her to work with individuals who struggle with past traumatic experiences, abuse, depression, anxiety, grief/loss, prenatal and postpartum issues, and other relational concerns. She utilizes individualized approaches to meet you exactly where you are in the healing process.

Kelli is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has Master's of Arts in Professional Counseling from Richmont Graduate University. She has specialized training in the treatment of trauma, specifically in evidenced based practices such as EMDR, Brainspotting, and Progressive Counting method.

Her desire is to help others find freedom from the areas in life where they feel stuck. Specifically, her goal in counseling is to meet you where you are, help you identify your innate strengths, and learn how the things you have been through in the past have influenced you. She desires to create a safe space where you can move towards healing and restoration.

Kelli has worked in private practice, residential, and outpatient settings providing individual and group counseling.
Her experience has equipped her to work with individuals who struggle with past traumatic experiences, abuse, depression, anxiety, grief/loss, prenatal and postpartum issues, and other relational concerns. She utilizes individualized approaches to meet you exactly where you are in the healing process.

Mindy Pierce

LPC

About

Mindy Pierce is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice with GROW Counseling. She received her MA in Counseling Psychology from Indiana Wesleyan University and her BA from Asbury University.

Her clinical experience includes working with men’s and women’s issues; various relationship issues; pornography and infidelity; substance and process addictions; depression; anxiety; grief; PTSD; personality disorders; parenting stress; survivors of sexual, physical and emotional abuse, complex trauma, secondary trauma, commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking; and those providing services for survivors (first responders, attorneys, therapists, and case workers). She is also trained and experienced in EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing).

Mindy has led short-term teams and/or facilitated counseling seminars in Mexico, Uganda, Ukraine, and Sri Lanka. She and her husband spent 18 months living in Sri Lanka and working for a post-tsunami recovery project, where she began her involvement in anti-human trafficking work. Upon returning to the United States, she has worked in a private, residential setting and as a therapist in private practice.

A strong commitment to supporting first responders grew from experiences related to her husband’s years spent in law enforcement. Mindy possesses a deep appreciation for the unique challenges faced by those working on the front lines of law enforcement, fire and rescue, and emergency medical services – understanding the risk of secondary traumatization, addiction, burnout, isolation, and distress in personal relationships.

In 2016, after 14 years of witnessing the restorative impact of healthy, life-giving relationships and the traumatic impact of brokenness around issues related to connection, sex and intimacy, Mindy created STRONGERconnection|cards™, a conversation tool designed for proactively building relationships and preventing disconnection. You can learn more at STRONGERconnectioncards.com.

She and her husband live in the Atlanta area and have three children.

Mindy Pierce is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice with GROW Counseling. She received her MA in Counseling Psychology from Indiana Wesleyan University and her BA from Asbury University.

Her clinical experience includes working with men’s and women’s issues; various relationship issues; pornography and infidelity; substance and process addictions; depression; anxiety; grief; PTSD; personality disorders; parenting stress; survivors of sexual, physical and emotional abuse, complex trauma, secondary trauma, commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking; and those providing services for survivors (first responders, attorneys, therapists, and case workers). She is also trained and experienced in EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing).

Mindy has led short-term teams and/or facilitated counseling seminars in Mexico, Uganda, Ukraine, and Sri Lanka. She and her husband spent 18 months living in Sri Lanka and working for a post-tsunami recovery project, where she began her involvement in anti-human trafficking work. Upon returning to the United States, she has worked in a private, residential setting and as a therapist in private practice.

A strong commitment to supporting first responders grew from experiences related to her husband’s years spent in law enforcement. Mindy possesses a deep appreciation for the unique challenges faced by those working on the front lines of law enforcement, fire and rescue, and emergency medical services – understanding the risk of secondary traumatization, addiction, burnout, isolation, and distress in personal relationships.

In 2016, after 14 years of witnessing the restorative impact of healthy, life-giving relationships and the traumatic impact of brokenness around issues related to connection, sex and intimacy, Mindy created STRONGERconnection|cards™, a conversation tool designed for proactively building relationships and preventing disconnection. You can learn more at STRONGERconnectioncards.com.

She and her husband live in the Atlanta area and have three children.

Brooke Ferreira

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

About

Finding a therapist that you connect with is crucial to helping you get the results you are hoping for. You may consider personality, values, style of therapy, or the overall vibe in your search. People would describe therapy with Brooke as heart healing, honest, collaborative and connecting. Brooke is passionate about working along individuals and couples as they learn to live authentically, boldly, and joyfully. Her work helps clients to explore the wounds or trauma that may be holding them back from achieving their best self. Brooke may be a good fit for you if you find yourself wanting a therapist who will hold your perspective and offer a different one, if you want to be challenged to grow, or if you are looking to be more spiritually and emotionally connected to yourself and others.

Finding a therapist that you connect with is crucial to helping you get the results you are hoping for. You may consider personality, values, style of therapy, or the overall vibe in your search. People would describe therapy with Brooke as heart healing, honest, collaborative and connecting. Brooke is passionate about working along individuals and couples as they learn to live authentically, boldly, and joyfully. Her work helps clients to explore the wounds or trauma that may be holding them back from achieving their best self. Brooke may be a good fit for you if you find yourself wanting a therapist who will hold your perspective and offer a different one, if you want to be challenged to grow, or if you are looking to be more spiritually and emotionally connected to yourself and others.