I believe that creating a warm, safe, and respectful environment is pertinent to establishing a healthy therapeutic relationship with my clients and helping them to achieve their therapy goals. I strongly believe that therapy is a collaborative process between myself and my clients with the overarching goals of improving relationships, emotional regulation, self-understanding, adjustment, and life satisfaction.

I work with children, adolescents, and adult clients through the use of individual, couples, and family therapy. I frequently incorporate the use of the Brainspotting method to help clients of various ages process through a wide range of highly stressful, activating and traumatic experiences that prevent them from fully engaging in aspects of their life. I also have been trained in Collaborative Practice; information regarding this approach to divorce can be found at www.CollabAtlanta.com.

For my adult clients, therapeutic issues typically focus on depression, anxiety, interpersonal relationship concerns, self-esteem and self-worth, communication difficulties, marital/relationship discord, and life transitions. Therapy focuses on identifying a client’s own strengths and challenges, empowering him/her to cope more effectively with life’s struggles, and improving relationships and overall functioning through insight, self-awareness, and healthy decision-making skills and coping resources.

With my children (ages 5 and older) and adolescent clients, common issues include divorce, depression, anxiety, OCD, mood dysregulation, behavioral difficulties, ADHD, family conflict, school performance issues, and social difficulties, such as peer conflict, bullying, and poor social skills in general. I believe that an important component in working with children and adolescents is the inclusion of the family, as I believe that making changes within the family system is the foundation to therapeutic progress. Family therapy typically centers on improving family communication and relationships, assisting parents in coping with their child’s emotional or behavioral issues at home, and building healthy boundaries, expectations, and family roles.

In addition to therapy, I am experienced in conducting psychological and psychoeducational evaluations. Such evaluations are a tool for identifying a client’s cognitive and academic skills, assessing for learning disabilities and developmental delays, and obtaining information regarding a client’s mental health. Evaluations can yield a wealth of information to help with treatment and educational planning and the identification of appropriate interventions.

I received my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and my M.Ed. in School Counseling from The University of Georgia. Prior to earning my doctorate, I worked as an elementary school counselor. I have been in private practice in the Atlanta area since 2006. In addition to private practice, I have been an adjunct instructor at Georgia State University with the Department of Counseling and Psychological Services and served on the board of the Division of Women and Girls for the Georgia Psychological Association.

I look forward to meeting you and the opportunity to help you address the barriers or concerns that are interfering with your happiness and ability to live life to the fullest!

I work with clients who may be struggling with anxiety, depression, and trauma in a way that's impacting their view of themselves and their ability to find wellbeing in relationships. In addition, I enjoy working with teens and adults on issues related to perfectionism, people-pleasing, codependency, relationship dynamics, sports performance, and sports injury. If you struggle with any of the above or with feelings of guilt, shame, resentment, not being enough/good enough, or vulnerability, I’d love to work with you!

Because each person is unique, I believe therapy is most effective when the approach is adapted to meet the needs of each individual. My approach is a combination of identifying and removing obstacles that are preventing healing while simultaneously providing support to help you move towards health. In sessions, this could involve exploring your past to understand how it impacts you today as well as gaining awareness, insight, and practical skills to help you move forward.

I hope to bring warmth, genuineness, and authenticity to our sessions in a way that invites you to do the same. I strive to create a space where you feel safe enough to open up and share your story, and it’s my goal that you would leave each session feeling seen, heard, and understood. As you move towards healing, my desire for you is that you would learn to live more authentically and wholeheartedly with a greater capacity for joy, connection, resilience, and hope.

I would love the opportunity to learn more about you and your reasons for seeking therapy to see if I’m the right fit for you. I hope to hear from you!

Under clinical supervision with Dr. Laura Land, LPC (GA #010913), CPCS (Ga #2150)

Feeling anxious, stuck, or just in need of someone to talk to? You’re not alone. Deciding to find a counselor is an amazing and powerful first step. Let me help you with the rest. Each session with me is specific to who you are and what you need. I find joy in helping my clients discover who they are and achieve the goals they have set for themselves.

I am a compassionate therapist committed to guiding AAPI and BIPOC women through the challenges rooted in cultural values, family conflicts, anxiety, depression, exploring intersectionality, and intergenerational trauma. As a South Asian American, I bring a culturally sensitive approach that fosters a connection with my clients. As a therapist, I utilize Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to support individuals in processing and overcoming the impact of traumatic experiences. Trauma is not always the byproduct of significant life altering events but can occur from small events like chronic stress, bullying, discrimination, dysfunctional family dynamics, microaggression, and constant exposure to challenging situations. EMDR involves a structured approach, helping clients identify and reframe/reprocess negative beliefs and emotions associated with past traumas. I also utilize therapeutic frameworks as Humanistic Person-Centered approach, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Strengths Based approach.

Stress just. won't. stop. and “work-life balance” seems like an impossible feat. Your stress has been building for FAR too long; you can't remember the last time you weren’t so overwhelmed or anxious. You can't stand how irritable you’ve become, especially around those you love. Your go-to de-stressors just aren't cutting it anymore - or it's a struggle to use them, and you’re growing tired of your own procrastination, rumination, and withdrawing from others. You want to be more present in your life & relationships. You want to feel like your old self again - or a new, calmer self - on a path of continued growth and success. You want more for yourself and are ready for change.

I can help by co-creating a brave & safe space and validating you - especially when it feels like no one understands. With Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), we can help you feel quick relief from prior traumas and distresses, eliminate triggers, and move forward feeling lighter and calmer. We'll rebuild coping skills for relief now & prevention later. I'll challenge you (with care), offer accountability, and use your strengths to help you meet your goals. Ideally, we'll also laugh together and connect as humans.

You're struggling now and contacting therapists only to then wait for responses is frustrating. Skip the waiting and take another step toward relief now by scheduling a brief phone consult directly on my website!

I’m Liz Fava, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Atlanta, GA. My passion is for seeing individuals and couples establish and restore healthy relationships, and helping people live their lives to the fullest.

I do that through a variety of approaches. I’m holistic, looking at all aspects of your life: mind, body and spirit. I’m trained in the Gottman Method for working with couples, an approach that is research driven and scientifically based for how to make relationships work. I utilize Prepare-Enrich for premarital counseling, and use Brainspotting for anxiety and trauma.

Another thing you need to know about me?

I truly believe your life and your relationships can get better! It will take work, and some time, but it ABSOLUTELY is possible, and I’m here to help you make that happen.

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).

Whether you are struggling with anxiety, trauma, or addiction, I can offer you a safe place to heal and grow. Looking into therapy is a brave first step in taking control of your life, and no matter what you are going through, I’ll meet you with compassion and respect. I believe my holistic approach to treating the mind, body, and soul—something I am very passionate about—can help you discover your best self.
I believe the ability to form close attachments and maintain satisfying relationships is at the core of a fulfilling life. That’s why I often work through a cognitive behavioral/emotional attachment lens, utilizing the therapeutic relationship to foster trust and connection. And because trauma is often at the root of many people’s pain, I’m also trained in EMDR.
My mission is to help you feel safe so you can tell your story, heal past emotional wounds, and find relief in the present. I have experience in various mental health settings, including residential, partial hospitalization, and individual therapy. As a trauma-informed therapist, I love working with adults dealing with anxiety, addiction, and trauma.