I help individuals, partners, and families sort through their history and stories of pain, highlight their resilience, expand their emotional awareness, and practice new behaviors for a life of health and wholeness.

I practice under the LPC-MHSP (Temporary) license in Tennessee with a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy. I am a National Certified Counselor, Certified Prepare/Enrich Facilitator, and have level 1 & 2 training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy. My supervision until I am fully licensed is under Dr. John Kennedy.

Before entering the counseling profession, I dabbled in various creative ventures between parenting and homemaking. I enjoy working with my hands, whether in the dirt gardening, repurposing old furniture, or mending ragged stitches.

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.

Dustin Ellis was born and raised in Marietta, Georgia. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue his bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Lipscomb University and his master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Trevecca Nazarene University.

Prior to working with GROW, Dustin spent the last fourteen years using behavioral interventions like ABA with children and families on the autism spectrum. He has made the transition into the field of counseling because he has seen the unique needs that families with children on the spectrum face.

Dustin has specialized in providing resources and meeting the specific needs of the parents/families/siblings/caregivers who have children on the spectrum. His goal is to provide a holistic approach for supporting these families to thrive in the future.

Dustin has training in Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples to better serve this population. He is a member of the Georgia Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.

Clients describe Dustin as warm and authentic while offering hope that change is possible. His approach centers around using awareness, practicing compassion, and acceptance of deeper emotions to create connection and change.

Dustin embraces the words of Brene’ Brown, “We cannot selectively numb emotions, when we numb the painful emotions, we also numb the positive emotions.”

Supervisor: Dr. Wendy Dickinson

I seek to be open and inclusive with each client. I want each person to feel welcomed and understood. I am trained in in-depth psychotherapy and enjoy exploring the deeper roots of presenting problems with a goal of practical application of insight. I am a licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapist & clinical supervisor with over 25 years of counseling experience.

As a therapist in the community for over 16 years, I have worked with a range of people across the spectrum helping them to achieve their goals and live their best life. I look forward to talking with you further to begin your wellness journey.

It is my practice, to encourage each client to discover their own inner resources and strengths while gaining personal empowerment. Whether you seek recovery from trauma, depression or anxiety, I will provide you the tools and skills to enhance your self-esteem, develop relationships and establish healthy boundaries and communication. As you learn to cope with life transitions and changes we will incorporate mindfulness based techniques, and challenge maladaptive thoughts and beliefs by approaching solutions to engage stressful situations, you will reduce emotional suffering.

With a passion for transforming lives, The Transformation Specialists PLLC is a niche online counseling practice rooted in Black Christian values. This highly specialized group of counselors, comprised entirely of minority women, focuses on empowering individuals struggling with various challenges. Their compassionate approach values listening, understanding, and supporting clients, allowing them to feel seen, heard, and supported. Whether struggling with the pressures of a Superwoman or Superman complex, grief, identity, or relationship difficulties, their expertise is geared towards aiding clients in their pursuit of personal growth, improved communication, and deeper intimacy within their relationships. Call for free consultation today!

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).

Michelle works with adolescents and adults to help them achieve the emotional and personal growth they want to see in their lives. Michelle specializes in helping teenagers and young adults navigate transitions and establish a strong sense of self. She also helps those struggling with fertility journeys and pregnancy loss, military families with their unique lifestyle struggles, and parents establishing healthy relational patterns. She creates a safe, non-judgmental space for individuals to process their emotions, understand themselves, and further develop skills that help them heal and achieve their therapeutic goals.