Michael received his master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Richmont Graduate University, as well as certificates in Marriage & Family Therapy and Trauma Counseling. Michael has also pursued additional relationally-focused training through the highly regarded Gottman Institute and is a certified facilitator of Prepare/Enrich relationship assessments.

Michael works with adolescents, adults, and couples to address a wide range of needs including: anxiety, depression, life adjustment, suicidal thoughts, spiritual development, sexual identity, relationship communication, conflict resolution, pre-marital education, and family systems under duress. He seeks to create a safe and collaborative space for clients to move towards hope and healing. Michael’s approach to the therapeutic process is best expressed by the Jon Kabat-Zinn quote, “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”

Before his career in counseling, Michael earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Kennesaw State University and spent several years working for Apple Inc. as a manager and trainer. Throughout high school and college, Michael worked as a martial arts instructor, a pursuit that he credits with cultivating both an appreciation for mindfulness and fostering his continued enthusiasm for physical fitness.

"When we deny our stories, they define us. When we own the story, we can write a brave new ending." -Brené Brown.

Believing these words, I create a safe, non-judgmental, compassionate space for adult individuals, couples and families to own and process their stories, while finding meaning, healing and growth. We are dynamic people, capable of change and restoration, and it is an honor to facilitate and walk with a person through this process. I have experience working with anxiety, depression, addiction, chronic illness, marital concerns, trauma, anger management, international adjustments and transitions, infertility and adoption.

In my therapeutic approach, emotional honesty is key in owning our stories and in being able to verbalize the impact of our family histories. Learning to accept how we feel helps us own our failures and mistakes. As your therapist, I will hold space, empowering you to make courageous decisions towards hope/healing/change.

I attended Taylor University in Indiana where I received my BA in Psychology and International Studies, after which I received my MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from Richmont Graduate University in Atlanta, GA. I grew up in North Africa and Western Europe in a multi-cultural family.

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.

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.

As a licensed clinical psychologist with experience both in general mental health and behavioral medicine, I offer a variety of services to individuals aged 18 and older. My specialty is in providing behavioral health services to promote positive lifestyle changes and improved quality of life. In journeying with patients toward health and well-being, I take into consideration biological, psychological, and social bases of health and disease. I value the opportunity to come alongside others in their pursuit of personal growth, insight, and change.

I draw from a variety of empirically based treatment modalities—tailoring my therapeutic approach to meet the needs of each of my patients. I also try to identify and address underlying factors that may be contributing to the more surface level problem(s), such as poor sleep, overbreathing, and/or nutritional deficiencies--making referrals to other medical professionals when indicated.

While some concerns benefit from getting to the root cause, I also work with my patients to address problematic thoughts and beliefs, clarify values, set goals, become more accepting, stay in the present moment, and improve problem solving skills. More important than any therapy approach, however, is the therapeutic relationship I strive to cultivate.

In addition to operating from a biopsychosocial lens, I am attuned to the spiritual needs of my patients. Although I work with individuals from any religious/non-religious or cultural background, I specialize in Christian integration—incorporating a Biblical perspective when requested. I also have an interest in integrating psychology and technology and promote the use of mental health mobile apps.

Cara is a Licensed Professional Counselor - Mental Health Service Provider and National Certified Counselor. Along with her licensing and training, she is certified in both the Grief Recovery Method ® and the SYMBIS Pre-Marital Assessment. Cara is a graduate of the University of Georgia. After completing her Bachelor’s degree, she completed her Master’s at Richmont Graduate University in Atlanta, GA.

Cara works regularly with individuals and couples experiencing a variety of struggles including anxiety, depression, grief, low self-worth, relational challenges, life transitions, trauma, affair recovery, emotional regulation and feelings of intense shame.

Cara believes the most important element in therapy is the relationship between the therapist and client. Because of this, she works hard to understand each individual as their unique self and create a safe and open space for growth and healing. While she works with a variety of therapeutic approaches, Cara finds most of her work centers around the Psychodynamic theory, recognizing that we all believe and inevitably behave the messages we narrate unconsciously. By understanding these beliefs and messages and how they originated, we can ultimately change and heal in all aspects of our lives.

Life can get overwhelming sometimes, and everyone has an opinion on how you should manage it. No matter what you’re dealing with, someone always suggests a quick fix— anxiety: “just calm down;” depression: “just be happy;” or disordered eating: “just eat.” The reality is, if it were that simple, we would all be perfect people and never struggle with anything in our entire lives. That’s just not human nature. So if that’s not the answer, how do we grow and change? How do we resolve the deepest, most wounded parts of ourselves?

There’s a quote by Christine Langley-Obaugh that I love, which says, “We repeat what we don’t repair.” We have to sit with those uncomfortable parts of ourselves—our anxiety, depression, disordered eating, grief—and figure out when and why it showed up. What is it trying to tell us about ourselves and our experience?

That’s what the therapeutic space is for. We put other pieces of our lives on hold for an hour, to sit and listen and process. From there, we can establish a different way for the brain and body to communicate with one another; a way that allows for expression without overwhelm. It’s a process that can take some time, but it is oh so worth it.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I earned a Master of Arts in professional counseling, with a concentration in trauma counseling, from Richmont Graduate University (formerly Psychological Studies Institute). Additionally I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). My expertise includes trauma, a variety of mood disorders, grief, depression, anxiety, faith-based issues, relationship difficulties, and transitions. I am passionate about equipping my clients to live happier, healthier lives. This is accomplished by listening to each individual’s unique story, creating a plan to address concerns, and walking alongside the client throughout the process. Together we can address thought processes or behaviors that pose obstacles to wellbeing, equipping you for successful problem solving strategies, and improving interpersonal effectiveness.