You have arrived at this place wanting to explore deeper meanings of life, perhaps gain control over things that seem in disarray, or wish to make an internal shift to a place of peace, well-being, strength, and inner harmony. Pursuing therapy is a courageous decision. Whatever the challenges may be, I am happy to journey with you on this path of healing, overcoming, and anchoring. The counseling space that I offer will enable you to lean into your inner wisdom, strengths, skills, and capabilities.

I am a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor with over two decades of work experience in the mental health field. My work experience in the US and India has included weaving the intersectionality of equity, health, justice, and healing as an individual, a community, and a world.

A curious fact about me, which perhaps is rare, is that I worked in the corporate sector for ten years in leading technology companies before my immersion into the development and mental health field! The diverse background allows me to relate to a wide variety of people from all professions, backgrounds, and milieu.

I also speak several South Asian languages, including Hindi, Kannada, and Tulu.

In my work thus far, I have advocated for survivors of domestic violence and other forms of victimization alongside mental health counseling with trauma-informed approaches and mindfulness practices. Furthermore, I also worked as a counselor in a college setting, working closely with students and their families.

I weave person-centered therapy with holistic mindfulness approaches to healing and trauma-informed therapeutic interventions. As a clinician, I aim to support my clients in uncovering their own answers and their own truth, which offers access to their innate capacity for not merely healing but thriving!

I believe it is an honor to work with you. The work you do with me will be aimed at revealing a more authentic, happier, and healthier you! I look forward to meeting with you on your journey of overcoming.

Marquita is a Licensed Psychotherapist serving residents of Colorado, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Maine in her virtual practice, Whole Heart Counseling. She serves individuals who desire healing from anxiety, depression, relationship conflict, life transitions, trauma, and work-life concerns.

Trauma has a way of disconnecting us from ourselves and others. And if you’re anything like my clients, that sense of disconnection feels impossible to shake. When they first start therapy, my clients feel dissatisfied and disoriented with where they find themselves. They struggle to trust themselves. They feel stuck in self-criticism and people-pleasing. They feel alone, longing for genuine connection belonging. And they feel broken. Like my clients, you deserve to untangle yourself from the trauma and harm you’ve endured. You deserve to feel at home within yourself. To feel authentic connection in your relationships. To feel free.

I love working with adults navigating life after trauma who feel chronically disconnected because I’ve been there. As a survivor of complex trauma, I get it on a level I just couldn’t without living through it. I’ve climbed out of the valleys of despair and hopelessness, and I know it’s possible to reclaim your voice, experience restoration, and thrive.

I believe connection is the catalyst to healing. I also believe we as humans are hardwired to heal. Sometimes we simply need a compassionate witness to guide us back to ourselves and help us find a meaningful path forward. My hope is that our work together will honor the uniqueness of your story and empower you to rediscover the goodness you already possess.

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!

Joy Fortanbary completed a Masters of Arts in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling from Richmont Graduate University and also holds a B.A. in Public Relations Journalism from the University of South Carolina. She is an Associate Professional Counselor by the Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, And Marriage and Family Therapists. She is also a National Certified Counselor by the National Board of Certified Counselors and an ASAT-Candidate from the International Institute of Trauma and Addictions Specialists. Additionally, Joy has specialized training in EMDR, a therapeutic technique designed to help people struggling to process trauma.

Joy is passionate about partnering with individuals on the journey towards interpersonal healing that leads to generational change. She believes the most powerful growth happens in the context of relationship, which leads to her commitment to provide a genuine space marked by curiosity and collaboration.

Joy enjoys working with individuals navigating various challenges such as trauma, sex and love addictions, life transitions, anxiety, depression, and relationship conflict. Joy utilizes an integrative and holistic approach in the process of helping clients reach their personalized goals and lead a life more by design and not by default.

Joy gained valuable experience working with both individuals and groups in private practice and treatment center settings. Prior to counseling, she worked with leaders to establish national and global organizational partnerships at a large nonprofit in the Atlanta area. In her free time, Joy enjoys traveling, yoga, and spending time with her family.

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).

Deb came from a broken home as a child and was in a blended family in her teen years. She practiced as a licensed occupational therapist for 35 years, working with children in hospital, school and private practice settings. She returned to school for her master's in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in Spirituality and Counseling. She and her husband, Craig, have been married for 42 years, and raised three children. They are expecting their first grandchild in June, 2022. Deb is a mixed media artist, and a lover of nature, gardening, travel and her cockapoo puppy, Henry Biscuit.

I work with children, adolescents, and young adults. My therapeutic style is very person-centered. I want sessions to be beneficial for you and will cater towards your needs. I have completed training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI). I also incorporate art therapy, sand tray therapy, and play therapy into sessions. Just like every human, every therapy session is unique!

Kristina desires to join with others in their path to greater healing and wellness. She specializes with Maternal Mental Health (infertility, pregnancy, prenatal, and postpartum,) trauma, attachment disorders, anxiety, and depression. Her therapeutic approach is person-centered, working with the client to establish feeling seen, understood, and supported within the therapy relationship first and foremost. Kristina often includes approaches such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing,) IFS (Internal Family Systems)/ego-state work, narrative therapy, education to facilitate a better understand how your brain and body process stress, and body-based approaches based upon training as a Trauma Conscious Yoga Instructor. She also has thorough training and experience with integrating the Christian Faith in the counseling process.

As a Licensed Psychologist, Dr. Dickinson received a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Georgia State University. Additionally, she has a Master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Georgia State University. She is the Founder and CEO at GROW Counseling and the founder of GROW Restored.

Dr. Dickinson has worked widely in the areas of leadership and organizational development in the United States and internationally. Her work has included leadership initiatives for various non-profit and faith-based organizations directed toward creating successful vision and strategy, developing innovative staff and volunteer training, and implementing team-building procedures.