We realize that no two people are the same and as such tailor our therapy to meet the specific needs of my clients. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression or any other issue, will help you recognize underlying problems, fully realize your strengths and adjust certain behaviors and thoughts to see things a different, healthier way.

Balanced Living now has locations in Dalton, Hiram and Rome, GA. Please tell our intake coordinator which office you prefer when you make your first appointment. We also offer virtual appointments.

Balanced Living Counseling Center provides counseling services to individuals, couples, and families.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an integrative psychotherapy approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma. EMDR is a set of standardized protocols that incorporates elements from different treatment approaches. EMDR therapy is an integrative psychotherapy and uses a technique called bilateral stimulation to repeatedly activate opposite sides of the brain. Therapists often use eye movements to facilitate the bilateral stimulation. These eye movements mimic the period of sleep referred to as rapid eye movement or REM sleep, and this portion of sleep is frequently considered to be the time when the mind processes the recent events in the person’s life.

Bereavement and grief aren’t light-hearted topics. Bereavement refers to the process of recovering from the death of a loved one, and grief is a reaction for any form of loss. Both encompass a wide range of emotions such as fear, anger and deep, deep sadness. The process of adapting to a loss can dramatically change from person to person, depending on his or her background, beliefs, relationship to the person who’s passed, and other factors. Common symptoms of grief can be physical, emotional or social. Every grieving experience is different. Whatever your personal symptoms are, grief and bereavement counseling have been proven to help.

Stigma-free, affirming, affordable therapy for LGBTQIA+ Individuals

Do you live outside of the heteronormative-cisgender box?

Have you been to other supposed “LGBTQ-friendly” counselors who had no idea what you were talking about?

Could you use a safe space to process your feelings and assess your goals?

Are you seeking transition and need a letter for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)?

Have you experienced a traumatic event? Are you suffering from lingering fear and anxiety? Do you feel like you no longer have any control over how you think, feel, and behave?

Posttraumatic stress disorder – also known as PTSD – is a mental health challenge that may occur in individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a terrorist act, an act of war, a serious accident, rape, or any other violent personal assault.

Do you experience intense anxiety or nervousness when faced with social situations?

Do you fear being judged or criticized by others?

Are you always worried about making mistakes, looking bad, or being embarrassed in front of others?

More often than not, drug addictions start with the experimental use of a drug in social situations. And for some people, their drug use becomes more frequent. As time passes, a person may feel the need to use more of a drug to get their desired high, and soon a person may need the drug to simply feel “good.”

Drug addiction symptoms and behaviors include, among others:

• Feeling the need to use the drug regularly, which can be daily or multiple times a day
• Having intense urges for the drug
• Over time, needing more of the drug to get the same effect
• Being certain that you maintain a supply of the drug
• Not meeting obligations and work responsibilities
• Doing things you wouldn’t normally do to get the drug, such as stealing
• Focusing more and more time and energy on getting and using the drug
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using the drug
• Failed attempts to quit using the drug

If you can relate to any of the above symptoms or behaviors, it may be time to consider addiction counseling.

As an addiction counselor, I will address the symptoms of your addiction and the related areas of impaired functioning, and together we’ll structure the time and content of your ongoing recovery.

I believe that there are many paths to successful recovery that will work with your goals and desires, and ensure you can make the life changes you want to make. Contact me today for a free consultation.

What is Telemental Health?

Telemental health is the use of videoconferencing technology to provide mental health services. It is sometimes referred to as telepsychiatry or telepsychology. Research suggests that Telemental health services can be effective for many people, including, but not limited to those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Telemental health services increased drastically with the coronavirus pandemic.

Are you feeling hopeless, isolated, and not your usual self?

Do these thoughts often enter your mind?

• I am worthless and can’t do anything about it.
• I feel guilty for just wanting to eat, sleep and be alone.
• I hate who I am these days.
• I can’t stop crying, which makes me want to stay away from others.
• I feel gut-wrenching pain, but no one understands.
• My life and the world around me are dark. I hate it, but I can’t change it.

If you have had any variation of these thoughts and don’t feel like your usual self, chances are you may be suffering from depression.