Beth's Practice Focus Areas: Life Transitions, Career Counseling, Healing from Narcissistic Abuse, Over-achieving Perfectionism & Imposter Syndrome, Chronic Illness and living with Cancer, Trauma, Grief and Loss, Anxiety--general, and related to workplace stress or academic stress

 

I believe curiosity and kindness are key elements of counseling. Counseling promotes healing from the past, growing for the future, and learning to accept change and make choices in the present. Counseling invites the discovery of hope and meaning in our lives. 

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I turned to psychotherapy and mental health counseling after a 26-year career in academia--writing, researching, teaching, and advising. I earned my Ph.D. in English at the University of Illinois-Chicago, was tenured at Georgia State University, where I directed the Writing Studio and worked with graduate and undergraduate students, and I was Director of Composition at Kennesaw State University. I appreciate how teaching and counseling are reciprocal, where conversations offer opportunities for learning and growth. As a pyschotherapist,  listening, validating, and supporting are my focus to work with you toward healing, change, and positive growth.

 

I have life experiences healing from grief and loss, surviving toxic workplaces, and medical trauma related to surviving cancer. These experiences have deeply shaped my choice to become a licensed professional counselor. I respect and value the differences each client embodies. I offer LGBTQIA+ affirming and supportive therapy. 

 

My counseling theories and models are psychodynamic (we are shaped by early relationships that create beliefs that guide our actions in our adult lives), feminist (helping clients find their voices to tell their stories and exercise autonomy) and existential (coping with uncertainty, growing after loss or trauma, making meaning in our lives and finding our purpose). The process of therapy is a bit like looking at a map or atlas of life, where the therapist is sitting with you and supporting your decisions on which path or direction feels best for you. You are the driver, and the therapist is a navigator and companion. 

 

Outside of counseling, I am an animal-lover. During the pandemic I fostered and trained 15 rescue dogs with Atlanta Adopt A Golden. I volunteer with Reins of Hope, an equine therapy program for breast cancer patients. I enjoy yoga, being creative, and all things science fiction.

 

Beth graduated from Agnes Scott College's master's program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in May 2025. She is a pre-licensed Clinician, working under the supervision of Ebony Mallard-Huckabee, MS, LPC, NCC, ACS, CPCS, MAC; and under the direction of Jacinta Wills, MA, LPC, CGS.