Our Atlanta Counselors

 Shannon Pugh, MA, PhD

I’m Dr. Shannon Pugh, MA, PhD, CCTP. I am passionate about supporting my clients by connecting with their personal strengths to approach their struggles from a non-judgmental, accepting, and caring place. Together we can work to help you shift from depression, anxiety, fear, anger, trauma, and disconnection, to more mindfulness, self-compassion, peace, inner healing, connection, and true joy.

I earned both my Master’s degree in Professional Counseling—with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy—and my PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Liberty University and my Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science/ Psychology from the U.S. Air Force Academy. I have also completed advanced graduate course work at Liberty Theological Seminary in Systematic Theology (I and II) and Hermeneutics. Additionally, I have received considerable education and training in the integration of psychology and counseling with theology, spirituality, and religion, and I am well-informed in the areas of religious faith traditions and cultural diversity. I would love to help you integrate your personal spiritual or religious values and worldview with your counseling goals based on your preferences.

As a counselor, I have extensive education, training, and experience in individual psychotherapy and group therapy (for adults, adolescents, and children of all ages), couples counseling, pre-marital counseling, marriage and family therapy, play therapy, sand tray therapy, and expressive arts therapy for children ages 2 years old and up. I have taught Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) coping skills in a group format as well as within individual counseling sessions for clients of all ages. I offer a person-centered, cognitive-behavioral approach which values the uniqueness of the individual client and situation, and thus I integrate various other theoretical orientations and therapeutic interventions in a customized approach that respects and honors what each client brings to the counseling session.

Others would describe me as warm, compassionate, and authentic in my style, and I am especially skilled at breaking through those tough barriers of resistance, fear of failure, and self-doubt that can be characteristic of so many children and teens (and even adults!) who oppose therapy at first. I am very flexible and adaptable in my ability to offer developmentally-appropriate, creative, (and fun!) therapeutic interventions for children, teens, and adults of all ages. I understand the importance of providing a safe, inviting, comfortable space for effective therapy and developing a strong bond with each client, and I believe in collaborating with my clients to help them reach their personal goals in therapy and to cultivate a sense of empowerment and self-confidence along the way.

My professional counseling experience includes work at a Children’s Bereavement Center, Family Violence Prevention Service, long-term residential addictions treatment, and private practice settings. I have taught and supervised graduate counseling students and interns in the professional counseling program at Liberty University. Because I am committed to ethical practice and to providing the highest quality counseling services for my clients, I am an avid researcher and regularly attend continuing education trainings to maintain competence in the latest evidence-based treatment modalities, therapies, and interventions which I skillfully integrate within my highly customized approach for treating clients based on their unique needs in therapy.

COUNSELING SERVICES OFFERED:
 Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
 Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
 Mindfulness
 Emotion Regulation
 Distress Tolerance
 Interpersonal Effectiveness
 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
 Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
 Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
 Self-Compassion Training
 Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian)
 Psychodynamic Therapy
 Attachment theory
 Family Systems Therapy
 Forgiveness Therapy
 Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
 Somatic Therapies
 Sensorimotor
 Somatic Experiencing
 Emotional Freedom Techniques
 Expressive Arts/ Creative Arts Therapy
 Play Therapy (ages 2+)
 Sand Tray Therapy (ages 2+)
 Anger Management
 Conflict Resolution
 Integration of an individual’s personal religious/spiritual beliefs and faith traditions within therapy

COMMONLY TREATED CONCERNS:
 Depression
 Anxiety
 Panic
 Trauma, Complex Trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
 Chronic Pain
 Anger
 Relational problems
 Attachment ruptures
 Parenting concerns
 Teen concerns
 Women’s concerns
 Postpartum Depression/ Postpartum Anxiety
 Menopause
 “Sandwich” generation caring for elderly parents
 Elderly concerns
 Veterans’ concerns (deployment of family member, transitioning from military to civilian life, service-related disabilities)
 Couples counseling
 Pre-marital and marital counseling
 Marriage enrichment
 Divorce prevention
 Recovery from extramarital affairs and other marital concerns
 Issues of Grief and Loss (of a loved one, a pet, a job, a marriage; suffering a physical disability/ major injury or surgery/ debilitating disease)
 Bereavement/ Mourning
 Complicated Grief (suffering multiple losses)
 Anticipatory Grief (discovering that someone or something dear to you will soon be lost, such as a loved one entering Hospice care)
 Disenfranchised Grief (grief over a relationship that can’t be openly acknowledged, socially sanctioned, or publicly mourned)
 Unresolved Grief
 Perfectionism
 Harsh self-criticism
 Low self-worth/ worthlessness
 Low self-esteem
 Shame and guilt
 Loneliness
 Hopelessness
 Suicidality and self-harming behaviors
 Life transitions (adjusting to divorce or separation, an “empty nest”, a new baby, a new job, going back to school, going back to work     after staying at home or a period of unemployment)
 Holistic health
 Spiritual and religious concerns
 Emotional &behavioral problems in children &adolescents
 Poor performance or other problems at school
 Bullying
 ADHD & Spectrum Disorders

FORMAL EDUCATION:
• PhD in Counselor Education & Supervision from Liberty University
• Master’s degree in Professional Counseling, with a specialization in Marriage & Family Therapy, from Liberty University
• Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science/ Psychology from the U.S. Air Force Academy

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
 American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC)
 American Counseling Association (ACA)
ACA Division Memberships:
 Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling (ACAC)
 Association for Creativity in Counseling (ACC)
 Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)
 Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling
(ASERVIC)
 International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC)

Ashley Cincinatus, MS, APC

As an Atlanta counselor, my commitment is to provide a supportive, open, and non-judgmental environment for you to explore and process difficult feelings, stuck points in thinking, and develop increased self-acceptance. I commit to being an advocate for my clients as well as a means of support and gentle challenging that is necessary for you to reach your highest goals in life! In my work as a therapist, I utilize a range of modalities which includes cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, as well as some person-centered and solution-focused therapy as appropriate for the individual, family, or group. I believe that through these approaches, we can identify current barriers in your life and practice implementing more effective skills that will lead to healthier practices.

I have experience working with individuals who are dealing with life transitions, substance abuse, disordered eating, depression, anxiety, and trauma, and am trained in helping clients practice mindfulness, increase their positive coping skills, build self-esteem, awareness, and self-acceptance. My main goal as a therapist is to partner with you and cultivate a compassionate and comfortable atmosphere where you can feel safe. I believe in showing up as authentically as possible with my vivacious personality that helps to build warm and lasting connections. I believe that it is my commitment to support and challenge you to do the work needed to reach your highest goals and potential.

As for my background, I received my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from The University of Georgia and completed my Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Capella University. I am an Associate Professional Counselor working under the clinical supervision of Brandy Rogers, LPC, RPT-S, CPCS, CFMHE. Additionally, I earned the designation of National Certified Counselor (NCC) by the National Board of Certified Counselors. I’ve received specialized training in areas such as Gottman Method (Level 1), trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), family violence intervention, and play therapy.  I am a member of the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) and the American Counseling Association (ACA).

I look forward to joining together with you in this journey of healing, self-care, and rebuilding! I am accepting new clients in January 2023.

Karen Michael, MA, LPC, NCC

As an Atlanta counselor, I believe we all deserve and can benefit from therapeutic support to help navigate the challenges of life. If you have experienced, or are currently experiencing, difficult or painful life experiences, including anger, anxiety, career  issues, depression, low self-esteem, relationship issues, substance use issues, trauma, unhealthy behaviors, or other life transitions – You do not have to do it alone!    You and I can look at our Atlanta counseling services and create a therapeutic partnership and plan that is tailored specifically to you, for you and with you. I am only seeing clients virtually at this time.

I work with clients of all ages, from children to adults, and specialize in anxiety, relationships, and trauma, having advanced training in each of these areas.  I have a humanistic orientation and most closely adhere to a client-centered approach which means the focus is put on the client, not the therapist, as key to the healing process.  When working with children I typically use child-centered play therapy as toys are children’s words and play is their language.  For adolescents/teens, I utilize talk therapy combined with activities (games, art, music) that allow them to get creative and express themselves.  In all cases, the safety of the relationship is the foundation of the therapeutic alliance I create with my clients.

Being an Atlanta Counselor is my second career after having a successful career in Human Resources Leadership.  I believe my decades of experience in a high-profile and demanding career puts me in a unique position to offer my clients the extra benefit of a therapist with first-hand experience of the struggle it can be to balance professional and personal  life, to navigate the pressures of a high-powered career, and to avoid burnout.

As for my background,  I earned a Bachelor of General Studies in Communication, Management and Psychology at the University of Michigan- Dearborn and a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the School for Professional Psychology at Argosy University in Atlanta. Additionally, I earned the designation of National Certified Counselor (NCC) by the National Board of Certified Counselors.  I am also trained as a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist (CCH).  My advance training includes: Gottman Method (Level 2) which assists me in my work with couples, Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP) which is the gold standard treatment for Anxiety and OCD, Play Therapy which I utilize with children, and I am currently working towards a post-master’s certificate in Trauma Stress Studies from The Trauma Research Foundation.  I am a member of the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), the American Counseling Association (ACA), the Association for Play Therapy (A4PT), and the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia (LPCGA).    Lastly, I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) .

My commitment is to treat you, as my client, with great care, to be both a safe haven where fears and challenges can be discussed and a therapeutic partner that helps clarify goals, challenges and  supports you in your growth and healing and in recovering the balance, connection, joy, and success you desire.

Remember, you do not have to do this alone!  Please reach out…