Awaken Counseling

11/24/2025

Last week, we had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Brandi Wells, a local psychologist who offers comprehensive psychological testing and evaluation. Megan Foley, LCSW, Hannah Register, LMSW, and Gabby Brumfield, LPC, loved connecting with her and learning about the powerful insights her assessments bring to clients’ treatmen and growth. 🧠

We’re beyond excited to partner with Dr. Wells to offer an even more well-rounded approach to care by combining therapy, collaboration, and high-quality psychological testing to help our clients understand themselves better and thrive. 🤝

11/21/2025

🌟 Therapist Spotlight: Zeynep Boz 🌟
Zeynep is a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor who works with children, adolescents, teens and young adults. She helps her clients navigate anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, and life transitions with creativity, compassion, and evidence-based care.

She is trained to provide play therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD and anxiety as well as supporting clients through trauma recovery and relationship support. Sessions with Zeynep are warm and collaborative and uniquely tailored to each client's needs.

Ready to schedule with Zeynep? Contact our office at 678-310-0358 to get started!

11/20/2025

Let’s Talk About Performance Anxiety

We’ve all been there — that nervous feeling before a big presentation, test, performance, or game. Performance anxiety is the stress or fear that shows up when you want to do your best, but worry you might not. It’s totally normal, and the good news is, you can learn to manage it.

Here are a few ways to work through it:

💛 1. Develop Self-Compassion
Be kind to yourself, especially when things don’t go perfectly. Nobody does everything right all the time! Often, not doing as well as you hoped can actually lead to better results later — if you’re willing to learn from what didn’t go as planned.

🧠 2. Build Resilience
Resilience helps you bounce back from setbacks instead of giving up. Think about times when things did go well — what worked for you? Then, reflect on what didn’t, and appreciate those experiences too. They teach you valuable lessons that make you stronger for next time.

💪 3. Strengthen Mental Toughness
Remind yourself of challenges you’ve faced before — times you thought you couldn’t handle something, but you did. You’ve overcome tough things before, and you can do it again.

🎯 4. Sharpen Your Focus
Get clear on your goals. Prioritize what matters most and put consistent energy into those priorities. The clearer and more focused you are, the more confident you’ll feel in your performance.

Remember: feeling nervous doesn’t mean you’re not ready. It simply means you care!

11/17/2025

OCD is far more complex than just being "extra clean and neat". Its effects impact the daily lives of millions of people around the world, but the symptoms may not always be easy to recognize.

Check out our latest blog that details how OCD shows up in adults and when extra support may be needed.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is often misunderstood as simply being extremely clean and neat. In reality, it’s a complex mental health issue that affects millions of people worldwide and can significantly impact daily life. Understanding how OCD manifests in adults is the first step toward ...

11/15/2025

📚 Book of the Month: Month Two!
We’re excited to continue our Book of the Month series — a way for our therapists to share books that inspire healing, growth, and self-discovery.

🌟 This month’s pick is The Dance of Anger: A Woman's Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships by Harriet Lerner

Recommended by our clinical director and practice owner, Kristina Murr, LPC, CPCS

💬 “This book offers practical tools for expressing anger in healthy, constructive ways. It normalizes anger, so it is very helpful for women who have grown up learning to suppress anger."

This book is perfect for anyone looking to deepen self-awareness, improve communication, and create healthier connections by offering a compassionate roadmap for understanding your emotions, setting healthy boundaries, and transforming anger into a tool for personal growth and stronger, more fulfilling relationships.

11/13/2025

Tuesday Brown, LPC, and Megan Heller-Foley, LCSW, recently attended the memorial service hosted by Lanise Shortell and Lifehouse Atlanta at the Llama Farm, a beautiful gathering for families who have experienced the loss of a child.

The event began with a grief-focused activity using a “questions about grief” beach ball, followed by a gentle yoga session led by Lanise through Llama Yoga. The service concluded with candle lighting, meditation, prayer, and song, which created a sacred space of reflection, connection, and healing.

Tuesday and Megan were grateful for the opportunity to meet families in person, share resources, and hand out flyers from Awaken Counseling. It was an honor to be part of such meaningful work.

11/11/2025

Today, we honor the service of all US veterans, past and present. Thank you for your service!

11/10/2025

Myth Monday

❌MYTH: A mental health diagnosis is permanent.
✅FACT: A diagnosis is a tool—not a label for life.

We all go through different phases in life, and our mental health can shift as we grow, heal, and adapt. A diagnosis reflects what you're experiencing right now, not who you are forever.

With the right support, insight, and care, many people see their symptoms lessen or even resolve over time. You're not stuck—and you’re certainly not defined by a diagnosis.

Growth is possible. Change is possible. Healing is possible.

11/07/2025

Starting therapy for the first time can feel intimidating—and that’s okay.

It takes courage to reach out and begin something new, especially when it involves opening up about your inner world.

At our practice, we want you to know that you don’t have to have it all figured out before you walk through the door. Our therapists are here to meet you with compassion, curiosity, and care. Whether you’re nervous, unsure, or just testing the waters, you are welcome exactly as you are.

11/06/2025

Feeling overwhelmed and reaching for comfort food? You're not alone. Emotional eating is a common response to stress, anxiety, and other tough emotions, but it doesn't have to control you. Check out our latest blog about mindful strategies to help you recognize emotional hunger, build healthier habits, and reconnect with your body’s true needs.

We’ve all been there: reaching for that pint of ice cream after a stressful day or demolishing a bag of chips when we’re feeling anxious. Many of us have

11/03/2025

🌟 Community Partnership Spotlight 🌟

We’re excited to share that Awaken Counseling is partnering with CURE Childhood Cancer, an incredible organization dedicated to supporting children and families impacted by pediatric cancer.

Our own Alleyna Alleyne, LPC and Hannah Williams, LMSW, recently met with Chelsea Key, Manager of Patient and Family Services at CURE, to strengthen this collaboration.

At Awaken Counseling, we’re honored to walk alongside children, teens, and families facing these challenges, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to make a difference together with CURE.

10/30/2025

Collaboration in the Community! 🤝

Our therapist, Megan Heller-Foley, LCSW, recently visited STAT Wellness in Roswell to connect and learn more about their incredible work in functional medicine.

STAT Wellness focuses on uncovering and treating the root cause of symptoms through an integrative approach that blends medicine, movement, and nutrition to help clients achieve optimal health and wellbeing. 💪✨

We’re so thankful for the opportunity to get to know their team better and look forward to partnering together to support our shared clients in mind, body, and wellness.