Individual - Couples - Family

A Safe Place for Health, Hope, & Healing

Now Offering Confidential Video & Limited In Office Sessions

Areas of Focus

 Each therapist brings their own specific areas of interest, training & expertise. See below for more about each therapist. 

Laura 

Infant & Children, Tweens, Teens, Young Adults, Adults, Women, Couples, Veterans & Families

 Adoption and Fostering, Anxiety/OCD/Panic/Phobia, Christian Counseling, Parenting, Relationships, Self-esteem, Trauma, Women's Issues

English & Español

Shana

Teens (17+) & Adults

Life Transitions such as Divorce, Career changes, Graduation, Self-awareness, Self- esteem, Self-confidence, Self-love, Self-care, Healthy Boundaries (personal and professional), Inner Peace, Depression, Anxiety. 

Dyrell

Teens, Adults & Families

More information coming soon

Amy

12 years old - Adults, Couples & Families

Depression, Anxiety, Relationship issues, Communication, Conflict, Trauma 

insurance & Billing

In-Network Insurance

     Unite Counseling & Therapy is a private practice that accepts a variety of payment options. Depending on your therapist, you may be able to use your plan with in network benefits.

     Laura accepts Aetna, Unitedhealth Care, Optum, and Oscar in GA & FL. For a full list please visit her Alma profile. 

     Dyrell will accept Aetna, Cigna, Unitedhealth Care, Optum, and Oscar in GA approximately September 2023.

     Shana accepts self pay only, and hopes to begin accepting insurance approximately October 2023.

     Amy accepts self pay only. 

Out-of-Network Insurance

     If your therapist does not accept your insurance,  you can request an insurance friendly receipt to request reimbursement. Please contact your insurance company directly to inquire about out of network benefits and reimbursement. 

Self Pay 

     Even if you do have insurance, you may not wish to use it due to high copays, complex billing processes, and/or sharing personal health information. With self pay, you can be that much more assured of your privacy. The benefits of self-pay are many: 

• No need to be diagnosed to qualify for services

• Flexibility with number and frequency of sessions

• Less information availiable to 3rd parties

• Up front billing - no surprises

• No need to determine which services are covered

 Each therapist sets their own self-pay rates: 

     Shana's self pay rates: 

          Undergraduate Students $50

          Post Graduates $65

          Individual - $85 - $110, depending on household size and income. 

          Family - $95 - $120, depending on household size and income. 

     Amy's self pay rates:

          Individual - $85

          Couple/Family - $95

     Dyrell's self pay rates:

          More info coming soon

     Laura's self pay rates:

           Individual: $120 - $175 for the 1st session, $110 - $150 after, depending on household size and income. 

           Couples/Family: $175- $225 for the first session, $150 - $200 after, depending on household size and income. 

Frequently Asked questions

Who Goes to counseling? 

      Anyone! For so many reasons! "Counseling is for people with serious problems". Yes - and no! Counseling is also for people who want to make a change, feel better (even when they feel pretty good!), get an unbiased third party opinion on situations, make a good marriage great, learn how to support a loved one with mental illness, learn how to manage stress, learn more about careers, have emotional support, and on and on... Whatever your reason for considering counseling, a counselor can explain whether they can support you. 

Does Counseling Work? 

     Counseling is not something that will resolve the issues you face. What!? Yes, that's right. And here's why - Counseling requires clients to take an active role, both in and out of session. Counseling alone cannot create the changes you seek. Most people, with time and effort, can experience significant improvement in various issues. 

What's it like being in counseling? 

     While no one has the exact same experience, many people report feeling nervous or have increased distress when first starting counseling. This may happen because you're not used to talking about the things that you discuss in counseling. The increased distress should decrease over time - and many people find they feel better than when they first started within a few weeks to months. Your therapist will ask questions to understand what's going on and make goals with you. They will answer your questions, offer suggestions, perspectives, and/or skills to help you reach your goals, as well as help you feel more comfortable talking with them. 

How long will I be in counseling? 

     Your counselor may recommend a frequency of 1-2 times per week, every other week, or even 1 time per month. It is common to begin weekly and decrease to every other week or once a month, and then stop all together. Typically you can expect to see changes in as little as 3 months. Some may stay in counseling for 3-6 months, a year, a few years, or more, depending on the reasons they are in counseling, the severity of the issues, and how quickly they are able to make changes. 

How can I choose a counselor that's right for me? 

     Admittedly, it can be a difficult process finding the right counselor. While many counselors are well trained and good at what they do, they may not have the right training to help you meet your goals. Have the conversation with a potential counselor - ask them about their training and experience, and how they might help you with your goals. If you have any concerns, it is important to address those with your counselor so that they may improve their services with you. Remember, counselors are human too - and they may sometimes accidentally cause offense.

What are some signs that a counselor may be abusing their position? 

     Common warning signs include: 

• They often tell you what to do when there is no crisis at hand

• They regularly minimize or dismiss your concerns

• They don't seem to listen to your concerns

• They make inappropriate comments or take inappropriate actions

• They appear under the influence during session

• They do not provide a referral to another professional if they are not able to help you

How Can I Know if a Counselor has a Professional License?

     In Georgia, you can visit verify.sos.ga.gov/verification to search for a counselor.

More Questions?

     Call or email with one click below. Unite strives to respond to all communication within 3 business days or less.