Therapists for college students near Georgia State University

Hi, I’m Nikoleta! I’m an international doctoral student from Greece, and for the past seven years I’ve called the U.S. home—living in both the Northeast and the South. Before pursuing psychology, I was a Division I athlete, an experience that gave me first-hand insight into body image struggles and the stigma surrounding mental health across different systems and communities. I’m passionate about uplifting and centering voices that have historically been excluded, both within my own communities and beyond. My path into psychology began with recognizing how stigma shaped the lives of those I care about, and how systemic barriers have marginalized people for far too long. When we work together, you can expect a compassionate, non-judgmental space where we’ll explore your authentic self, replace fear and shame with self-acceptance, set healthy boundaries, and nurture deeper connections. Together, we’ll honor your intersecting identities, heal wounds of oppression, and strengthen your confidence so you can live with clarity, purpose, and self-worth. At my core, I’m guided by curiosity, compassion, and a genuine love for people. I strive to create spaces that feel safe, welcoming, and warm. I believe in the importance of balance—embracing the many roles and identities we carry—and in celebrating the richness of our multifaceted selves. My hope is that everyone I work with feels safe, seen, valued, and deeply connected.

My experiences as a queer, transgender man from the South inform how I move through the world and how I work with clients. I understand the challenges and inherent stress of navigating institutional, educational, and family systems that fail to make space for all identities and backgrounds. My approach is grounded in anti-oppressive and culturally affirming principles and I enjoy working with individuals of all backgrounds. I aim to create a warm, nonjudgmental, and collaborative space where clients can experience and examine themselves and experiment with new skills and perspectives. I collaborate with clients to co-create realistic goals and sustainable solutions that honor and encompass their unique identities, challenges, and strengths. I have experience working with a variety of backgrounds and concerns and I have particular expertise working with gender identity and sexuality (LGBTQIA+), trauma, individuals living in larger bodies, individuals in helping professions, life transitions, and young adults. My commitment to social justice and advocacy extends to my work as a researcher and counselor educator-in-training. My primary areas of research are improving counselor training concerning LGBTQIA+ and larger-bodied individuals, demystifying research for students from marginalized backgrounds, and combating cisnormativity in counseling research.

Many of the people I work with live in the “in-between” — between cultures, identities, roles, and expectations. Maybe you’re constantly navigating competing demands from family, community, and self. Maybe you feel caught between pride in your roots and the ache of not quite fitting in. That kind of in-betweenness can carry invisible grief, deep resilience, and stories that are layered and complex. Therapy with me is a place where all of that gets to exist. Where silence—once a survival strategy—no longer has to be your default. Where you don’t have to explain why you’re tired or tone yourself down to be understood. You get to show up as you are—messy, in progress, tender, whole. I offer a supportive, affirming, and nonjudgmental space to explore your thoughts, emotions, and life experiences with curiosity and compassion. My work is rooted in a trauma-informed, multicultural frame-work, because I know that our relationships—with family, partners, culture, and self—shape so much of how we move through the world. I’m especially passionate about supporting BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ folks, and anyone navigating the complexities of intersectional identities. Whether you’re wrestling with anxiety, navigating life transitions, working through relationship dynamics, or exploring identity, I’m here to help you reconnect—with yourself, your story, and your values. Together, we’ll look at the patterns that have helped you survive, even if they’re no longer serving you. We’ll unpack the unspoken “rules” you’ve been carrying, and gently build new ways of living that feel more aligned, grounded, and free. With individuals, our work might focus on: • Honoring your cultural and personal history while creating space for your own voice • Tending to the inner critic or survival modes that no longer reflect who you want to be • Cultivating emotional flexibility and self-compassion With couples and polycules, I use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help partners move beyond the surface-level conflicts and into the deeper emotions underneath. Often, what looks like disconnection is really a longing—to be seen, to be safe, to feel understood. We’ll slow things down, make space for those vulnerable moments, and help you learn how to reach for one another in ways that build trust, not distance. This work can be especially powerful for couples navigating cultural differences, unspoken family dynamics, or intergenerational expectations. Whether you're seeking therapy as an individual or as part of a couple or polycule, our work will move at your pace and be centered around your needs. You don’t have to hold it all together here. We’ll make room for your full self—your questions, your emotions, your healing. One step at time.

Have you ever felt that forming and maintaining relationships, engaging in consistent self-care, or navigating everyday "adulting" feels more challenging for you than those around you? Do you struggle to “be yourself” or even understand what that truly looks like? Are you caught in the feeling of being either “too much” or “not enough?” Whether you’re in the early stages of exploring a potential neurodivergent identity, or processing a recent self or formal diagnosis, I’m here to support you. I’m passionate about working with clients on this journey, helping them navigate the complex emotions that often arise—excitement, curiosity, and validation in discovering more about who you are, alongside grief and anger for the time spent feeling othered or broken. This is a deeply personal journey, and together, we can create a path that honors your unique experiences and needs. In our work together, we will focus on helping you: • Find confidence in navigating healthy relationships • Learn how to self-advocate • Identify neurodivergent-affirming people and spaces • Break free from the cycle of high achievement and burnout • Become attuned to the needs of your nervous system and develop skills to better regulate its responses I work with individuals who are often left on the margins of traditional therapy models—BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and neurodivergent individuals who may have been made to feel that their identities or experiences don’t fit the mold. In our sessions, you’ll never be asked to minimize or hide any part of yourself. I believe in creating a space where all parts of you are welcome—your personality, culture, and lived experiences are integral to the work we do. My approach is both challenging and supportive, direct yet affirming. I’m committed to creating a therapy space that values your autonomy and centers your lived experiences, particularly if you hold marginalized identities. As a therapist, I weave lessons of self-advocacy and resilience into our work, always mindful of the broader oppressive systems we navigate. I encourage clients to provide feedback on our therapy relationship so that together, we can create a dynamic that serves you best without reinforcing harmful systems of power or control. I also believe that self-disclosure and authentic expression are crucial in our work together. Therapy is not just about following outdated rules of professionalism but about showing up fully as ourselves, both therapist and client. This authenticity allows us to build a stronger, more human connection, which is at the heart of meaningful healing and growth.

Navigating today’s world can be challenging enough—finding culturally competent therapeutic support shouldn’t add to that burden. I am committed to providing a safe, empathetic, and compassionate space where we can collaboratively explore and address your concerns. Using a relational, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approach, I strive to truly understand your unique journey and support your path toward health, wellness, and growth. As a therapist, I bring a social justice lens to my work, recognizing the impact that systems of oppression and marginalization can have on mental health. I am dedicated to offering culturally competent care that honors your identity and lived experiences. Together, we will explore how these dynamics influence your personal challenges, while also empowering you to navigate and resist these barriers with resilience and strength. I recognize that trust is at the core of an effective therapeutic relationship, and I am dedicated to earning your trust through genuine care, understanding, and respect for your lived experiences. Together, we will work to create a supportive environment where you can reflect on how these experiences have shaped your life. By building a foundation of psychoeducation, emotional tools, acceptance, and self-compassion, we can empower you to move forward with greater clarity and confidence. Taking the step to seek therapy is an act of courage, and I’m here to walk alongside you on this journey toward healing and self-discovery.

Starting therapy can feel intimidating and vulnerable—it takes immense courage to seek support, especially from someone you don’t yet know. My goal is to demystify and destigmatize the therapy process so we can walk together toward healing, growth, and self-discovery. In our work, we’ll explore the challenges you’re facing and identify what might be keeping you stuck. You’ll be met with warmth, curiosity, and compassion as we co-create a space that honors your full, intersectional self and empowers you to live more authentically. ​ I work with individuals across the lifespan, and I especially enjoy supporting children, teens, and families. For young children, I use play therapy as a developmentally appropriate approach that allows them to express feelings, process difficult experiences, and build coping skills through play. With teens and families, I offer a space to navigate identity development, life transitions, and family dynamics with empathy and cultural responsiveness. I also collaborate with parents and caregivers to strengthen relationships and promote emotional connection. In addition to individual and family therapy, I work with couples navigating communication difficulties, disconnection, and relationship challenges. I provide a supportive and affirming environment for partners of all backgrounds and relationship configurations to explore their needs, repair trust, and strengthen their bond. My practice is rooted in a culturally responsive, anti-oppressive framework that affirms the lived experiences of BIPOC, Latinx, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, and others with marginalized identities. I’m particularly passionate about supporting clients who are navigating intergenerational trauma, racial trauma, and systemic oppression. I also deeply value working with men and masculine-identified individuals, especially those who have internalized messages that discourage vulnerability and emotional expression. Creating space for these clients to heal and grow has been one of the most meaningful parts of my work. ​Together, we’ll create a space where your experiences are seen and your story is honored—where you feel empowered to grow into the fullest, most liberated version of yourself.

I work primarily with young men in college and graduate school who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected. You may be struggling with substances, pornography or sexual behaviors, gambling, relationships, trauma, anxiety, depression, or problems with motivation and direction. As a former university professor, I understand the pressures of academic life a. I offer compassionate, direct, evidence-based therapy to help you understand what's happening, build practical skills, and move forward.

I work best with people who are carrying a lot at once, whether that’s anxiety, relationships that keep hurting them, substance use that feels out of control, or old experiences they’re finally ready to look at. They usually appear fine on the outside but feel worn down on the inside. What they share is knowing something needs to change and being ready to do the hard work to shift old patterns. If that sounds like you, I’d love for you to reach out!

I have been in practice for over 35 years and feel I have a great ability to connect with people. I have worked with college-aged young adults for most of my career and enjoy helping individuals cope with the stress and challenges of this time in their lives. I have specialized in treating eating disorders for over 20 years. I also work on issues pertaining to relationships, depression and anxiety.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I view the soul as your mind, will, and emotions—the essence of who you are. Trauma can leave wounds that shape your view of yourself and the world, leaving fractures in your soul. Healing to me is not about ‘fixing,’ but about meeting yourself with compassion, understanding the protective patterns that once kept you safe, and reconnecting with the authentic self beneath them. I believe that every person carries an innate capacity for healing, even when pain and shame feel overwhelming. I trust that our wounds, when met with love and grace, can become openings to deeper wisdom, resilience, and growth. I also believe that healing is not a linear path—it unfolds gently, at your own pace, when safety and compassion are present. My work is rooted in the belief that wholeness is possible. "Grace softens the pain, love holds the wound, and compassion leads the healing.” The approaches I use are grounded in years of experience walking alongside survivors of trauma. Together, we’ll work with tools that go beyond surface-level coping and actually reach the root of what’s happening in your body and brain. Through Brainspotting, we can access and release the deep, unprocessed experiences that often drive anxiety and overwhelm. With trauma-informed DBT skills, you’ll learn practical ways to manage emotions, reduce shame, and build resilience. Using somatic approaches, we’ll gently reconnect with your body’s wisdom so that you feel more grounded and safe in your own skin. All of this work is held within a compassion-centered framework—because healing isn’t about fixing what’s ‘broken,’ it’s about meeting yourself with kindness and learning to trust your own inner strength. My goal is for you to leave therapy with tools you can carry with you anywhere—simple, effective practices that help calm your body, quiet your mind, and create space for peace.

Many university students seek support when the usual ways of coping stop working. Even high-achieving, motivated students can find themselves struggling to focus, stay organized, manage emotions, or just feel like themselves. It’s not always obvious what’s going on at first—but there’s often more beneath the surface. I work with students dealing with: ADHD – trouble with focus, time management, procrastination, or follow-through Anxiety – persistent worry, racing thoughts, panic, or physical symptoms like tension or trouble sleeping Depression – low energy, lack of motivation, disconnection, or loss of interest in things that used to matter OCD – intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, mental loops that are hard to break Trauma – past experiences that affect how you respond to stress, relationships, or daily life Bipolar disorder – changes in mood, sleep, or energy that feel destabilizing or confusing Neurodivergence – navigating a world not built for your brain, and looking for care that meets you where you are Some students are already on medication and want to review or adjust their treatment. Others are starting from the beginning, looking to understand what’s going on and what options are available. Either way, the goal is the same: to feel more grounded, more capable, and more like yourself again. I offer convenient virtual appointments that can be requested online, as well as in-person visits at our Scottdale, GA location.

I find myself often working with high-achieving folks who have been thrown one too many curve balls in life. Whether it's a life transition, a break up, overwhelm with work, stress with family members, or a death, these folks find themselves at the end of their rope and needing to find a pressure-release valve.

We work best with patients who are looking for personalized, attentive psychiatric care. Our providers combine careful medication management with brief psychotherapy, taking time at every visit to connect with you as a whole person. We don't believe in overmedicating. We believe in listening, asking the right questions, and finding the simplest, most effective path to you feeling well.

Jaime Stepansky (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist. Jaime is grounded in LGBTQIA+ affirming and neurodiversity-affirming practices and specializes in treating individuals who experience challenges related to their identity, as well as individuals who experience difficulties with emotional regulation, impulse-control, complex trauma, grief and loss, anxiety, mood disorders, and ADHD. Jaime Stepansky (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist. Jaime is grounded in LGBTQIA+ affirming and neurodiversity-affirming practices and specializes in treating individuals who experience challenges related to their identity, as well as individuals who experience difficulties with emotional regulation, impulse-control, complex trauma, grief and loss, anxiety, mood disorders, and ADHD. Jaime is an integrative and collaborative therapist, incorporating different approaches based upon the needs of individual clients. Jaime’s work is grounded in a strength-based, relational, and playful approach. Her treatment modalities include play therapy, sand tray therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), DBT and CBT techniques.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I welcome clients 20+ with life issues including anxiety, life transitions, self-compassion practice, family/relationship/boundary issues, self-esteem, stress of parenthood. If you feel burnt out, like you are doing too much, and that saying "no" feels overwhelming to consider, I might be a good fit for you. In addition to psychotherapy, I received training in Mindfulness and Meditation which helps with anxiety, emotional awareness, and self-compassion. I also use DBT skills training because I find that some behavioral work can be useful depending on each client's therapeutic process. I look forward to joining you in your journey when you are ready.

We queer folks navigate the world differently from cis-het individuals, which comes with both unique challenges and profound beauty. While I work with people of all identities, including heterosexual and cisgender clients, my specialty lies in supporting queer, trans, and gender-diverse individuals (LGBTQIA+ folks). I'm dedicated to creating a safe, affirming, and empowering space, where you can gain insight, get in touch with your emotions, and connect with your authentic self, free from fear or judgment. My approach to therapy is collaborative, compassionate, and insight-oriented. We’ll work together to deepen your connection with yourself and others. You'll gain deeper insight into the patterns shaping your life, exploring how they developed and if you'd like to shift them to better serve you. I'll meet you where you're at, as we explore what it means for you to live more fully and on your own terms. I also understand that life can be challenging, and society often encourages us to suppress painful emotions. When we bury these feelings, they can manifest in ways that cause more harm— whether by straining relationships, fueling irritability, or even leading to physical issues. In our work together, I’ll support you in bringing these emotions to the surface, giving them the space they need to be explored and processed for healing. Through it all, I’ll be by your side, offering warmth, understanding, and steady support as we navigate the path toward healing and growth together. I’m part of the clinical team at the Aguirre Center for Inclusive Psychotherapy, where we’re committed to offering anti-oppressive, inclusive, and culturally-affirming care. Shoot me an email or text, and let's jump on a free phone consultation to see if we're a good fit! I'm looking forward to connecting with you. I am currently working under the direction of Dr. Sophia Aguirre and under the supervision of Carrie Gensler LPC, CPCS in pursuit of licensure as Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Georgia. I like to see this as you having multiple therapists, collaborating, to help you best meet your goals!

If you are looking for a trustworthy Social Worker, Therapist and/or consultant, you’re in the right place. I have been providing psychotherapy for a variety of clients since 2011. I have experience providing services to children, adolescents, adults, couples and groups. This includes working with individuals who have faced problems with depression, anxiety, ADHD, ODD, trauma, and other severe mental health disorders. My clinical experience includes providing services in a variety of settings, such as, human services through child protective services and juvenile delinquency, crisis intervention, and psychiatric services that were made available through Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient programs. This experience has allowed me to develop diverse skills, build rapport and respond in an empathic and supportive manner when working with individuals and groups. Please feel free to contact me for your service needs.

We specialize in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Radically Open Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (RO-DBT). DBT is an Evidenced-based therapy to treat severe anxiety, emotional dysregulation and facilitate healthier relationships. Group and individual therapy are provided via Online Therapy (zoom).