Counselors in Atlanta & Alpharetta, GA
Meet the Therapists at Atlanta Specialized Care
Tatiana Matthews, MS, LPC, CRC
Since 1998, Tatiana Matthews has been sharing hope, humor, and professionalism with her clients. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) in Georgia and North Carolina. She is the clinical director of Atlanta Specialized Care.
Mrs. Matthews obtained her master of science from East Carolina University, where she majored in clinical rehabilitation counseling with a specialty in addiction and mental health. While acting as a consult liaison in the main medical hospital, she completed her clinical internship in the alcohol and addiction program and the psychiatric unit at Duke University Medical Hospital.
Following her internship, Mrs. Matthews practiced privately with East Coast Counseling in Greenville, North Carolina. In addition, she served as research director for a “Brief Intervention” study conducted through the East Carolina Injury Prevention Program at Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville.
In 2000, Mrs. Matthews moved to north Georgia and worked on a contractual basis for Ridgeview Institute’s mobile assessment team in Smyrna. She was one of the founding partners of North View Counseling & Recovery, Inc., where she practiced for almost 10 years. After retiring from North View in August 2010, Mrs. Matthews began practicing independently in Alpharetta.
Mrs. Matthews addresses the mind, body, spirituality, family systems, vocation, and hobbies. When requested by a client, she can integrate a Christian perspective into the therapy process. She is client-centered and develops a series of interventions that are challenging without being shaming.
Mrs. Matthews provides individual, family, and group therapy to adults and adolescents. She has extensive experience in the areas of addictions, co-dependency, trauma, mood regulation, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, and learning disabilities.
Mrs. Matthews has specialized training in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), as well as dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). EMDR is a therapeutic technique used to address trauma, while DBT teaches emotional regulation.
Mrs. Matthews is also the author of Fred the Fox Shouts “NO!”, an adult’s guide to speaking to children about sexual abuse prevention. Fred the Fox helps parents and caregivers introduce the concepts of “private parts” and safety with people we know. With the help of illustrations by Allison Fears, Fred the Fox helps children learn to recognize and avoid sexual abuse and helps protect them by teaching them what to do.
Fred the Fox Shouts “NO!” is available for purchase at Amazon.com.
Theresa Westfall, MS, LPC, NCC
Theresa Westfall, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), received her master of science from Mercer University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. She has received specialized training in trauma treatment, including the use of brainspotting and progressive counting, which are therapeutic techniques designed to help children and adults deal with traumatic experiences and loss.
Brainspotting is a well-researched, powerful, focused, and effective intervention that allows for rapid progress. It uses targeted eye positioning to access traumatic memories in the subcortical brain that can then be processed and released. The approach is enhanced by using BioLateral™ sound, which gently fades back and forth from the left and right ear through headphones. This alternately stimulates the different hemispheres of the brain.
Progressive counting (PC) is a well-researched, effective, and efficient trauma intervention that allows for traumatic experiences to be processed so that healing can take place. PC involves visualization of safe and positive memories alongside traumatic memories for set increments of time with the supportive and grounding presence of a therapist.
Mrs. Westfall has also received training in collaborative and proactive solutions (CPS), a model used to work with children and adolescents experiencing behavioral challenges and/or explosive outbursts. Collaborative and proactive solutions (CPS) is an evidence-based approach that focuses on discovering the skills that the child is missing and the expectations that they are having trouble meeting rather than the problematic behavior.
The approach improves communication, empathy, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills as the child and the parent work together as a team. This approach differs from other approaches that are driven by rewards and punishments. Family communication is strengthened and improved through this model.
In addition, Mrs. Westfall is trained in dialectical behavioral therapy. She facilitates dialectical behavioral therapy in individual and group sessions.
Mrs. Westfall completed her clinical internship at New Life Community Ministries in Decatur, Georgia, where she aided in the coordination and development of New Life’s counseling and case management program. She assisted Dr. Jagan Chilakamarri with research on pediatric bipolar disorder. She worked with children on the autism spectrum as part of a dance and movement class.
Mrs. Westfall is the lead therapist for Atlanta Specialized Care's Executive Functioning group, providing individual and family therapy to children, adolescents, and adults. She is passionate about working in the areas of trauma, loss, the autism spectrum, communication difficulties, behavioral challenges, addictions, anxiety, stress management, depression, relationship difficulties, and life transitions.
Mrs. Westfall meets clients where they are in life and treats each client as a unique individual. She counsels from a holistic perspective (mind, body, spirit, family, school, work, and environment). She works with clients to reach their goals in a way that instills hope and a sense of empowerment. Her therapeutic style is warm and supportive.
Neitcha Thomsen, LMSW, LCSW
Neitcha Thomsen, a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), received her Master of Social Work from the University of Georgia and her undergraduate degree in Social Work from The University of Texas.
Mrs. Thomsen has extensive experience working with Young Adults and Adults with psychotic disorders, bi-polar disorder, anxiety disorders, co-dependency and depression. She is a mental health advocate in the Atlanta community and is passionate about empowering and supporting families and individuals impacted by mental illness through their journey of recovery, ending stigma and identifying community mental health resources.
Mrs. Thomsen uses a variety of modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, psychoeducation and Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP) based on the needs of the client. She empowers clients in their journey through a framework of the recovery model along with focusing on individual strengths. She aids individuals to discover through the treatment process their personal strengths, qualities and ability to not only heal but thrive in life. She works from a client centered framework focusing on education, protective factors, values, connection to others and developing skills while focusing on each client’s personal goals for therapy.
Mrs. Thomsen completed her clinical internship at Ridgeview Institute in Smyrna working in both the inpatient and structured outpatient psychiatric program settings. She has worked as a program therapist and program director. She has served on the board of NAMI Northside and currently is on the board of PLAN of Georgia. Before embarking on her work in the field of mental health she worked as a Spanish interpreter and cultural liaison in the school system along with facilitating community outreach work. She has lived in Mexico, Japan and Australia and loves to travel and learn about new cultures.
Erin Mills, MSW, LCSW
Erin Mills, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), received her Master of Social Work from Kennesaw State University with a specialty focus in substance abuse. She completed her clinical internships at DeKalb Drug Court; a judicially supervised drug treatment and alternative sentencing program offered by DeKalb Superior Court, and Mothers Making a Change; an inpatient/outpatient treatment facility for mothers working with the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) to regain custody of their children. During her internships, she discovered her passion and aptitude for working within the area of substance abuse treatment and working with the adolescent and young adult population.
Erin has extensive knowledge in assessments, evaluations, and screenings. During her employment at Cobb Recovery Center, Erin completed various assessments for individuals with mental health and substance abuse issues. Erin believes that a thorough assessment is the foundation of successful treatment and knows that with the right recommendations a client and their family can create a game plan that sets them up for success.
Erin was also the Lead Counselor at Caron Treatment Center’s Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program in Dunwoody. There, she completed assessments and made recommendations for appropriate levels of care, facilitated several outpatient groups for adolescents, young adults, and their families, and facilitated individual and family therapy. Erin believes that incorporating family participation in adolescent therapy is imperative to long-term success and enjoys working with clients and their families to provide these services.
Erin is trained and certified in several evidence-based curriculums including MATRIX and Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Substance Abuse (CBI-SA) as well as anger management and trauma curricula. In addition, Erin is trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI). Erin works with adolescents, young adults, and adults struggling with a range of issues, including substance use/abuse, addictive behaviors, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, communication issues, lack of coping skills, relationship conflicts, and disordered eating.
Adolescents and young adults can often be resistant to change, and Erin strives to meet these clients where they are and to help them identify their own goals within themselves and their families. Plus, Erin believes that each client is an individual with specific needs that is capable of change and growth with the right supports in place. She is passionate about working with her clients and offering them encouragement, support, and insight while working together to realize their goals.
Natalie Stadnick-Uhl, M.Div, MS
A native Atlantan, Natalie Stadnick-Uhl holds a Master of Divinity from Duke University and a Master of Rehabilitation Counseling from Mercer University.
Natalie considers her counseling theoretical orientation to be both client-centered and eclectic. As appropriate for each individual client’s needs and goals, Natalie draws from a variety of counseling theories such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Choice Theory.
Ultimately, Natalie chooses to take to heart the evidence that positive outcomes in therapy are positively correlated with a good counselor-client relationship. Warmth and positivity are hallmarks of Natalie's counseling style.
As someone who is trained in pastoral counseling, Natalie is happy to incorporate spirituality into her work with clients if desired by the client. Of note, Natalie has specialized training via her Rehabilitation Counseling specialization in counseling individuals and caregivers of those with chronic illness and physical or psychological disabilities.
Administration
Ashley Dressel, Office Manager
Ashley Dressel holds a B.S. in Psychology from Coastal Carolina University with minors in Public Health and Criminology. She is presently a graduate student at Richmont Graduate University in the Clinical Mental Health Program. She is also pursuing two certificates, one for Trauma and the other for Child and Adolescents. Ashley’s goals include becoming a Registered Play Therapist and continuing her education to ultimately receive a doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
In addition to school and Atlanta Specialized Care, Ashley works as a server in Marietta. During her downtime, she enjoys reading, working out, and spending time with friends and loved ones.
Jessica Hamby, Office Manager
Jessica has over 24 years of experience in business, with over 18 of those in office and practice management, and 8 of which have included our office. Her career began in the Chicagoland area, although a large part of her childhood was joyfully spent in Georgia. She started her career at a national grocery supplier, working her way through the ranks of the company in a short amount of time while attending Purdue University part-time. She made a full-time move to Georgia in 2000 and continued her pursuit of a fulfilling career in business management while attending the University of North Georgia. She enjoys parenting, reading, gardening, traveling, and training for Spartan Races.
