We are thrilled to announce a new member of the Love Positive Counseling team: Jace Johns-Cooper! 

Jace is a Masters level intern completing his Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Mercer University. He has a bachelor's in Psychology from Georgia State University.

An important focus of his practice is reexamining societal norms and experiences through a queer and feminist lens to assist clients in becoming their true self. He also values healthy internal and external communication, self-care and exploration, and advocacy.

His passion is working with LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as those within the polyamorous and kink communities. He came out as a trans man in 2014 and started identifying as polyamorous in 2015. He has recently started becoming involved with the kink community in the past few years. He has also been an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community for the past five years through local non-profits. 

Jace is available for scheduling new clients beginning June 1, 2021! Jace's rate is $35/hr. To book your first session with Jace, request an appointment and be sure to select Jace as the clinician (The rate will show $175 but the cost charged at the time of your appointment will be $35/hr). 

To contact Jace directly with questions or to schedule an appointment, email jacejohnscoopercounseling@gmail.com or call 678 210 9907. 

We've decided to participate in an exciting pop-up shop event designed to support female business owners: Supporting Our Sistahs happening May 30th! 

From the Eventbrite event:

S. O. S. Pop Up Shop is a marketplace of female business owners in the community who strive to support, uplift, and encourage each other!

To register to attend this event: CLICK HERE

I have been studying and implementing Attachment theory in counseling methods much more often recently. I have learned to notice more and more what attachment theory researchers have coined protest behaviors and despair behaviors (as well as detachment behaviors that follow). When I came across this blog entry by Lindsay Braman on the topic, I knew I had to share it with all of you. I hope it helps support compassionate and empathic understanding of yourself, and your loved ones.

How Protest & Despair Responses Shape Adult Relationships

We are thrilled to announce a new member of the Love Positive Counseling team: Josephanie V Smith! 

​Josephanie V. Smith is a master’s level clinician, offering individual, relationship and sex therapy under the direction and supervision of Anna Baxter, LPC. She has a bachelors in Psychology, masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a specialist’s in Contemporary Theory of Mental Health Services. 

Effective communication is at the root of her practice. She aims to assist clients with the learning and implementation of effective and positive communication skills to get what you need out of life; whether that be the communication within or with those around you. The manner in which we speak to ourselves and of ourselves often proves the difference between negative and positive feelings of ourselves, our capabilities, and how we interact with each other. 

Her passion lies within promoting healthy longevity in relationships and millennial sexual literacy, as well the understanding and acceptance of ourselves as sexual beings. She is pleased to work with cisgender and LGBTQ+ identifying individuals and couples as well as those identifying with or looking to explore alternative relationship styles, including polyamory, kink, etc. 

As a client of Josephanie, you will be encouraged to explore, adopt a broadened perspective, and feel empowered to take the steps necessary to achieve a greater state of wellbeing.

Josephanie is available for scheduling new clients immediately! Leandra's rate is $125/hr with some availability for sliding scale as clients need as she forms her caseload. To book your first session with Josephanie, request an appointment and be sure to select Josephanie as the clinician (The rate will show $175 but the cost charged at the time of your appointment will be based on rate agreed upon with Josephanie). 

To contact Josephanie directly with questions or to schedule an appointment, email JVelsheecounseling@gmail.com or call 678 775 8319. 

Our friend and colleague Lucia Caltabiano,  LCSW over at Resilient Wellness, LLC is starting some new groups that may be of interest to some of our clients and followers so we want to share the details with you. 

All group fees are income based. To register, contact Lucia (They/Them/Their) directly at resilientwellnessllc@gmail.com or 678-590-8797

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​Gender Expansive Teen Group - Teens 13-18 who identify as non-binary, gender non-conforming, and/or transgender. 
Meets every other week on Thursday at 7:30 PM
Starting December 10th, 2020

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​Transmasculine Support Group - Adults (18+) who identify as masculine of center; non-binary, transgender and gender non-conforming. 
Meets every other week on Thursday
Starting December 3rd, 2020

​Trans Parenting Support Group - Parents with transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender expansive children/teenagers. 
Meet every other week on Wednesday at 7:30 PM
Starting December 9, 2020

​LGBTQ + DBT Informed Skills Group - Adults (18+) that identify as LGBTQ+
Meets weekly for 8 weeks on Monday at 7:30 PM
Starts November 23, 2020
Prior to group there is a 10-15 minute consultation call to establish goals for the group

As of today, August 1st, I have assumed the role of managing our group collaborative office in Roswell and in doing so, the name will change from Wellspring Counseling Center to Love Positive Counseling. Each of us manage our practice independently (scheduling, billing, etc), but we work collaboratively in a shared space (like professional roommates). I have loved working with my friends and colleagues for 6 years and look forward to many more as our office manager. If you haven't had the opportunity to meet my office mates before, let me introduce you to them now!

Cheryll A. Thompson, LPC

Anna Lisa Derenthal, LPC

Mike McNulty, LPC

We currently have a vacant office available for a fully licensed therapist. If you're needing an office space for video or in-person sessions, contact me to discuss joining our crew. The space is partially furnished, or can be emptied if you have your own furnishings. 

This also gives me the opportunity to expand my practice to include direction and supervision in the future. I plan to obtain my CPCS (Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor) in October and at that time will be able to supervise Masters level clinicians pursuing their LAPC/LPC. Keep a eye here on the website or on my Facebook page for an announcement when I'm officially able to provide supervision to up and coming therapists!

I'd like to share a research study currently seeking participants in case anyone following our work could benefit.

The Division of Infectious Diseases at Emory's School of Medicine is excited to be launching a new study, the Explore Study, specifically aimed towards learning more about HIV in transgender populations. 

This study aims to understand the effect of feminizing hormones on the tissues that line the rectum among 3 groups. 

Basic qualifications for The Explore Study are as follows:

Group 1:
-Transgender woman who has sex with men ages 18-59
-HIV Negative
-Taking gender affirmation hormones for at least 6 months

Group 2:
-​Transgender woman who has sex with men ages 18-59
-HIV Negative
-Not currently taking gender affirmation hormones but plans to in the next 6 months

Group 3:
-Cisgender men who has sex with men ages 18-59
-HIV Negative

Note: All volunteers are compensated for their participation.

To participate in the study, contact Lana Brooks lnbrook@emory.edu or Jessica Swiniarski jessicaswiniarski@emory.edu or call their office.

The Emory Hope Clinic
(470).485.1444
 
Office:
404-712-2961

The world is currently facing a threat I don't believe we've ever known before. As a result all of our routine activities have been interrupted or changed in some way. I haven't written about my thoughts, feelings, and opinions around COVID-19 until this moment because I've been incredibly busy holding space for all my clients as our personal worlds change. All of us are experiencing a scary time in the world and we (as individual people and as society) will be changed forever as a result. I specialize in working with often oppressed populations who face difficulty getting quality medical care on a good day (never mind when there's a potentially life threatening virus traveling around the world). Many of us are worried about ourselves, our loved ones, the effect of the precautions on our economy, and what the local and federal governments' response will be to the virus and the effects of physical distancing on our economies. Physical distancing is a privilege not afforded by all, and can exacerbate a tendency to isolate. Social and physical isolation has long term negative effects on mental health. If you're able to #stayathome please be sure to use video event platforms (like Zoom) and social media to remain connected to your loved ones and your community. It's too easy to fall into a belief that we are alone in our feelings when we don't talk to or see other people. If you're struggling with strong emotions during this time, please know there is help and support available. Reach out to schedule an appointment with me. 

Due to our collective efforts to #flattenthecurve including a statewide shelter in place order, all counseling sessions with me will now be conducted over video (through my secure client portal video platform) or telephone. Many have already made the switch during the previous three weeks. If you're a current client of mine with an appointment scheduled, I will contact you directly ahead of your scheduled appointment to determine which method you'd like to use for your session. 

Living or working in North Fulton (Roswell, Alpharetta) area? You’re invited to a networking event for local counselors, therapists, and social workers. This event will be a casual environment to meet your neighbors in the business to “talk shop,” build referral networks, and support each other in our important work.

Light refreshments will be provided. Please bring business cards to trade with colleagues who seem interesting to you.
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Details:
Friday February 21, 2020 at 11:00am – 1:00pm
Wellspring Counseling Center
700 Old Roswell Lakes Pkwy Suite 300
Roswell, GA 30076
 
About us:
We are a group therapy practice that values diversity, authenticity, and safe space. We provide individual, relationship, and family therapy for adolescents and adults. Our therapists each specialize in different therapy modalities, psychological and developmental concerns, and relationship styles but one thing unites us: a positive and accepting attitude towards sexuality and gender. We most commonly support clients struggling with mood, depression, anxiety, trauma, self-harming behaviors, family-of-origin issues, and/or life transitions.
http://www.wellspringlife.com/