Hey, I am Phyllis, a licensed professional counselor and founder of Pure Counseling in Watkinsville, near Athens, Georgia.
I grew up in this area in the tiny town of Winterville. Northeast Georgia is very special to me, and I am glad to call Athens home. I went off to college in Dahlonega and then got a job in Milledgeville and managed to also go to graduate school in the evenings and get an MBA. Years later, a rather circuitous and unexpected life journey as well as a calling from God, led me to pursue a counseling degree in a seminary.
I think it is important for you to know that I had plenty of hurts as a young woman and I did (and continue to do) a lot of work to heal. This part of my journey informs how I think about what happens in therapy sessions in my office.
My areas of special interest
- Women’s issues
- Partner betrayal
- Trauma
- PTSD
- Sexual issues
- Painful sex
- Abuse
- Family of origin dynamics
- Parenting concerns
- Relationship problems
- Grief and loss
Special groups I enjoy working with
My Therapeutic Approach
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a primary treatment approach in “talk therapy” and with trauma work I am certified in and use SAFE (Somatic and Attachment Focused) EMDR. My work is also informed by Polyvagal Theory and Interpersonal Neurobiology approaches.
When not working I enjoy Bible studies, walking, playing in the dirt, lunch with friends, 1000-piece puzzles, and my grandchildren. I am an avid sports fan!!
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
My Education & Story
Education:
- Master of Arts in Counseling, Asbury Theological Seminary
- Master of Business Administration, Georgia College
- Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, North Georgia College (UNG)
Professional licenses and certifications:
- Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia (license # LPC007181)
- Professional Counselor Telehealth Provider in South Carolina (Credential #674)
- EMDR Certified by EMDR International Association
- Certified Sex Therapist, American Board of Christian Sex Therapists (ABCST)
- Certified Clinical Partner Specialist (CCPS-Candidate) with APSATS (The Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialists)
- Prepare Enrich Facilitator
- Flash Technique trained
- Licensed Professional Counselor Association of Georgia, member
- American Counseling Association, member
Experience:
I have been fortunate to have several careers prior to my work as a counselor. My undergraduate major was Criminal Justice because I thought I wanted to go to Law School. After several years working as an adult probation officer, I changed directions and landed in radio advertising sales before joining the Human Resources Department at UGA. All of these work experiences were preparatory to my work as a counselor because I had the privilege of working with many different people in different contexts. I really do like people and believe that all people are of sacred value and worth. God used my previous job experiences including my time at home with my school aged children to prepare me to return to graduate school to study counseling. Once again, I was very fortunate to learn about counseling in some different contexts including working with college students at the Asbury University student counseling center and mental health patients in a metro Atlanta hospital emergency room.
Since 2009, I have been part of two counseling practices in the Athens/Watkinsville GA area and in 2022 opened Pure Counseling. Most of my work as a licensed clinician has been in private practice with adults. Currently I am engaged in a certification process with APSATS (Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialty) as a Certified Clinical Partner Specialist (CCPS-Candidate). On occasion, I teach the human sexuality class at the College of Athens, and I enjoy speaking to small groups about a variety of mental health and spiritual topics.
