Shelley Watson

About Me

In the context of helping those struggling with addiction and the people who love them, my professional counseling experience has primarily focused on the issues of shame, guilt, low self-esteem, codependency, counter-dependency, relationship difficulties, communication issues, family conflict, trauma recovery, spiritual confusion, anger, depression, and anxiety. I also enjoy helping single women overcome feelings of frustration and loneliness when relationships fail, and find joy and fulfillment when life isn’t going as planned.

I believe that, at our core, we all desire relationship. Unfortunately, things happen throughout our lives that can make it difficult to connect with others in a healthy way. In our attempt to avoid pain, we protect ourselves in ways that that leave us feeling isolated and alone – the exact opposite of what we want. I counsel mainly from a psychodynamic perspective, which generally means that I look to the past to understand the present. I believe that when we are aware of what we’re doing and why, we have the power to change.

Prior to becoming a counselor, I spent 18 years as an Internet consultant. The work was challenging and enjoyable, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was living the wrong life. In 2009, I made the decision to “quit my life” as I knew it to pursue the life God had for me. My original mission statement of “helping people live better lives” has taken me on a remarkable journey that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

From 2012-2016, I had the privilege of working as a counselor for the HopeQuest TREK program, a 90-day residential treatment program for substance dependence and sexual brokenness. I have also counseled at the Hope Counseling Center at Mount Paran and volunteered at Metro Atlanta Recovery Residences (MARR) working with the spouses of those struggling with addiction. I work primarily with individuals, but I also have experience working with families, couples, adolescents, and groups. I have been in private practice since 2014.

Licensure

Education

  • Master of Arts in Professional Counseling, Richmont Graduate University
  • Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, The Pennsylvania State University

Training and Certifications

  • Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
  • Trained in Attachment-focused EMDR

Continuing Education

Trauma

  • Trauma, Addictions and Intimacy Disorders Conference
  • The 10 Core Competencies of Trauma, PTSD, Grief and Loss
  • Attachment-focused EMDR Comprehensive Training (Parts 1, 2 & 3)
  • Certified Clinical Trauma Professional: Two-Day Trauma Competency Conference
  • Internal Family Systems Therapy: Step-by-Step Procedures for Healing Traumatic Wounds
  • Traumatic Attachment and Affect Dysregulation

Addiction

  • Trauma, Addictions and Intimacy Disorders Conference
  • Why We Do What We Do: The Brain in Addiction Treatment
  • Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse Treatment
  • Addiction Interaction in Young Adults: Drugs, Sex and Tech

The Body and Mental Health

  • The Gut-Brain Connection: Facts, Fads & Fallacies
  • Nutritional and Integrative Interventions for Mental Health Disorders
  • Food and Mood: A Therapist’s Guide to The Role of Nutrition in Mental Health

Anxiety

  • Anxiety, Worry & Panic: Effective Strategies to Calm the Anxious Mind
  • Panic Disorders

Personality Disorders

  • Borderline, Narcissistic Antisocial and Histrionic Personality Disorders