Annika Rusaw, LPC, NCC, CAMS - Practice Owner
Annika is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Anger Management Specialist (CAMS). Annika received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science Degree in Community Agency Counseling both from Jacksonville State University (Jacksonville, Alabama). Annika has worked with several mental health agencies throughout Metro Atlanta and has served in the capacity of Program Director, Program Manager, Therapist and Case Manager.
Annika specializes in individual, couples and family counseling. She has a particular interest in working with adults who are struggling with life transitions, personal stress, depression and anxiety. Her additional areas of practice include anger management, relationship issues and family dynamics.
Annika primarily takes a Cognitive Behavioral approach to therapy. She believes that how we think is how we feel and how we feel is how we engage in the world around us. Annika believes in meeting her clients where they are and partnering with them to achieve their personal goals. Annika strives to create a relaxed and comfortable space in which individuals can be free to express themselves without fear of judgement. Annika works with adults 21 years of age and up. Annika is available for day and evening appointments.
Insurance Accepted: Aetna, Anthem/BCBS, Cigna, Humana, and United Healthcare.
Tom Searcy, LPC
Tom has been a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia since 1994, and prior to that he was licensed in the states of Ohio and Iowa. Tom received his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Georgia and his Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from West Georgia College. Tom is a member of the LPC Association of Georgia and the Association for Humanistic Psychology. He has over 30 years of professional experience both at inpatient and outpatient settings. He has worked as a clinical psychologist in several hospitals and in a variety of outpatient clinics and practices. He was a Senior Clinical Care Manager for a large managed behavioral healthcare company for 20 years.
Tom has had training, experience and expertise with a variety of treatment approaches, but his primary approach is to provide the tools and to teach skills that a person can use to improve his or her level of balance in regards to mental, emotional and physical health and functioning. Underlying whatever counseling technique Tom may use for any specific issue is a compassionate humanistic recognition of a person’s individual experiences, rights, human dignity and individual differences.
Tom is a military veteran and has had significant experience working with combat veterans and their families. He spent many years providing treatment, education and training for PTSD, trauma and disaster recovery. Tom uses a variety of treatment types, depending upon the needs of the client. These include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person Centered Therapy, Behavior Modification and techniques, stress management, anger management training, relaxation training, systematic desensitization and guided imagery. He has many years of experience working with individuals, couples, families and group psychotherapy. As an adoptive parent, Tom (and his wife) have personal experience dealing with adoption and attachment issues. They also have two biological children. Tom has also provided evaluation and treatment for other populations including victims of childhood sexual abuse, chronically mentally ill and the homeless.
Tom is an open, receptive and respectful therapist, who focuses on the client’s assessed needs and how he and the client can work together in a collaborative manner to begin the process towards useful, practicable, and sometimes common sense methods of overcoming difficulties, healing, and improving overall functioning and well-being. Tom works with older adolescents and adults. He is available for day and evening appointments.
Insurance Accepted: Aetna, Anthem/BCBS and Humana