Question 1

Can you coordinate care with my doctor, OB‑GYN, psychiatrist, or other providers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. With your written consent, we can coordinate counseling and integrative psychiatry with your doctor, OB-GYN, psychiatrist, or other providers. We can share relevant updates, request records or lab results, and align your treatment plan so medication, therapy, and lifestyle supports work together while protecting your confidentiality.

Care coordination is part of holistic mental health care at Kellen Mental Health. If you want us to collaborate with your primary doctor, OB-GYN, psychiatrist, pediatrician, or another therapist, we will start by having you sign a Release of Information and tell us what you want shared and what you do not.

From there, your clinician can send a brief treatment summary, confirm diagnoses, and coordinate next steps around medication, supplements, or lab work when needed. This is especially helpful if you are balancing integrative psychiatry with individual therapy, or if you are navigating postpartum depression and maternal mental health where medication decisions may affect pregnancy, breastfeeding, and sleep.

We focus on clear, practical communication so everyone on your care team is working toward the same goals. When you are doing online therapy and virtual counseling, coordination can still happen through secure, HIPAA-compliant systems. We also collaborate within our own team so your counseling and medication management feel connected and consistent.

Your privacy stays central. We share only the minimum information needed for your care and only in the ways you approve. If you ever want to change or stop coordination, we will update your preferences.

Question 2

How long should I expect to be in therapy?

Accepted Answer

Every therapy journey at KMH is unique. Some clients seek therapy for several weeks or months to address specific challenges, while others find long-term support helpful for continued growth and self-discovery. However long you choose to engage, our commitment to your well-being remains constant.

Counseling at Kellen Mental Health is designed to fit your unique goals, not a preset calendar. During your first appointment we clarify what you want to accomplish—relief from anxiety and stress, rebuilding trust in couples and marriage counseling, healing trauma with EMDR, or boosting focus through ADHD and executive-functioning coaching. Based on those goals, your therapist will recommend a cadence (often weekly at first) and an estimated range, typically eight to twenty sessions for focused work. Short-term therapy can be as brief as six sessions when you need targeted skills for a specific challenge; more complex concerns such as longstanding depression, PTSD, or major life transitions may span several months to a year.

Progress reviews happen every four to six sessions. We look at symptom change, skill mastery, and your overall sense of well-being. If you’re thriving sooner than expected, we taper to bi-weekly or monthly maintenance. If new layers surface, we extend or integrate complementary supports like integrative psychiatry, mindfulness training, or life coaching to keep momentum strong.

Remember, you set the pace. Our holistic mental health care model gives you the option to pause, return, or stay connected through corporate wellness programs and mental-wellness workshops whenever new seasons of growth arise.

Question 3

How should we prepare for our first couples counseling session?

Accepted Answer

For your first couples counseling session, come with a shared goal, a few concrete examples of what keeps you stuck, and a willingness to listen. Complete any intake forms ahead of time. Decide if you prefer a 60- or 90-minute session and, for virtual counseling, test your private space and tech.

Couples & Marriage Counseling works best when you show up prepared and on the same team. Before your first couples counseling session with Kellen Mental Health, try these steps.

1) Get clear on what you want. Each partner writes 2 to 3 goals and one sign things are improving. Examples: calmer talks, rebuild trust, better teamwork with parenting, more closeness.

2) Bring a few recent examples. Pick one or two moments that capture the pattern. Note what happened, what you felt, and what you needed. This helps us map the cycle and start changing it using evidence-based therapy such as the Gottman Method, Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy.

3) Complete any questionnaires ahead of time. Some couples also use tools like the Prepare/Enrich Assessment for Couples. If you are asked to take an assessment, do it separately, answer honestly, and avoid debating the questions at home.

4) Plan the logistics. Sessions are offered in 60 or 90 minutes, in person or through online therapy and virtual counseling. A 90-minute first session can help when time is tight or conflict is high. For Virtual Counseling, choose a quiet, private room and test your camera and sound on a secure video platform.

Come with questions about pacing (many couples start every other week), homework, and how to handle hot topics like intimacy, money, or infidelity. If you feel anxious, a few minutes of slow breathing before you log on or walk in can help you stay present.

Question 4

What is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and who is it for?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based counseling approach that helps you notice unhelpful thoughts and habits, then practice new ways to respond. We often use CBT for anxiety and stress, depression, OCD, PTSD, and life transitions. It is a strong fit if you want clear goals and practical skills.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based counseling approach that helps you understand the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions. In sessions, we work together to spot unhelpful patterns like worst-case thinking, all-or-nothing rules, or negative self-talk. Then you learn new ways to respond, so your mood and choices can change over time.

CBT is often a strong fit if you want practical tools for anxiety and stress management, depression counseling, postpartum anxiety or depression, panic, OCD, trauma and PTSD therapy support, grief, or major life transitions. It can also support ADHD and executive functioning coaching by building planning, follow-through, and problem-solving skills. Many people like CBT because it is structured and goal-focused. It is often short-term (commonly around 8 to 12 weeks), but the pace can be tailored to you.

At Kellen Mental Health, we use CBT across Therapy & Counseling, including Counseling for Adults, Counseling for Teens, Couples & Marriage Counseling, and Infertility, Pregnancy, & Postpartum Counseling. You can meet in person or choose Virtual Counseling (online therapy and virtual counseling). You can expect a safe, confidential space, clear goals, and between-session practice so the skills become real life habits.

If CBT is not the best match, we can integrate other evidence-based options, such as ACT, DBT, EMDR Therapy, or Brainspotting, as part of holistic mental health care.

Question 5

What is marriage counseling, and who is it for?

Accepted Answer

Marriage counseling (couples therapy) is structured, confidential therapy where a trained couples therapist helps partners improve communication, reduce conflict, and strengthen connection using evidence-based tools. It’s for any committed couple—dating, engaged, newly married, or long-married - who wants support with conflict, trust, intimacy, or life transitions. Sessions are available in person or via video. See Couples & Marriage Counseling in Alpharetta.

Marriage counseling gives you and your partner a neutral, supportive space to identify patterns that keep you stuck and replace them with healthier ways of communicating and repairing. At KMH, couples therapy focuses on developing practical problem-solving skills, improving communication, and building a stronger foundation—so disagreements become more productive and connection becomes easier to maintain.

Couples often seek marriage counseling to work on:

communication and conflict resolution
rebuilding trust after ruptures
intimacy and emotional closeness
parenting stress, work/life strain, money conflict, or major transitions

KMH uses multiple evidence-based approaches and tailors the plan to your relationship. Sessions are available in 60- or 90-minute formats and can be conducted in person or via video. To get started, review the service details on Couples & Marriage Counseling in Alpharetta, then reach out to our client care coordinator with any questions and to schedule an appointment. If you’re planning to meet remotely, you can also reference Online Counseling for virtual care options.

Premier Therapy in Alpharetta, GA

Wellness starts here.

How Can We Help?

Meet Our Licensed Therapists in Alpharetta, GA

Gleyce Almeida-Farrell, LCSW

Brooke Sanders, LMFT

Morgan E. Dunn, LCSW

Nitsan Jakob, LPC

Brooke Riley, LPC

Alice Hamrick-Martinez, LPC

Leigh Fisher, LCSW, CCTP

Kristi Schwegman, LCSW

Mariah Sylvia, LPC

Cara McDonald, APC, NCC

Getting Started

Get in Touch

Personalized Matchmaking

Begin Your Journey

Kellen Mental Health Updates | Alpharetta Therapy News

Expert Insights on OCD & ERP

Welcome Alice Hamrick-Martinez, Anxiety & OCD Therapist!

Welcome Back, Kristi!

Your Mental Health and Wellness Experts

Collaborative Care in Alpharetta, GA

Connecting Communities Through Wellness

Customized Mental Health & Wellness Offerings

Counseling

Coaching

Wellness Activities

What We Help With

Anxiety and Stress Management

OCD and ERP Therapy

ADHD Assessment and Therapy

Depression and Mood Concerns

Trauma and PTSD

Couples and Marriage Counseling

Perinatal Mental Health

Burnout and Caregiver Stress

Serving Alpharetta and North Metro Atlanta

Ready to Get Started?

Don’t Just Take Our Word For It

Wellness Blog | #learnwithkellen

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you coordinate care with my doctor, OB‑GYN, psychiatrist, or other providers?

How long should I expect to be in therapy?

How should we prepare for our first couples counseling session?

What is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and who is it for?

What is marriage counseling, and who is it for?

Read Our Google Reviews