Gretchen believes in the inherent worth, resilience, and capacity for growth within every of every person. She brings warmth, compassion, and humor to the counseling relationship and strives to create a space where clients feel seen, supported, and empowered. For more than 17 years, she has worked as a clinical social worker in various settings, including a residential treatment centers, community mental health, and university counseling center.
Gretchen uses a collaborative, culturally affirming and strength-based approach in her therapy work with children, adolescents, families, and adults. Her primary specialty is in trauma and attachment, including specialized training in EMDR. She also has extensive experience helping clients navigate anxiety, grief, perfectionism, burnout, as well as military and Veteran related concerns, health care professionals and first responders, and adoption and foster care.
In addition to her clinical work, Gretchen is passionate about mentoring and supporting new therapists as they develop their clinical skills and work toward licensure. In her role as Clinical Director at Samaritan Counseling Center of Atlanta, she provides consultation, training, and clinical supervision to members of the clinical team.
Gretchen is in-network with United Healthcare, Bluecross/Blueshield, and Oscar.
Education & Training:
· MSW in Social Work with a Concentration in Marriage & Family Therapy (University of Georgia)
· Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Georgia
· Board Approved Clinical Supervisor (LCSW-S) in Texas·
· EMDR Level I Trained
· Theraplay Foundational Practitioner·
· Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Level 1 Trained
To schedule an appointment with Gretchen, email her at grees@samaritanatlanta.org, or call (404) 228-7776.