JCAC's Blog & Podcast

Jun
26

Guide for Teens: How to Build Self-Esteem, Improve Body Image, and Manage Anxiety


TOPIC: The Teen Guide to Self-Esteem, Body Image, and Anxiety: Tools for a Healthier You


POST BY: Lillie Bamberg, LPC - CLICK HERE TO SEE HER BIO


WRITTEN: June 26, 2025


WILL BE REVIEWED: June 2028



You’re Not Alone: Understanding Teen Self-Esteem


If you're a teen who feels insecure, anxious, or uncomfortable in your own skin, you’re not the only one. Millions of teens struggle daily with low self-esteem, lack of confidence, and body image issues—and it can feel overwhelming. Add in pressure from school, family, friends, and social media, and it’s no surprise that teen mental health is more important than ever.


But here’s something you should know: it’s okay to...


Jun
26

Feeling Life Behind: Navigating Life Transitions in Adulthood


TOPIC: What to Do When Everyone Around You Is Moving On and You Feel Stuck


POST BY: Lyla Mills, LMSW - CLICK HERE TO SEE HER BIO


WRITTEN: June 26, 2025


WILL BE REVIEWED: June 2028



Your friends start getting married. They buy homes, move in with partners, land promotions, or post smiling pictures from places you can’t afford to visit right now. Or maybe it’s the opposite, maybe you’re the first to get married, or start a career, and you’re suddenly left feeling like no one around you fully understands what you’re going through.


Adulthood rarely unfolds in sync. As we move through our twenties and thirties, our paths start to diverge. One friend might be starting a fa...


Jun
26

EMDR: Rewiring the Brain for Emotional Freedom


TOPIC: EMDR Explained: The Science of Emotional Healing and Brain Rewiring


POST BY: Lindsey Wheeler, LPC, CPCS - CLICK HERE TO SEE HER BIO


WRITTEN: June 26, 2025


WILL BE REVIEWED: June 2028



If you’ve ever felt like you're trapped in a loop of painful memories, reactions that feel too big for the moment, or emotions that seem to control your life—you're not alone. For many people, trauma doesn't just live in the past. It gets stored in the body, in the brain, and the nervous system. And while talk therapy can help bring awareness, sometimes it feels like insight alone isn’t enough. That’s where EMDR therapy can offer profound healing.


EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization ...


Jun
26

The Hidden Struggle of High Achievers with ADHD (And How Therapy Can Help)


TOPIC: The Overlooked Side of ADHD: High Achievement, Hidden Struggles, and Healing Through Therapy


POST BY: Mikayla Minehart, LPC, NCC, PMH-C - CLICK HERE TO SEE HER BIO


WRITTEN: June 26, 2025


WILL BE REVIEWED: June 2028



As a child therapist, I’ve had the privilege of working with many bright, driven, and talented young people. Some of them are top of their class, win awards, or excel in multiple areas—from academics to the arts to athletics. And yet, beneath their accomplishments lies a daily internal battle that most people don't see.


These are the high achievers with ADHD.



When Success Masks Struggle


ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is often stereotyped as affect...


Jun
26

The Impact of Social Media on Teens: Navigating the Mind Games of Snapchat


TOPIC: The Impact of Snapchat on Teen Mental Health and Self-Esteem


POST BY: Mikayla Minehart, LPC, NCC, PMH-C - CLICK HERE TO SEE HER BIO


WRITTEN: June 26, 2025


WILL BE REVIEWED: June 2028



As a therapist working with teens, I often hear about the constant pressure and challenges young people face when it comes to social media. While platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat provide creative outlets, ways to connect with friends, and a means to express oneself, they also come with significant mental health consequences, especially for teenagers who are still navigating their self-identity and emotional well-being.


In this post, I’ll explore the unique ways that social media, specific...


Apr
28

Individual Counseling: Empowering Change and Growth Through Psychotherapy


AM I DEPRESSED? Or Just Sad? Depression Explained in Detail By A Licensed Counselor






Counselor, Erica Gregory, explains what depression is by outlining the 9 key symptoms of depression. Erica has worked with depressed children, teens, and adults, and uses her experience with real clients who have depression to explain the difference between feeling sad or down and clinical depression or medical depression.




Life’s challenges often leave us feeling stuck or overwhelmed, whether it’s dealing with emotional distress, life transitions, or mental health struggles. Individual counseling offers a safe, supportive space to help you process, heal, and find clarity. At Johns Creek and Alphare...


Sep
30

The Alarming Rise of Teen Depression and Suicide | JCACounseling Podcast Short


In this short episode, licensed counselors Erica Gregory and Mandi Allison discuss the growing mental health crisis among teens, highlighting the alarming rise in suicide rates. They explore how prolonged emotional pain can lead to a desire for escape and how social media intensifies anxiety and feelings of isolation. Learn how to recognize the warning signs and better support the teens in your life.


Click below to watch this short episode!


To watch the full podcast episode, click here: Full Podcast Episode



Why Is Teen Depression & Suicide Increasing? | JCACounseling Podcast Short











Prolonged Emotional Pain and the Desire to Escape:
The discussion began by addressing how prolonged emotional pa...


Sep
23

Fostering Safe Communities: Addressing School Violence & Suicide - JCACounseling Podcast (LIVE)


Join us for a critical community conversation in response to recent tragedies in Sugar Hill and Winder, GA, including a suicide by cop and a school shooting. Suicide and school violence are preventable, and it's vital to know how to take action. In this live podcast, we'll discuss how to proactively address mental health crises and keep our community safe.






Topics include:



  1. Suicide prevention strategies

  2. Supporting teens and children through anxiety and fear

  3. Preventing school violence

  4. Recognizing warning signs and talking about suicide and violence with loved ones


Led by licensed mental health counselors Erica Gregory, LMFT, and Mandi Allison, LCMHC, and hosted by JCACounseling and Clear Path Counsel...


Jun
06

Enhancing Your Child’s Academic Success: The Crucial Role of Emotional Health | JCACounseling Podcast


As parents, we all want to see our children succeed and reach their full potential. We often focus on the schools they attend, the subjects they take, and the extracurricular activities they participate in. However, one crucial aspect that can significantly impact a child's academic performance is often overlooked: their mental health.


In a recent webinar with North Fulton Science Academy, Erica delves into the profound connection between emotional health and academic success. She outlines four key components to both emotional and academic triumph: performance-based identity, emotional regulation, anxiety, and perfectionism. Erica also emphasizes the critical role parents play in supporting t...


Dec
18

Mindful Motherhood: Prioritizing Mental Health for Stay-at-Home Moms



temp-post-image


What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present in the moment without judgment, a valauble tool for stay-at-home moms facing the challenges of motherhood.



Understanding Mindfulness in Motherhood


Mindfulness helps mothers navigate day-to-day chaos with calmness. It fosters a meaningful connections with their children. By being present in the moment, you're able to build memories, but also reduce overwhelming yourself by allowing yourself as mom to focus on one task at a time. Overall, mindfulness helps relieve stress, provide mental clarity, and promote self-compassion, all contributing to the wellbeing of stay-at-home moms in their fulfilling journey of raising ther...