TOPIC: Bowen Family Systems Theory: Understanding Family Patterns and Improving Relationships Through Therapy

WRITTEN: July 24, 2026 by Audrey Cornell

WILL BE REVIEWED: July 2029

Family relationships can have a powerful impact on how we communicate, handle conflict, manage stress, and experience relationships throughout life. If you find yourself repeating unhealthy family patterns, feeling overwhelmed by family conflict, struggling with anxiety related to relationships, or carrying emotional experiences from childhood into adulthood, Bowen Family Systems Theory may help you better understand these challenges.

At JCACounseling in Alpharetta, Georgia, our therapists use evidence-based approaches...

TOPIC: Ending Negative Cycles and Improving Communication in Relationships: How Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Helps Couples

WRITTEN: July 17, 2026 by Ashlee Park

WILL BE REVIEWED: July 2029

Relationships can sometimes feel like a dance where two people are moving to different rhythms. Even couples who deeply love each other may find themselves stuck in repeated arguments, feeling misunderstood, disconnected, or unable to communicate their needs effectively.

When conflict becomes a pattern, many couples begin to wonder: Why do we keep having the same arguments? Why do I feel unheard? How can we reconnect?

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is an evidence-based couples therapy approach that hel...

TOPIC: Is My Child’s Anxiety Normal? Signs, Causes, and When to Seek Therapy

WRITTEN: June 26, 2026

WILL BE REVIEWED: June 2029

LEARN MORE ABOUT PLAY THERAPY AT JCAC

It’s normal for children to experience worries, fears, or nervousness from time to time. However, when anxiety begins to interfere with daily life, relationships, school, or emotional well-being, it may be a sign that additional support could be helpful.

Many parents wonder: “Is this just a phase, or something more?”

The truth is that childhood anxiety doesn’t always look obvious. It often shows up through behavior, physical complaints, or avoidance rather than clear verbal expression.

What Childhood An...

TOPIC: What Is Play Therapy? How It Helps Children Process Emotions and Create Lasting Change

WRITTEN: June 19, 2026

WILL BE REVIEWED: June 2029

LEARN MORE ABOUT PLAY THERAPY AT JCAC: https://www.alpharettajohnscreekcounseling.com/play-therapy-for-children

As parents, it can be difficult to know when a behavior is simply a developmental phase and when your child may need additional support.

You may notice more tantrums, frequent meltdowns, increased anxiety, difficulty separating from you, withdrawal from family or friends, trouble at school, or sudden changes in mood. Many parents wonder:

"Are they just acting out?"
"Will they grow out of this?"
"Should I be worried?"

The truth is that children do...

TOPIC: Postpartum Support Group for Moms: You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

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

WRITTEN: May 19, 2026

WILL BE REVIEWED: June 2029

No one talks enough about how emotionally complex postpartum life can be.

One moment you may feel deep love and gratitude, and the next you may feel overwhelmed, anxious, exhausted, disconnected, or unlike yourself. The transition into motherhood is huge, and even when it’s beautiful, it can also feel incredibly hard.

Many moms silently wonder:
“Why am I struggling?”
“Why do I feel so overwhelmed?”
“Why does everyone else seem to handle this better than me?&r...

TOPIC: Behavior as Communication: The Power of Play Therapy

POST BY: Grace Lee, AMFT - CLICK HERE TO SEE HER BIO

WRITTEN: June 27, 2025

WILL BE REVIEWED: June 2028

As a therapist who uses child-centered play therapy, I frequently meet families who come into my office feeling overwhelmed, confused, and often defeated. Their child has been acting out, maybe through throwing tantrums that last for hours, refusing to follow rules, being aggressive toward siblings or classmates, or suddenly withdrawing. These behavior issues often leave parents asking, “What are we doing wrong?” or “Why is my child like this?”

First, let me reassure you: you are not alone, and you are not fai...

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 ...

TOPIC: Healing After Trauma: A Path to Safety, Resilience, and Self-Discovery

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

WRITTEN: June 26, 2025

WILL BE REVIEWED: June 2028

If you're reading this, chances are you're carrying something heavy. Maybe it's a memory that won't fade, a sense of danger that never seems to leave, or a deep exhaustion from holding everything together for too long. You might look like you're functioning to the outside world—successful, capable, resilient—but on the inside, there’s a lingering ache, a fracture you can’t quite name. Trauma is often invisible. But its impact? That’s very, very real.

As a trauma therapist who ...

TOPIC: Adoption Is Lifelong: Counseling Support for Every Stage of the Journey

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

WRITTEN: June 26, 2025

WILL BE REVIEWED: June 2028

True adoption-competent counseling is hard to find. First, understanding the different types of adoption and the nuances that are attached to them is key. Examples of some of the different types are: International adoptions, domestic adoptions which is a category that can be broken down into several more categories —> foster to adopt, open/closed adoptions, transracial adoptions, and kinship adoptions.

Then, after beginning to understand the types, comes understanding just how much adoptees hold onto and h...

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...