Licensed to practice in Georgia and accepts 9 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Career Counseling, Coping Skills and 5 more.
(she/her)
New to Grow
I’m Yolanda Richburg-Massey, Ed.S., LPC, a Licensed Professional Counselor. I bring more than 20 years of experience in education and counseling, supporting children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. My professional background has allowed me to work across multiple areas of personal and educational development. My specialties are stress and anxiety management, depression, career and life adjustment, relationship challenges, and trauma processing. My practice is built around the belief that individuals and families already possess strengths that can be developed and strengthened with the right support. Through compassionate counseling, educational consultation, and transformational growth, my goal is to help clients restore their courage, rediscover hope, and move forward with greater confidence and purpose.
Clients can expect their first session to be a welcoming, supportive, and judgment-free opportunity to begin building a trusting therapeutic relationship. During our initial session, we will talk about what brought you to counseling, what you are currently experiencing, and any concerns, challenges, or life circumstances that may be affecting your emotional well-being. We will also explore your strengths, coping skills, important aspects of your personal, social, and family history, and experiences that may provide helpful context for your current situation. Together, we will begin identifying the areas where you would like support and discuss what you hope to accomplish through therapy. We will work collaboratively to establish goals that are meaningful, realistic, and tailored to your individual needs. You will have an opportunity to ask questions, share what you feel comfortable discussing, and communicate what you need from the therapeutic process. Most importantly, the first session is about creating a safe space where you feel heard, respected, and supported as we begin working together toward greater understanding, healing, growth, and positive change.
My approach to therapy is compassionate, collaborative, empowering, and individualized. I believe every client deserves to feel heard, respected, understood, and supported without judgment. Therapy should be a safe space where you can be honest about your experiences, explore what may be holding you back, and develop the confidence and tools needed to move forward. What sets my approach apart is the combination of more than two decades of experience in education and counseling with a whole-person perspective. I do not view clients simply through a diagnosis or a single challenge. I take time to understand the person behind the concerns and the environments that may influence their emotional well-being and overall functioning. This may include family relationships, school or work environments, communication patterns, life transitions, relationships, personal goals, stressors, and other factors that shape your experiences. I also bring a unique understanding of both the educational and therapeutic worlds, allowing me to recognize how emotional, behavioral, academic, family, and life challenges can intersect. My experience has strengthened my ability to work with children, adolescents, adults, families, and individuals navigating significant transitions or changes. I focus not only on identifying problems, but also on recognizing strengths, building resilience, and helping clients identify practical solutions that can be used in everyday life. I work collaboratively with clients to identify their strengths, understand the challenges they are facing, develop practical coping and communication skills, and create meaningful goals for change. Depending on your individual needs, I may incorporate strategies that address social-emotional learning, emotional regulation, stress and anxiety management, healthy relationships, communication, problem-solving, behavioral concerns, career development, life transitions, and personal growth. Most importantly, I believe therapy should be about you—not a one-size-fits-all approach. I meet clients where they are and tailor the therapeutic experience to their unique needs, personality, goals, and circumstances. My goal is not simply to help you get through a difficult moment, but to help you develop greater self-awareness, confidence, resilience, and skills that can support you long after therapy ends.
My ideal client is someone who is ready to gain a deeper understanding of themselves, work through challenges, and make meaningful changes in their life. I enjoy working with adolescents, adults, couples, and families who may be navigating anxiety, stress, relationship concerns, communication difficulties, behavioral or emotional challenges, career concerns, life transitions, or simply feeling stuck and unsure of what comes next. Many of my clients are individuals who spend much of their time caring for others and are beginning to recognize the importance of prioritizing their own emotional well-being. Others may be experiencing significant changes in relationships, family dynamics, parenting, school, career, or other areas of life that have created uncertainty, stress, or emotional overwhelm. My ideal client does not have to have everything figured out. They are someone who is open to therapy and willing to take an active role in their personal growth. They may want a safe space to process their experiences, gain a new perspective, learn practical coping and communication skills, strengthen relationships, improve emotional regulation, or develop greater confidence in making important decisions. I work especially well with clients who want therapy to be collaborative, supportive, and practical. Rather than simply discussing problems, we will work together to identify patterns, recognize strengths, develop realistic strategies, and establish goals that are meaningful to you. I believe clients are the experts on their own lives, and my role is to provide guidance, support, perspective, and tools to help you move forward. Whether you are seeking support during a difficult season or simply want to become more intentional about your emotional health, therapy can provide a safe space to slow down, reflect, heal, and grow. If you are ready to take steps toward a healthier and more fulfilling life, I would be honored to walk alongside you.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the approaches I may use to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and experiences. My use of CBT is collaborative and individualized, meaning I tailor the strategies to the client's specific concerns, goals, and stage of life.
I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) strategies to help clients develop practical skills for managing emotions, navigating difficult situations, improving relationships, and responding to stress in healthier ways. My approach is collaborative and individualized, allowing me to select DBT skills based on each client's specific needs, goals, and current challenges.
I use faith-based counseling as a compassionate, client-centered approach that allows clients to incorporate their Christian faith into the therapeutic process when it is meaningful and desired. I believe faith can be an important source of strength, hope, purpose, identity, and resilience, particularly when individuals are navigating difficult seasons, relationship challenges, grief, anxiety, life transitions, or personal struggles.