Licensed to practice in Georgia and accepts 9 insurances. Specializes in Couples Counseling, Family Therapy, Anxiety and 5 more.
(she/her)
New to Grow
Hi! I am Dr. Malissa Collins a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia specializing in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. My focus is to help clients learn why they are stuck and how to become unstuck through conceptualizing current unproductive thought patterns impacting productive living and learning how to regulate emotional distress. My approach is warm, compassionate, and non-judgmental. Using a holistic approach allows all aspects of wellness to be addressed and to become empowered to be the best version possible... thriving instead of surviving! Life can be full of challenges but it's possible to have the quality of life wanted with the help of a trained professional. I’m here to roll up my sleeves and assist you on your journey to healing.
Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another and begin building a comfortable therapeutic relationship. We will discuss the concerns that brought you to counseling, your personal history, current challenges, strengths, and goals for therapy. This session also provides an opportunity for you to ask questions about the counseling process and what you hope to achieve through treatment. My approach is warm, supportive, and collaborative. I strive to create a safe, nonjudgmental environment where you can openly share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Together, we will identify areas of focus and develop a treatment plan tailored to your unique needs and goals. While the first session primarily focuses on gathering information and understanding your concerns, we may also begin discussing practical coping strategies and tools that can support you between sessions. Whether you are seeking help for anxiety, stress, relationship concerns, life transitions, or personal growth, my goal is to help you gain insight, develop effective coping skills, and move toward meaningful and lasting change.
I bring a warm, compassionate, and supportive presence to each session, creating a safe environment where clients can feel heard, understood, and accepted. I believe in meeting clients where they are and building a collaborative therapeutic relationship grounded in trust, respect, and authenticity. My approach integrates evidence-based therapeutic techniques with practical, real-world strategies that help clients navigate life's challenges. I help clients gain insight into patterns that may be contributing to distress while also developing concrete tools for managing anxiety, stress, relationship concerns, and life transitions. I draw from a variety of therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Gottman Method interventions, and solution-focused techniques, allowing treatment to be tailored to each client's unique needs and goals. For clients who desire it, I am also able to incorporate Christian faith and spiritual values into the counseling process. Clients often appreciate my ability to listen without judgment, offer thoughtful feedback, foster self-awareness, and help them identify strengths they can use to create meaningful and lasting change. My goal is to empower clients to build resilience, improve relationships, increase emotional well-being, and move forward with greater confidence and clarity.
My ideal clients are adults ages 35 and older who are navigating life transitions, personal stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, and challenges related to personal growth and emotional well-being. Many of the individuals I work with are seeking greater clarity, balance, and fulfillment in their lives, relationships, careers, and family roles. I enjoy working with clients who value personal responsibility, meaningful relationships, and a faith-informed perspective. For those who desire it, I integrate Christian principles and faith-based perspectives into the counseling process while providing a supportive, compassionate, and nonjudgmental environment. Common concerns I address include relationship difficulties, communication challenges, stress management, anxiety, life transitions, self-esteem, work-related stress, marital concerns, and navigating major life decisions. I help clients develop practical coping skills, improve emotional awareness, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful change that aligns with their values and goals.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) interventions are utilized to assist the client in identifying and examining the relationship between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors contributing to current distress. Focus is on helping the client recognize automatic negative thoughts and underlying beliefs associated with presenting concerns and explored how these cognitive patterns influence emotional responses and decision-making. Through guided discovery and Socratic questioning, the client will be encouraged to evaluate the evidence supporting and challenging maladaptive beliefs, identify cognitive distortions, and develop more balanced and realistic perspectives. Psycho education will be provided regarding the CBT model and assist the client in increasing awareness of triggers, emotional reactions, and behavioral responses. Interventions will focuse on cognitive restructuring, problem-solving, and the development of adaptive coping strategies to reduce emotional distress and improve overall functioning. The client will be asked to demonstrate insight into unhelpful thinking patterns and become receptive to practicing alternative ways of interpreting situations. Ongoing treatment will continue to focus on strengthening cognitive flexibility, improving emotional regulation, and increasing the use of healthy coping skills in response to life stressors.
Christian Counseling
Christian counseling interventions will be incorporated into the session in a manner consistent with the client's values and faith preferences. The therapist will provide a supportive environment for the client to explore current stressors, emotional struggles, and life challenges through a spiritual lens. Discussion will focus on identifying faith-based strengths, sources of hope, and personal beliefs that may support resilience and coping. The client will demonstrate an openness to integrating faith into the therapeutic process and be able to identify ways spiritual beliefs may support emotional well-being and personal growth. Ongoing treatment will continue to incorporate the client's faith values as appropriate while promoting healthy coping skills, emotional regulation, and progress toward treatment goals.
Gottman method
Gottman Method interventions are utilized to assist the client(s) in strengthening relationship functioning and improving communication patterns. Facilitation in the exploration of relationship dynamics, including areas of conflict, emotional disconnection, and unmet needs. Interventions focused on increasing awareness of interaction patterns that contribute to relationship distress and identifying opportunities to foster greater understanding, empathy, and emotional connection. The therapist will introduce and reinforce Gottman-based principles, including building love maps, enhancing fondness and admiration, turning toward bids for connection, and improving conflict management skills. Client(s) will be encouraged to practice effective communication strategies, including active listening, softened start-ups, and expressing needs in a clear and respectful manner. Attention will be given to recognizing and reducing negative communication patterns that may contribute to relational dissatisfaction. Client(s) will be asked to demonstrate insight into relationship strengths and areas for growth and were receptive to implementing new strategies to improve communication and emotional intimacy. Ongoing treatment will continue to focus on strengthening friendship within the relationship, increasing emotional attunement, improving conflict resolution skills, and fostering a more secure and satisfying connection.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) interventions utilized to assist the client in developing skills to effectively manage emotions, tolerate distress, improve interpersonal relationships, and increase mindfulness. Facilitation in the exploration of emotional experiences, behavioral responses, and triggering situations that contribute to psychological distress and functional impairment. Interventions focus on increasing awareness of emotional and behavioral patterns while teaching practical DBT skills in the areas of mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Assistance in helping the client in identifying maladaptive coping strategies and developing healthier alternatives for managing difficult emotions and stressful life circumstances. Emphasis is placed on balancing acceptance of current experiences with efforts toward meaningful change. The client is encouraged to practice mindfulness techniques to increase present-moment awareness, utilize distress tolerance skills during periods of emotional intensity, and implement emotion regulation strategies to reduce vulnerability to emotional dysregulation. Interpersonal effectiveness skills are introduced to support healthy communication, boundary setting, and relationship functioning. The client will demonstrate increased insight into emotional triggers and behavioral responses and will be encouraged to apply DBT skills between sessions. Ongoing treatment will continue to focus on strengthening coping abilities, improving emotional regulation, enhancing interpersonal functioning, and increasing overall psychological flexibility and resilience.