Depression has a way of making everything feel heavier: getting out of bed, returning a text, even doing the things you used to love. If you've been carrying that weight for a while and are finally ready to find support, you're in the right place. At Steady Hope Counseling, we have a diverse team of depression therapists in Atlanta ready to offer compassionate support for what you’re experiencing and help you through the fog.
Jump to a therapist
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Fern Lima: Good fit for young adults navigating grief and loss, and for college students experiencing depression
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Lauren Jarrell: Good fit for teens or young adults who have struggled with self-harm
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Brenley Wiley: Good fit for ADHD and postpartum depression
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Angie Hartley: Good fit for individuals and couples impacted by depression
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Sam Merrill: Good fit for new moms with postpartum depression
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Phylicia Clemons: Good fit for helping professionals and caregivers
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Amanda Peters: Good fit for teens or adults who grew up between cultures and have never felt fully "at home" anywhere
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Jenny Romano: Good fit for women with trauma histories or grief and loss
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Kim DeRamus Lareau: Good fit for burnt-out professionals
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McCayla Berry: Good fit for children & teens, along with co-occurring OCD
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Leila DiGregorio: Good fit for teens and young adults dealing with depression tied to burnout
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Not sure which therapist is right for you? Book a free consultation so we can help match you.
Meet our Atlanta depression therapists
Fern Lima, MSW
Recommended for bipolar & personality disorders
While loss can rock you at any stage of life, grief has a way of landing differently when you’re young. You might feel like you’re falling behind, mourning things others don’t notice or relate to, or carrying around a loss that the people around you have already moved on from. I specialize in walking alongside young people going through this, and I want you to know you’ll be seen and supported here.
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My approach blends a laid-back, person-centered style with practical tools from IFS, CBT, and DBT so you can leave sessions with insight, validation, and skills you can actually use in your daily life. I want therapy to be the one place where you can come exactly as you are, take a breath, and start to heal, without any external expectations to live up to.
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Credentials: Master of Social Work
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Specialty Areas: Depression, grief & loss, children, teens, young adults, life transitions, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, anxiety, spirituality
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Lauren Jarrell, MA, LAPC
Good fit for teens or young adults who have struggled with self-harm
Self-harm is often a signal that someone is in more pain than they know how to express, and it calls for a therapist who both acknowledges the serious nature of these behaviors and can hold these conversations with dignity, respect, and understanding. I enter the therapeutic relationship with the belief that everyone makes sense, even if you don’t understand yourself (or your loved one) right now.
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I've worked with adolescents in psychiatric residential settings, which means I bring real clinical experience with self-injurious behavior and suicidal ideation into our work. I'm also trained in several trauma-informed therapy methods, like EMDR, TF-CBT, and DBT, which can help us get to the root of these behaviors so you can find real, lasting relief.
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Credentials: Licensed Associate Professional Counselor #APC009879
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Specialty Areas: Depression, self-injurious behavior, adolescents, young adults, anxiety, trauma, family conflict
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Brenley Wiley, MA, LMFT, PMH-C
Good fit for ADHD and postpartum depression
The transition to new motherhood can be a season of both joy and incredible stress. And if you’re struggling with postpartum depression on top of an already existing condition like ADHD, you may feel even more overwhelmed.
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I have a particular passion for supporting new moms, and I bring specialized training as a Perinatal Mental Health Certified Provider through Postpartum Support International to this work. I also have experience working with ADHD, so if you’re a neurodivergent mom who’s struggling with this new stage of life, I’m here for you.
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Credentials: Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #MFT002160 in GA & #LMF8243 in SC, Licensed Telehealth Provider in Florida #TPMF1671
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Specialty Areas: Depression, perinatal mental health, ADHD, anxiety, spirituality, family issues, boundaries, couples, premarital counseling, children and teens
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Angie Hartley, MA, APC
Good fit for individuals and couples impacted by depression
When one or both partners are struggling with depression, it rarely stays isolated to one person. It seeps into how you communicate, how close you feel, and how much hope you have for the relationship.
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As a therapist who completed the EFT Externship through the International Society for Emotion Focused Therapy, I specialize in helping couples break out of the painful cycles that depression often amplifies, like emotional shutdown, intimacy challenges, and unresolved conflict. Our work can foster greater understanding and give you both the tools you need to navigate this season together.
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Credentials: Associate Professional Counselor #APC010286
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Specialty Areas: Depression, couples, premarital counseling, family counseling, trauma, anxiety, relationship issues, spirituality
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Sam Merrill, MA, APC, NCC
Good fit for new moms with postpartum depression
Although it’s talked about more openly nowadays, postpartum depression can still feel like a secret you’re keeping from everyone—including yourself. Finding a therapist who approaches this work with sensitivity, understanding, and expertise can make all the difference.
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I'm trained through Postpartum Support International specifically to support women through the postpartum season, and I integrate EMDR, IFS, and attachment-based approaches so we can get to the root of what’s happening, not just manage symptoms. Plus, I’m a mother myself, so I bring lived experience of this season to the therapeutic relationship as well.
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Credentials: Associate Professional Counselor #APC009797, National Certified Counselor #1732184
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Specialty Areas: Depression, maternal mental health, trauma, relationship issues, life transitions, grief & loss, spirituality, couples
Phylicia Clemons, MBA
Good fit for helping professionals and caregivers
When you care for others for a living—paid or unpaid—it can be extremely difficult to admit that you’re struggling. With over 15 years of experience in healthcare and quality improvement, I have a unique perspective on the systems that helping professionals operate within, and I bring that real-world understanding into the therapy room.
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I'm also trained in trauma-informed methods like EMDR and TF-CBT, tools that can help you shift out of survival mode and find your way back to calm, connection, and yourself.
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Credentials: MBA in Healthcare Administration, Master's Level Clinician
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Specialty Areas: Depression, helping professionals, caregivers, anxiety, life transitions, kids, teens, faith and spirituality, trauma, stress, perfectionism, premarital counseling
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Amanda Peters, MA
Good fit for teens or adults who grew up between cultures and have never felt fully "at home" anywhere
I specialize in working with Third Culture Kids (TCKs): those who have grown up between cultures and often struggle to find a therapist who truly understands the particular experience of belonging everywhere and nowhere at once.
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With training in TF-CBT and IFS, and a background in non-profit adolescent work, I help clients untangle how their family roots, cultural identity, and lived experiences connect to how they show up in relationships and within themselves. If you've spent your life feeling like the odd one out, I'd be honored to offer a space where that story is not only welcomed but genuinely understood.
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Credentials: Master of Professional Counseling
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Specialty Areas: Depression, multicultural therapy, Third Culture Kids (TCKs), adolescents, college students, young adults, life transitions, faith and spirituality, trauma
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Jenny Romano, MA, LPC, NCC
Good fit for women with trauma histories or grief and loss
Trauma leaves marks that talk therapy alone often can't reach, which is why my approach draws on IFS, somatic interventions, CBT, and DBT to work with both the mind and the body together.
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I've worked across multiple levels of care, including inpatient, residential, and partial hospitalization for eating disorders and trauma, and that depth of experience means that I know how to hold difficult histories with steadiness and compassion. I’m committed to creating a safe haven where you can finally start to feel grounded in your own life again.
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Credentials: Licensed Professional Counselor #013224, National Certified Counselor #1232714
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Specialty Areas: Depression, trauma, maternal mental health, women’s issues, life transitions, grief and loss, spirituality
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Kim DeRamus Lareau, LPC, CPCS, PMH-C, NCC
Good fit for burnt-out professionals
If you're someone who keeps showing up for everyone else—your clients, your patients, your team, your family—while running on empty, I built this practice with you in mind. I have over a decade of experience and specialized training in EMDR, trauma-informed care, and perinatal mental health, and I’m passionate about supporting high-achievers who “have it all together” but are quietly struggling.
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I work from an attachment-based perspective that goes beyond surface-level symptom management. Together, we’ll look at the patterns, the stories, and the relentless pressure to perform that brought you here in the first place. Whether you're a nurse, a therapist, an attorney, or an entrepreneur who can't remember the last time you weren't "on," I know how to meet you there.
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Credentials: Licensed Professional Counselor in GA #LPC007839, Licensed Telehealth Provider in SC #1875, Licensed Telehealth Provider in FL TPM #C220, Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor in GA CPCS #754
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Specialty Areas: Depression, helping professionals, high-achievers, athletes, maternal mental health, couples, life transitions, grief and loss, dating, spirituality, anxiety, premarital counseling
McCayla Berry, MA, LPC
Good fit for children & teens, along with co-occurring OCD
I'm one of the few therapists in the Atlanta area who works with the full spectrum—kids as young as 5 all the way through adults—using expressive modalities like art, writing, and sand tray alongside EMDR and ego state work. This means we're not limited to just talking about what's going on; we can process it on a level that goes deeper than language alone.
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I specialize in OCD, dissociation, and emotional dysregulation, which are areas that require specific clinical training and a therapist who won't flinch, and I bring a psychodynamic, trauma-informed lens to every session that helps clients understand not just what they're experiencing, but where it came from and how to shift it. I believe healing happens through relationship, creativity, and the simple but radical act of feeling safe.
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Credentials: Licensed Professional Counselor
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Specialty Areas: Depression, trauma, anxiety, OCD, dissociation, emotional dysregulation, self-esteem
Leila Digregorio
Good fit for teens and young adults dealing with depression tied to burnout
Leila offers a warm, solution-focused space that helps break through the heaviness of depression by guiding you toward small, achievable steps forward. Her narrative approach empowers you to disentangle your personal identity from harsh self-talk and reframe deep-seated, critical thoughts.
By emphasizing your innate strengths, she helps you reconnect with your internal resources even when your energy and motivation feel completely depleted. She works collaboratively to help you navigate academic or life burnout, equipping you with practical strategies to rebuild momentum and regain control over your life.
For those who desire it, Leila can also thoughtfully integrate faith into your care, helping align your healing process with your core values to restore a lasting sense of hope and purpose.
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Credentials: Master's Level Counseling Intern
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Specialty Areas: Depression, trauma, anxiety, OCD, dissociation, emotional dysregulation, self-esteem
What sets our practice apart from other Atlanta depression counseling providers
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No waitlist. We have a full team of therapists ready to see new clients, so you don't have to wait weeks or months to get the support you’re looking for now.
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Specialized perinatal mental health expertise. Multiple clinicians on our team are Perinatal Mental Health Certified: a specialized credential that makes a real difference when depression is tied to pregnancy, postpartum, or parenthood.
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Advanced trauma-informed modalities, including EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, IFS/Parts Work, and EFT—not just talk therapy alone.
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A diverse, women-led team spanning a wide range of specialties, backgrounds, and life experiences so you can find someone who truly resonates with your story.
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Hybrid care, including in-person sessions in Decatur, GA, plus telehealth for clients throughout Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina.
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Flexible scheduling, including evening and weekend availability.
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Holistic approach. We treat you as a whole person, not just a diagnosis.
What to expect from the therapy process
Step 1. Initial contact
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Start by filling out our brief online contact form. From here, our intake coordinator will be in touch within 24 hours to answer any logistical questions you may have and match you with a therapist.
Step 2. Your first session
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In your first session, your therapist will take time to understand your story, your relationships, your patterns, and what's brought you in, building the trust and safety that will be the foundation of your work together.
Step 3. Goal-setting & skill-building
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Together, you and your therapist will identify what you want to get out of therapy and start building a personalized roadmap. Depending on your needs, this might include psychoeducation about the nervous system, emotion regulation tools, EMDR, somatic work, or parts-based exploration.
Step 4. Ongoing support​
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Therapy isn't always linear. Your therapist will regularly check in on how things are going, adjust the approach as needed, and celebrate the small wins alongside the big breakthroughs.