Arbor Cove Therapy, LLC, is a private outpatient mental health practice in Roswell, Georgia, providing psychotherapy and psychological testing (psychological and psychoeducational evaluations) to adults, adolescents, and children ages 2 and up. The practice focuses on supporting psychological and emotional growth and providing a safe place along the journey to heal from trauma, rediscover one's whole heart, and connect with community.
Our clinicians tailor treatment to each client's unique needs, and have years of experience addressing a range of issues including:
- Developmental, psychological, interpersonal, or emotional challenges common to individuals who are adopted and their biological and adoptive families
- Trauma, including developmental / complex trauma, vicarious / secondary trauma, posttraumatic stress / PTSD, spiritual trauma, and shock trauma
- Struggles stemming from injuries to attachment relationships
- Behavioral, emotional, and relational problems of children and adolescents
- Anxiety disorders
- Grief and loss
- Life transitions
- Parenting challenges
- Chronic stress and burnout
- Depression
Meet the Team
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L. Kathryn "Katie" Smith, LCSW, RPT
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Learn more about Katie:
Background
Katie's approach to therapy is informed by interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB), integrating attachment, polyvagal, somatic, and cognitive-behavioral theories based on clients' individual needs and readiness. Above all, therapy is relational, individualized, strengths-based, and collaborative.
Katie began her post-graduate career in child welfare. One of the most impactful experiences she had during this time involved facilitating support groups for women who were grieving and seeking support in the aftermath of an adoption plan. These women and families taught her about ambiguous losses and disenfranchised grief, as well as posttraumatic growth. Over the years, more individuals and families shared stories of the impact of loss and trauma on the formation of their individual identities and families, as well as the unique and profound challenges of integrating loss and trauma into a cohesive and life-affirming sense of self, especially when surrounding communities and media messages miss or diminish those complexities. In 2011, Katie transitioned into full-time clinical work, with a primary desire to help individuals and families involved in foster care and adoption navigate these unique aspects of life with a sense of being fully welcomed, seen, and joined in their journey.
What began as a specialization in mental health needs related to adoption, grief, and loss expanded through additional experience and training to include the related but wider fields of working with trauma (shock or single-incident trauma, as well as complex / developmental trauma, spiritual / church-related trauma, and vicarious trauma / secondary traumatic stress), anxiety, depression, chronic stress, life transitions, and attachment injuries. Katie especially enjoys working with children and their parents and with adult women facing these challenges.
Katie began her post-graduate career in child welfare. One of the most impactful experiences she had during this time involved facilitating support groups for women who were grieving and seeking support in the aftermath of an adoption plan. These women and families taught her about ambiguous losses and disenfranchised grief, as well as posttraumatic growth. Over the years, more individuals and families shared stories of the impact of loss and trauma on the formation of their individual identities and families, as well as the unique and profound challenges of integrating loss and trauma into a cohesive and life-affirming sense of self, especially when surrounding communities and media messages miss or diminish those complexities. In 2011, Katie transitioned into full-time clinical work, with a primary desire to help individuals and families involved in foster care and adoption navigate these unique aspects of life with a sense of being fully welcomed, seen, and joined in their journey.
What began as a specialization in mental health needs related to adoption, grief, and loss expanded through additional experience and training to include the related but wider fields of working with trauma (shock or single-incident trauma, as well as complex / developmental trauma, spiritual / church-related trauma, and vicarious trauma / secondary traumatic stress), anxiety, depression, chronic stress, life transitions, and attachment injuries. Katie especially enjoys working with children and their parents and with adult women facing these challenges.
training & associations
Katie earned a Master of Social Work from The University of Georgia in 2001 and was licensed by the state of Georgia as a clinical social worker in 2005 (#CSW003510). In addition to in-person psychotherapy services with Georgia residents, she provides telemental health services to people in Georgia and Florida (provider registration #179).
Katie is a fully certified EMDR (eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapist, which requires an additional 50 hours of sessions using EMDR and 20 hours of consultation with an EMDRIA-approved consultant beyond the basic training standard of 20 hours of instructional material, 20 hours of supervised practicum, and 10 hours of consultation. She is also a registered play therapist (RPT). To obtain the RPT credential, therapists must complete 150 hours of play therapy specific instruction, conduct a minimum of 350 hours of clinical work under the guidance of a play therapy supervisor, and complete 35 hours of direct supervision.
Katie's additional training includes multiple aspects of trauma treatment and trauma-informed care, sandtray and other expressive arts therapies, ambiguous loss & disenfranchised grief, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), several models of play therapy (Theraplay (R), child-centered play therapy, filial play therapy, Adlerian play therapy), frameworks of parent coaching & support (Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) (R), Circle of Security Parenting, and Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions - SPACE), internal family systems (IFS), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), polyvagal theory, ARC (Attachment, Regulation, and Competency), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), and exposure & response prevention (ERP). She is a Circle of Security Parenting (TM) facilitator and has completed both the practitioner and camp trainings in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) (R), and the 18 month-long Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) initiative of the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.).
Active memberships in professional associations:
EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
Association for Play Therapy (APT)
Katie is a fully certified EMDR (eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapist, which requires an additional 50 hours of sessions using EMDR and 20 hours of consultation with an EMDRIA-approved consultant beyond the basic training standard of 20 hours of instructional material, 20 hours of supervised practicum, and 10 hours of consultation. She is also a registered play therapist (RPT). To obtain the RPT credential, therapists must complete 150 hours of play therapy specific instruction, conduct a minimum of 350 hours of clinical work under the guidance of a play therapy supervisor, and complete 35 hours of direct supervision.
Katie's additional training includes multiple aspects of trauma treatment and trauma-informed care, sandtray and other expressive arts therapies, ambiguous loss & disenfranchised grief, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), several models of play therapy (Theraplay (R), child-centered play therapy, filial play therapy, Adlerian play therapy), frameworks of parent coaching & support (Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) (R), Circle of Security Parenting, and Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions - SPACE), internal family systems (IFS), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), polyvagal theory, ARC (Attachment, Regulation, and Competency), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), and exposure & response prevention (ERP). She is a Circle of Security Parenting (TM) facilitator and has completed both the practitioner and camp trainings in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) (R), and the 18 month-long Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) initiative of the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.).
Active memberships in professional associations:
EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
Association for Play Therapy (APT)
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Lee Anne Dickerson, PsyD
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Learn more about Lee Anne:
Background
Lee Anne Dickerson, PsyD, was raised in a home that was very active in ministry to children and the poor. This fostered a special love in her heart and passion for children and families. She brings two generations of wisdom into her practice, which continues to help children and families foster healthy connections and repair broken relationships. When working with Dr. Dickerson, parents can expect to be welcomed into a warm, supportive, and collaborative working relationship. Children will find she delights in their individuality and will work toward solutions and growth in a fun and engaging way.
Dr. Dickerson has extensive experience working with foster and adoptive families in both child welfare agencies and private practice. She recognizes the unique needs of the child, the parents, and additional siblings in the home. Seeing the need for social support for these families, Dr. Dickerson developed a day camp for adoptive families utilizing the TBRI model and equine assisted therapy. Dr. Dickerson also provides psychological testing for foster and adoptive children. Testing provides diagnostic clarification and practical recommendations for parents, care givers, and child care workers. Dr. Dickerson believes it is a privilege and honor to be a part of telling each child’s story and providing assistance for their care and healing.
Dr. Dickerson moved to Georgia in 2017 and lives in Woodstock with her husband and son. She is learning about the importance of SEC football and using her WAZE app to get through traffic. She was already a Chick-fil-A super fan before arriving in the Peach State!
Dr. Dickerson has extensive experience working with foster and adoptive families in both child welfare agencies and private practice. She recognizes the unique needs of the child, the parents, and additional siblings in the home. Seeing the need for social support for these families, Dr. Dickerson developed a day camp for adoptive families utilizing the TBRI model and equine assisted therapy. Dr. Dickerson also provides psychological testing for foster and adoptive children. Testing provides diagnostic clarification and practical recommendations for parents, care givers, and child care workers. Dr. Dickerson believes it is a privilege and honor to be a part of telling each child’s story and providing assistance for their care and healing.
Dr. Dickerson moved to Georgia in 2017 and lives in Woodstock with her husband and son. She is learning about the importance of SEC football and using her WAZE app to get through traffic. She was already a Chick-fil-A super fan before arriving in the Peach State!
training & associations
Dr. Dickerson completed her Doctor of Psychology degree from Regent University in 2001 and has been in the mental health field for over 20 years. She is licensed as a clinical psychologist in both Georgia (#PSY004236) and her native state of Virginia (#0810003264). Dr. Dickerson has worked in various settings including in-patient psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment center, and private practice. In addition, she has taught undergraduate and graduate level psychology courses. She views clients through the lenses of Attachment Theory and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Dr. Dickerson is sensitive to the physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual needs of her clients. Her graduate training focused on integrating faith with psychology, and she is more than happy to incorporate faith into therapy when requested, while welcoming individuals from all faith, non-faith, and cultural backgrounds. Dr. Dickerson values continuing education and is trained in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (R) (TBRI), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Theraplay (R), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and the EAGALA model of equine assisted therapy.
Dr. Dickerson is sensitive to the physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual needs of her clients. Her graduate training focused on integrating faith with psychology, and she is more than happy to incorporate faith into therapy when requested, while welcoming individuals from all faith, non-faith, and cultural backgrounds. Dr. Dickerson values continuing education and is trained in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (R) (TBRI), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Theraplay (R), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and the EAGALA model of equine assisted therapy.
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Susan P. Richardson, MS, LPC, NCC
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Learn more about Susan:
Background
Susan has a deep passion for the well-being, healing, resilience, and growth of children and families. She approaches complex developmental trauma from both attachment and neurobiological theories and her treatment approach is individualized according to a client’s needs and experiences.
In addition to working in a child welfare setting, Susan provided counseling services to college students at Mercer University, Kennesaw State University, and GA Tech Counseling Centers. She enjoys helping teens and young adults experience growth and greater fulfillment.
Susan has been working with adoptive families and all those within the adoption constellation for fourteen years, giving her in-depth understanding and empathy with the unique challenges and stressors parents and children face. Susan strives to work with families in a collaborative and supportive way, and wants to help parents find joy, connection, and compassion in their parenting. Diversity issues are an important interest of Susan’s, both as they relate to transcultural adoptive families, as well as the ways they can impact stress and anxiety levels and the innate need to feel welcomed and connected to others in the community. She strives to listen and affirm her clients’ experiences and help them to find means of empowerment and healing.
In addition to working in a child welfare setting, Susan provided counseling services to college students at Mercer University, Kennesaw State University, and GA Tech Counseling Centers. She enjoys helping teens and young adults experience growth and greater fulfillment.
Susan has been working with adoptive families and all those within the adoption constellation for fourteen years, giving her in-depth understanding and empathy with the unique challenges and stressors parents and children face. Susan strives to work with families in a collaborative and supportive way, and wants to help parents find joy, connection, and compassion in their parenting. Diversity issues are an important interest of Susan’s, both as they relate to transcultural adoptive families, as well as the ways they can impact stress and anxiety levels and the innate need to feel welcomed and connected to others in the community. She strives to listen and affirm her clients’ experiences and help them to find means of empowerment and healing.
training & associations
Susan received her Master’s Degree in Community Counseling in 1994 from Georgia State University and was licensed as a Professional Counselor in 1997 (#LPC002578). She has completed post-graduate training in Internal Family Systems and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Susan predominantly works from the lenses of attachment and polyvagal theory and is a Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) (R) practitioner. The work of Karyn Purvis and David Cross, Deborah Gray, Jayne Schooler, Daniel Hughes, Dan Siegel, Stephen Porges, Deb Dana, and Tina Payne Bryson has been especially informative to her as a psychotherapist.
Susan predominantly works from the lenses of attachment and polyvagal theory and is a Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) (R) practitioner. The work of Karyn Purvis and David Cross, Deborah Gray, Jayne Schooler, Daniel Hughes, Dan Siegel, Stephen Porges, Deb Dana, and Tina Payne Bryson has been especially informative to her as a psychotherapist.
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