Meet our Counselors

Maureen S. Bixler, LCSW

Maureen S. Bixler, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker with a Master’s and Bachelor’s of Social Work from the University of Georgia. She has years of experience working with children, adolescents and families in both individual and group settings. She has worked in different social work settings such as schools, in-home counseling and child welfare. Maureen created Live Life Counseling, LLC in 2014, with the main goal to help others live life to its fullest potential. Maureen offers a holistic, healing approach to therapy. She utilizes many different treatment modalities; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Existential Therapy, Family Systems, Attachment and Bonding Based Parenting, Strength Perspective and Client-Center Therapy. She offers individual, couple and family therapy. Often clients come to her with complex trauma which surfaces through addiction, anxiety and or depression. She utilizes Dialectical Behavioral Techniques (DBT) and Progressive Counting (PC) which allow a client to work through their issue and underlying trauma. In every session with Maureen she hopes to be a place for one to feel heard, validated and encouraged. Maureen loves spending time with her husband and being a mom to their four young children.

Shumayl Farooq, LCSW

Shumayl Farooq is a Licensed Masters Social Worker with a Master’s degree in Social Work from Rutgers State University, New Jersey. She has years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults and families in individual and group settings. She has been in mental health field for more than 12 years and in her career dealt with a wide range of issues including trauma, depression, anxiety, crisis management, ADHD, behavior issues etc. In the past, she has worked in different settings that includes supervising a 24/7 Mobile Response Support Services for children in Central New Jersey and a partial care setting for adolescents and adults. She is passionate about helping others to achieve their best potential for a desired living. She believes in providing a respectful and comfortable environment to her clients that fosters personal growth and self-awareness. “We will work though it together” is her mantra. She uses evidence based therapeutic techniques such as CBT, mindfulness, client-centered, play and strength based therapy to assist her clients in reaching their therapeutic goals. She wants you to have a safe haven where you can explore solutions and step forward healed and empowered.

Sarah Webb, LCSW

Sarah Webb is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Bachelor and Master's Degree from the University of Georgia. Her focus is children and adolescents, including biological, relative, and foster/adoptive placements. She incorporates Christian values along with evidence-based treatment modalities including play and art therapy techniques, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Trauma-Focused CBT to met the client's needs. She also strives to connect with each client individually and use their strengths to help them overcome life's difficulties. Furthermore, she works with families and other resources to empower the entire system involved in a child's life.

Sarah sees clients at First Baptist Church of Dawsonville.

Gabby Smith, LCSW

Gabby is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who received her Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Georgia. Gabby's foundations in her practice are derived from Evidence Based theoretical models such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Therapy, Mindfulness, Family Systems, Strength Perspective, and Client-Centered Therapy. Gabby is also trained in the Nurturing Parenting curriculum.

Gabby has worked in various settings including Local, State, and Federal Government, Non-Profit, Community Based, Hospitals, Schools, and Jails. Gabby has been privileged to spend the last 11 years working with a range of populations including Veterans, Adults, Children, Adolescents, Refugees, Foster and Adoptive youth, Geriatric, the Homeless, LGBTQ, and many others. Gabby has also spent many years conducting comprehensive evaluations of families in the areas of domestic violence, substance dependence, and parenting strengths and needs. Gabby specializes in working with clients who are struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, domestic violence relationships, self-harm, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, self-esteem, communication, crisis intervention, grief and loss, relationship issues, and life changes/transitions.

Gabby creates a safe, non-judgmental space for clients to work through the self-healing process. She places a high value on understanding the whole person; the many unique life experiences that constitute their make-up as well as how their environment plays a role in their life. Gabby's approach to psychotherapy is collaborative. She views the client as a partner in the therapeutic process. Gabby strives to assist her clients to identify their own strengths and inner resources so that they may be empowered for the future.

Jessica Whalen, LPC

Jessica Whalen, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of West Georgia. She understands developmental stages and cultural origins of clients due to years of experience working with adolescents, adults, and families in both individual and group settings. She has worked in various work settings including community agency, partial hospitalization and college campus. Jessica has an ability to interact with clients from a strength-based perspective and she has an empathic approach to supporting clients and families.

Keely Noyd, LPC

Keely Noyd is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Keely earned her Master’s degree in Counselor Education with a Rehabilitation Counseling emphasis from The Pennsylvania State University. Keely later supplemented her education at Mercer University with coursework in clinical mental health counseling. Helping children and families address trauma, addiction, anxiety, school concerns and developmental challenges is her personal and professional passion. Keely is known as a knowledgeable and supportive resource for anxious and overwhelmed parents. Keely has worked in crisis, outpatient counseling and school settings on and off since 1985. Keely’s early work included crime victim advocacy and community education on topics related to trauma. Keely most recently served as a clinician in a school based counseling program. Keely brings a mixture of empathy, creativity, curiosity, compassion and good humor to her work. Keely employs a variety of treatment modalities including person-centered therapy, play therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, trauma focused-cognitive behavior therapy, mindfulness, dialectical behavior therapy and solution focused therapy. Enhanced decision making and resilience building are at the core of her strength- based clinical approach. Keely believes that is an honor and privilege to share the therapeutic journey with others as they heal, learn and excel.

Anne-Marie Taylor, M.S. Clinical Counseling

Anne-Marie Taylor earned her Masters of Science degree in Clinical Psychology and Clinical Counseling from Capella University. She holds a Bachelors in Human Services Management and Business Administration from University of Phoenix. Her goal is to meet clients where they are, and equip them to live their life to their fullest potential. Anne-Marie has experience and training with individuals and families that have experienced complex trauma. She utilizes different approaches to help clients with sensitive and unique problems. She is trained and experienced in (TF-CBT) Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that addresses specific emotional and mental health needs of children, adolescences, adult survivors and families who are struggling to overcome the destructive effects of trauma, post-traumatic stress and mood disorder resulting from abuse, sexual, physical violence or developed post-traumatic symptoms or as the result of the loss of a loved one or exposure to violence in the home or community.

Anne-Marie has worked in social services including with the Department of Children and Families, and with children, adolescence and adults that have experienced a single or repeated experience of sexual, physical or emotional abuse. Anne-Marie also works with individuals that have developed symptoms of depression, anxiety, exhibits behavioral, substance abuse, suicidal ideations. She utilizes (DBT) Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Person Centered (PCT), Solution Focused (SFT), Play Therapy Techniques and other approaches as needed. Anne-Marie also offers parenting and family therapy approaches that helps family members and other family dynamics that maybe contributing to the problem and she aims to teach new parenting skills, stress-management, and healthy communication skills and works with diverse cultures and populations.

Daniela Valderrama, M.S., PLPC

Daniela Valderrama is a graduate of science in Psychology from the University of Los Andes, in Bogotá, Colombia. Her professional practice was performed at the Santa Fe University Hospital in Bogotá where she focused on providing therapy to preop and postop transplant patients. After her professional practice, she then went on to work at the Chilean Institute of Integrative Psychotherapy ICPSI, with a focus on children, adolescents and parents.

To further her depth of knowledge she attended an intensive course in strategic psychotherapy in Tuscany, Italy at the Training school in Brief Strategic therapy in Arezzo, under the direction and direct supervision of Dr. Giorgio Nardone, creator of the therapeutic method. Adding to her already wide spectrum of understanding and knowledge Daniela later completed master's degree in Neuropsychology at the University of Salamanca.

During this time at the University of Salamanca she was appointed representative of the quality academic commission and became a member of INTRAS institute in the area of neurorehabilitation. After completing her academic journey, she opened her own private practice to which she operated over the last 6 years in Bogotá and Cartagena, Colombia.

In her years of experience, she has dedicated herself to working with children who present concerns such as: attention deficit, memory issues, difficulties at the linguistic level, obtaining study methods, or who present a delay in neurodevelopment that affect systems such as cognitive and behavioral.

In her area of focus, she treats children and adolescents in terms of problems of anxiety, depression, affective codependency, addictions, self-esteem, autism, eating disorders, school problems, among others such as:

· Provided cognitive behavioral therapy & integrative psychotherapy.

· Performed family-oriented therapy for parents with children diagnosed with cognitive disorders.

· Assisted in education reintegration for children under counseling.

· Developed Individual and group therapy for children and adolescents with similar symptom ailments.

Therapy for children and adolescents focused on behavioral restructuring

· Created customized individual study methods for adolescent patients

· Hosted Family oriented therapy sessions to better educate parents and immediate family

· Integrated child development & support method therapy for parents

· Individual and group therapies.

· Languages: Spanish Native, English Advanced, Italian Basic.

· Specialties: Children, Teen, and Family therapy

Ashley Sutton, APC

Ashley Sutton is an APC candidate working on her professional counseling license. She has her Bachelors in Child & Family Development from The University of Georgia, Masters in School Counseling from the University of West Alabama and her Specialist in School Counseling from Valdosta State University. She was a former middle school teacher and made a career change to school counseling and has been working with families and adolescents in the public school system for 15 years. In her career, she has experience with helping children, teens, and families with depression, anxiety, crisis management and intervention, trauma, family conflicts, relationships, grief and loss, behavior issues, and life changes. She is passionate about helping people work through difficulties and helping them to achieve hope in life again. Ashley uses Solution-Focused, CBT, and Mindfulness techniques when counseling individuals and families in order to help promote healing and wellness, increase self-awareness, and to create a healthy life-balance within relationships.

Heather Bousquet, LMSW, CMFT

Heather Bousquet has a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Georgia where she also received a certification in marriage and family therapy. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Minor in Sociology also from UGA. Heather has years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. She uses both humanistic and person centered approaches to therapy, but she frequently also finds that having an eclectic use of several different theoretical modalities to be most effective when working with individuals and families with difficult behavioral and cognitive issues. This being said, sometimes she may be found using a solution-focused model, structural, or cognitive-behavioral approach, amongst other modalities. In her career she has worked in a variety of settings such as inpatient behavioral health, private practice, and community mental health care. She has also worked as a parent/child coach as well as with special needs children, adolescents, and young adults. Heather’s passion includes helping individuals find their unique voices. She is an advocate for women’s rights and she supports LGBTQ individuals and communities. Her goal is to assist patients in finding solutions to their problems by building upon the strengths they already have. She believes all individuals are unique and they each deserve to achieve their goals and to pursue their passions.

Dr. Joseph Pak, LCSW

Joseph graduated from the University of Georgia with a PhD in Counseling & Student Personnel Services. Joseph works as a professional school counselor and served as a school social worker. He has experience working as a core provider providing home-based therapy services for children and their families involved with the Department of Juvenile Justice. In addition, he has served as a child welfare case manager in all program areas with the Department of Family and Children Services in various rural and suburban counties in Georgia. As a social worker, Joseph views growth areas from a systems perspective by examining the different systems such as family system, community and their impact it has on the individual. Joseph believes that therapy is about finding a good relational match. He enjoys working with children/adolescents and their families. Furthermore, he works well with immigrant families as they navigate acculturation and cultural differences. Lastly, Joseph appreciates working with college or post-college individuals on transitions and figuring out their purpose/values. Specialty Areas: Depression, Anxiety, Family dynamics, Addiction, Suicidal Ideation, Self-esteem, Relationships