Dorothy McDermott, owner, is a Licensed Professional Counselor (Alabama 3559 and Georgia 010741) and a national certified counselor. She has a Masters of Science in Counselor Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Jacksonville State University. She is a Certified Prepare-Enrich facilitator for marriage counseling. She has worked professionally with multiple populations since 2007. Dorothy McDermott is the author of the book, Get Well: A Fresh Perspective on Mental Wellness. 

 

Originally from Jacksonville, AL, she is married with three children. She loves to sing, read, and take road trips.

Personal Statement

Experiencing a significant life event such as switching careers, moving from home for the first time to the loss of a loved one or pregnancy loss can be overwhelmingly challenging. An individual's response to such change can range from increased depression symptoms to increased anxiety symptoms and everything in between. It is often necessary to ask for help to find your path to peace, hope, love, joy and overall wellness since during times of great change it's difficult to look beyond the present challenges. 

I can assist with navigating the present storms to calmer waters. I will help you to understand how your thoughts, feelings and behaviors are connected so that you can learn what to adjust in order to feel more of the desired emotions. Using various methods including but not limited to cognitive-behavioral, person-centered and even play therapy at times we will work together so you can achieve mental and spiritual wellness. 

Get in touch

I would love to connect with you and have enriching conversations that will transform your life to the one you've imagined it could be. 

Mary is an Licensed Professional Counselor (4593) in Alabama. She has a Master's of Science in Counselor Education and a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from Jacksonville State University. Mary has worked professionally with at-risk youth and their families since 2013.

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Mary enjoys singing and spending time with her family.

Personal Statement

My ideal client would be someone who struggles with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, poor self- worth and low self-confidence. Some of the struggles stem from childhood issues and/or trauma. The client’s goals are to increase self-confidence, learn to love self and cope and deal with areas of life that causes depression and anxiety so that they can better achieve goals in life.

I can assist client with exploring, identifying and reduce negative self-talk and negative thought patterns that affects their perception of self. We'll explore root causes of the issues so you'll gain an understanding of ways beliefs about self are formed through recurring experiences. You will be taught skills to help ease stress, depression and anxiety.

Asking for help can be challenging. However, getting the help you desire and reaching a point of healing is the best decision you will make to become the best version of yourself. As a highly sensitive person, I am passionate about helping my clients understand themselves, finding their inner strength, and learning how to live in a healthy manner.

Tanisha Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Alabama (4732). She earned a Masters of Science Degree in Counseling Psychology in 2006 and a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Psychology minor in Biology in 2002 both from Alabama A&M University. Tanisha has years of experience working with various mental health issues, including crisis counseling for those who have been sexually assaulted, substance abuse counseling, and assisting individuals with managing depression and/or anxiety symptoms.

Tanisha is a Huntsville, AL, native and mother. She enjoys music, reading, and authentic Mexican cuisine.

Personal Statement

My ideal client is one who is open to share their needs from anything from anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideations. Their goals would be to actively participate in the psychotherapy process by engaging during session, completing session assignments, and treatment compliance. 

I will create a safe space where they feel heard, respected, and valued as a human being. I will assist each client by providing a variety of treatment modalities that focus on resolving presenting problems that clients face. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) a treatment modality specialized in decreasing recidivism, and Mindfulness among other techniques will be utilized.

During the initial session and every session thereafter, I ensure that each client's voices are heard since the therapeutic relationship is vital to ensuring the quality of service that they deserve. I believe in empowering each client to know that their goals, voices, needs, and desired outcomes are important in the development of their specialized treatment planning. Let's connect to begin your fresh start as well as creating your ideal Zen zone!

Sara is a student at Jacksonville State University studying to get her bachelor’s degree in psychology and then hopes to obtain a master’s in counseling. She had been on the President’s List at JSU since freshman year with a 4.0 GPA, a supplemental instruction leader for other psychology students and has been a teacher’s assistant for the psychology department as well.

 

Sara is from Northeast Alabama, loves to write and has written a full-length novel that she is in the process of editing and publishing.

Personal Statement

Working at A Fresh Start Counseling has been such a joy. Not only do I get to progress closer to my own goals, but I also get professional experience that I could not get anywhere else, and I get to serve the community I live in. No work is too small or too unimportant to not learn from, as you can use every possible opportunity in life to learn to better yourself. I assist in the office with any sort of work needed. When you call us, it’s likely that I’ll be the one you speak to. I help clients with any questions they may have, assist them in scheduling, and work to ensure their comfort in our office. I believe that everyone has a right to be comfortable with themselves, and we at A Fresh Start are committed to helping you become the best version of yourself!