Our Story
Welcome to Georgia Psychology & Counseling! We specialize in evaluating and diagnosing psychological disorders, and in the effective treatment of people in psychological distress. Dr. Adrian Janit, a licensed clinical psychologist, established this private practice in 2010. Since then we have built a really great team of mental health professionals. Our primary goal has always been to offer the highest possible standard of patient and client care. This means state-of-the-art assessment procedures, and up-to-date treatment and therapeutic techniques, in a safe and supportive environment.
Our patients and clients
Our patients are frequently referred by family physicians, pediatricians, and psychiatrists who are seeking clarification of symptoms, accurate diagnoses, recommendations, and treatment. Some clients are referred through the school system to help determine the need for academic accommodations and advanced/gifted placement. Many of our clients are referred through insurance companies for evaluation and treatment, as we accept most major medical insurances. We also welcome self-referred and private clients!
Our Promise
We pledge to be of assistance and kindness to you, to provide a safe and supportive space, to devote our undivided attention to you, and to care about you as a unique individual. We promise to be there for you every step of your journey toward healing, discovering your inner strengths, and enhancing your life.
Our Therapists
Adrian Janit, PhD
Samantha Amses, LPC
Kristina Fiske, LPC
Evaluation
How can a psychological evaluation help?
Accurate assessment is a crucial first step in diagnosis for you or your loved one. With an accurate diagnosis, the most appropriate treatment can be selected. We gather information through a collaborative clinical interview, relevant background information, previous records, behavioral observations, and advanced psychological testing. We are therefore able to perform a fine-grained analysis of your psychological symptoms, generate appropriate treatment recommendations, and deliver the information to you in a detailed report and a feedback meeting.
Intellectual functioning and learning disabilities
Intellectual testing can yield information about general intelligence, verbal ability, perceptual ability, processing speed, and memory. Academic testing can help determine the presence of a learning disability in areas such as mathematics, reading, and written expression. The results of testing can help determine the need for special accommodations in the classroom or work setting. Results can reveal personal strengths and weaknesses, and might suggest the potential for advancement and promotion in the workplace or advanced/gifted placement classes for students.
ADHD
You might suspect that you or your child has symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It is important for a psychologist to rule out alternate explanations for inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. Alternate explanations include intellectual deficits, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and emotional symptoms such as anxiety and depression. A comprehensive test battery, including tests designed specifically to assess ADHD, helps us identify what underlies the symptoms. Our results help doctors and patients determine whether medication is an appropriate treatment strategy, and whether behavioral approaches and counseling are necessary.
Autism spectrum disorders
By gathering information in several different ways, we can identify the presence of a neurodevelopmental disorder such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, which now includes the former Asperger's Disorder. In diagnosing children we will engage in one-on-one interaction, an in-depth clinical interview with the parent, cognitive testing, and testing designed specifically to detect the presence of symptoms and estimate the likelihood of an Autism Spectrum Disorder. We offer therapy, behavior planning, and social skills training for children, teenagers, and adults who have Autism symptoms.
Behavioral and emotional symptoms
Children and adults experience emotional distress and disturbances in behavior for a number of reasons. When the reasons for the symptoms are unclear, a psychological evaluation can help. We can determine whether children's behavior at home and school is within reasonable limits, or whether there is cause for concern. The results of a diagnostic evaluation can help clarify the nature and origin of oppositional and defiant behavior, and more serious conduct problems. Symptoms might be explained by an ADHD diagnosis, or might constitute a separate behavioral or emotional disorder.
Personality and social functioning
Stable character traits, personality patterns, and social functioning emerge in the mid-to-late teens and early adult years. People are often curious about these patterns, and seek to understand and enhance them in the interest of personal growth. Others recognize a distinct problem with their personal or social functioning, and seek individual and group psychotherapy to help understand and change their patterns of emotional reactivity and behavior. A comprehensive personality assessment helps provide the necessary insight and direction. Eligibility/readiness for surgery can be evaluated, as can readiness to adopt a child, and readiness to be a surrogate.
Therapy
Anxiety disorders
Commonly occurring anxiety disorders include panic disorder, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, specific phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder. These disorders can often be debilitating, and even in their milder forms they can impair functioning and prevent you from reaching your personal and social potential. Dr. Janit and several of our therapists have extensive training and experience working with people who suffer from anxiety. The general treatment model is cognitive-behavioral therapy, which research suggests is highly effective in addressing anxious symptoms. There are several educational and behavioral components to the treatment, including a gradual face-your-fears approach to the situations you fear. The treatment is done in a very supportive environment.
Mood disorders
Commonly occurring mood disorders include major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, bipolar I disorder, and bipolar II disorder. There are many well-researched treatment and lifestyle strategies that can decrease the symptoms of these mood disorders; strategies such as addressing everyday behavioral patterns, thought processes, life meaning/purpose, and relationship functioning. Our therapists are ready to provide support, impart our expertise, and help you find relief and improved functioning!
Trauma
Post-traumatic symptoms include intense fear, startling easily, mistrust, angry outbursts, despair, flashback memories, nightmares and disturbed sleep, and social withdrawal. These can be the result of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional and verbal abuse, or witnessing or going through life-threatening situations. Our therapists will provide you the support and comfort you need while tackling your fears and processing your thoughts, in order to increase your ability to manage everyday situations and reclaim your peace of mind.
Addiction
Alcohol, drugs, videogames, and other addictions are complex problems that can interfere with healthy functioning and place strain on relationships. Some of our clients are self-referred, whereas others are referred by loved ones, physicians, or employers. It can be difficult to find the motivation to change. Your therapist will help you increase motivation, identify relapse triggers, replace unhealthy behaviors with healthier ones, better handle negative emotions, and reclaim your life.
Children and Adolescents
Parents, we welcome you to bring your children and adolescents to us for evaluation and treatment. We can help with behavioral symptoms such as hyperactivity, oppositional and defiant attitudes, anger, tantrums, and conduct problems such as lying, stealing, and aggression towards others. We can help with childhood and teenage depression and anxiety. We also assist children, teenagers, and their parents with social skills training for Autism Spectrum Disorder. We will design an appropriate treatment plan and then follow through with therapy and treatment. We offer therapy for young children in a warm, supportive environment. We also offer therapy for teenagers, and involve parents and families wherever needed. We conduct behavior planning sessions with parents, to help strengthen and optimize your current approach to your child's behavior.