Isabel Groedel is a Licensed Master Social Worker who specializes in supporting adolescents, adults, couples and families in overcoming behavioral and emotional challenges. She is bilingual (English and Spanish) and is trained in EMDR and Emotion Focused Therapy.

Isabel has worked both in community mental health and psychiatric care settings providing individual and group counseling. While Isabel’s scope of practice includes the treatment of mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, substance use disorders, and career and life transition issues, she specializes in couples work and trauma therapy.

While her theoretical and technical applications to therapeutic work are unique to each individual client, her overarching approach to therapy is mindfulness-based and rooted in a strong belief in and commitment to her clients’ agency and intrinsic strength. She views therapy as a collaborative process, one in which client and therapist work together to create meaning from past experiences, to generate thoughtful solutions to current problems, and to build a foundation for continued growth.

My clinical career began with a strong interest in the psychological impact of illness and disability and a master’s degree in medical rehabilitation counseling. Helping people adjust to the unique experiences of medical journeys was powerful and fulfilling– but I soon realized that my clients’ medical needs impacted everyone in their family. Partners, parents, siblings, children: they are all touched by their loved one’s illness or disability. The whole system was in pain and their relationships were fracturing.

The idea of my clients struggling medically and their relationships simultaneously breaking apart was too heartbreaking to accept as inevitable. So, I set out on a journey to find out how to help all of them. Therapy model after therapy model didn’t have good outcome data; until I found Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT) and Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT). They had phenomenal outcomes– that lasted. EFT research shows that 86-90% of couples experienced improvements in connection and communication in their relationship and those changes stick. I was hooked– and have spent more than 300 hours in training and consultation to learn the model.

Today, much of my work focuses on helping couples and families deepen bonds and heal wounds. I’m passionate about this work and love joining my clients on their journey.
Although relational conflict can be overwhelmingly intense or disorienting, I have found that it holds a unique ability to create healing and generate profound shifts in our lives. In EFT, I work to join couples in the process of identifying long-standing patterns of conflict and shifting to new ways of being with each other. Other times, I help couples contemplating divorce navigate the gut-wrenching decision of how to move forward: dive in and seek professional help or find a way to separate in a way that honors their history. My most important job is respecting everyone that comes into my office and their individual experience of the relationship.

If you are feeling disconnected from your partner and want to work on your relationship, call today to schedule: 770.451.0404.

Professional Credentials and Education:

• • Licensed Professional Counselor – Georgia LPC#8499
• • National Certified Counselor – National Board for Certified Counselors
• • Certified Rehabilitation Counselor – Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification
• • Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling – Georgia State University
• • Bachelor of Science in Psychology – University of Georgia
• • Completed Externship – Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT)
• • Completed Core Skills – Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT)
• • Completed Advanced Training – Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
• • Completed Advanced Training – Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT)
• • Completed EFT Master Class: Attachment Injury Repair (Affair Recovery)
• • Completed EFT Master Class: Success in Stage 2
• • Completed EFT Master Class: EFT and Addictions
• • Certified Prepare/Enrich Facilitator
• • Certified Divorce Discernment Counselor

Professional Memberships and Service Roles:

• • Atlanta Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy (ACEFT) – Board Member – Community Outreach
• • International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT)
• • DRI Alliance for Marriage and Divorce Professionals
• • Licensed Professional Counselor Association of Georgia (LPCAga)
• • Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Advisory Board – Georgia State University
• • South Metro Mental Health Network – 2020 Chair, 2019 Chair, 2018 Vice Chair and CEU Coordinator

Professional Highlights:

• • CEO and Clinical Co-Director of The Center for Living Balance
• • Co-owner of Cultivate Development
• • Facilitator of Hold Me Tight® relationship retreats for couples

Intake Forms for Amy Jaynes:

• Adult Client Information Form
• Informed Consent for Treatment 
• Telehealth Consent Form
• Notice of HIPAA Policies and Practices
• Permission to Record Sessions 

Early in in this work I was able to join into the lives of adults with severe and persistent mental illness and help them to fashion wellness and recovery in their own communities and with their own families. I was in the thick of life with men and women having full and robust and connected lives even while facing some of the most challenging brain diseases and it was due significantly to their close family supports. This pushed me to pursue a deeper understanding of family systems. I was lucky to be living in an area which was the birthplace of family systems therapy. I spent several years being mentored and trained by people who have devoted their research and their lives to helping develop strong connected families. This work fundamentally changed how I viewed the world and my own family. Through my time devoted to Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy i not only learned but actually experienced that no one is ever truly alone and we grow best and heal best together.

Later as my husband and I chose to move our family to GA to be closer to my parents I was presented with an opportunity I never expected and that was to take the things I learned about family systems and apply them to an even bigger system. Schools. Through a generous federal grant I was able to help develop programs and provide direct support not just for an entire school district but the state as a whole that integrated mental health supports for everyone, students, teachers, administrators, staff, and families. This was incredible because we do indeed grow and heal best together and there is no easier place to do this than a school system.

As this grant was coming to a close I knew it was time to come back to families but this time with a focus on the core relationships. This is what drew me to Emotion Focused Therapy as it was another type of treatment that helps people to have new experiences in a non-judgemental way. Often my clients have had other therapist or worked through self help but leave feeling like they have just put emotional bandaids on a relationship that needs surgery. A lot of times these attempts just fall short by focusing on the basics like communication skills and problem solving or worse yet one partner feeling they must be the bad guy. This never really gets down to what is going on underneath and moving from shame and blame to working together to change the core issues that get us all stuck over and over again. In my office there are no good guys or bad guys just people who love each other and keep getting stuck and keep missing each other.

In this most recent stop on my journey I’m thrilled to be a part of a practice that has a vision to nurture couples, caregivers, and families. As a pastor’s kid, a therapist, and a educational leader I am drawn to supporting caregivers such as pastors, administrators, doctors, and their families who find themselves feeling like they “always need to be on”, or that they are “alone in a crowded room”, or those that give so much in their professions that there is not much left for their personal lives. I also have unique experience supporting those who have faced significant shifts in faith or faith communities. Often this deconstruction affects everything not just ideology but friendships, family support, and sense of identity. There is hope on the other side and I’ve been grateful to walk with people as they reconstruct a new outlook and a healthier future.

Professional Credentials and Education:

• • Licensed Professional Counselor – Georgia LPC #
• • Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor – GA CPCS
• • Masters of Science in Professional Counseling – Lee University
• • Bachelors of Science in Psychology – Lee University
• • Completed Externship in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• • Certified Prepare/Enrich Facilitator
• • Certified Trainer – Youth Mental Health First Aid
• • Certified Trainer – Mental Health First Aid

Professional Memberships and Service Roles:

• • South Metro Mental Health Network – 2019 Membership Chair
• • Atlanta Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy (ACEFT)
• • International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT)

Professional Highlights:

• • Co-Owner at The Center for Therapist Development
• • 2017 Fellow with Educational Policy Fellowship Program – Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and Institute for
• • Educational Leadership
• • Advisor and Consultant on mental health integration in our schools – Georgia State Management Team for Project AWARE

Intake Forms for Kelly Petaccio:

• Adult Client Information Form
• Informed Consent for Treatment
• Telehealth Consent Form
• Notice of HIPAA Policies and Practices
• Permission to Record Sessions

My interest in counseling originated from a desire to repair broken relationships within my own family. My exploration to seek wholeness and restoration for the emotional wounds of my past began with reading books about how family relationships work and then progressed to my majoring in psychology in college. I began to learn about how we impact each other and how important it is to seek my own emotional health and healing. This led to my desire to not only seek my own counseling but also to pursue counseling as a career. How meaningful and fulfilling would it be to not only heal my own personal hurts and relationships but also to help others do the same?

At the center of my work, are my deeply held beliefs that we were created for rich relationships and are meant to experience depth, connection, joy, peace and purpose. Despite these meaningful desires, many people report that they cannot develop or return to healthy relationships. But why? I believe that the reasons we don’t have healthy relationships today go back to our personal history of relational experiences. The emotional scars left from living in an imperfect world get in the way of these riches. Thankfully, through effective therapy, healing and wholeness can occur even in the midst of the failures and offenses of this broken world. Distant relational patterns can not only be repaired but the process to repair can result in the deep, rich relationships we’ve always yearned to have.

Even though I have training in many techniques for emotional healing, I prioritize creating a safe emotional place for my clients to share the difficult experiences they’ve had that are often connected to painful emotions. Grief, loss, abuse, abandonment, betrayal, tragedy, trauma, infidelity, loneliness, divorce, spiritual/religious wounds and disconnection are just a few of the experiences I have helped my clients process over the past 30 years. I feel honored and privileged to help my clients navigate their challenging journeys. I have incredible respect and admiration for those who seek emotional healing, as I know it takes great courage to move toward change.

My family and I have lived in Fayette County for over 15 years. My amazing husband of nearly 30 years and I have purposely pursued our own healing and growth as a couple. We have 3 incredible young adult children, a son in law and 2 sweet grandbabies. My husband and I cherish being parents and grandparents!

The wife of a former senior pastor, I have an especially empathic perspective of the challenges that clergy families face. My family has experienced the good, the bad and the ugly realities specific to mainstream religion and living in a “glass house”. Serving and supporting clergy families, couples and individuals holds a special place in my heart. As a team, we seek to extend our unique services and insights to these community caregivers.

Professional Credentials and Education:

• • Licensed Professional Counselor – Georgia LPC # 2029
• • Masters of Science in Clinical Psychology – Augusta University
• • Bachelors of Science in Psychology – University of Georgia
• • Completed Externship in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• • Completed Core Skills in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• • Completed training in Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT)
• • Completed EFT Masterclass: Success in Stage 2
• • Completed EFT Masterclass: Attachment Injury Repair (affair recovery)
• • Completed EFT Masterclass: EFT and Addictions
• • Certified in Trauma Resolution Therapy ®
• • Certified Prepare/Enrich Facilitator
• • Certified in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)

Professional Memberships and Service Roles:

• • South Metro Mental Health Network – Leadership positions: 2020 Member-at-Large, 2019 Member-at-Large, 2018 Secretary, 2016-2017 Vice Chairperson, 2016-Present Peer Consultation Moderator
• • Atlanta Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy (ACEFT)
• • International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT)
• • Licensed Professional Counselor Association of Georgia (LPCAGA)
• • Business Women of Fayette & Coweta (BWFC)

Professional Highlights:

• • CFO and Clinical Co-Director at The Center for Living Balance
• • Owner of Abundant Life Counseling Services (15 years)
• • Guest on Marriage and Family Today Radio Program
• • Guest on Elizabeth Gore’s Talk for Women Radio Program
• • Presenter at The Healthy Clergy and Congregation Conference

Intake Forms for Deana Riley:

• Adult Client Information Form
• Informed Consent for Treatment
• Telehealth Consent Form 
• Notice of HIPAA Policies and Practices 
• Permission to Record Sessions 

Retreats and Workshops:

• • Hold Me Tight for Couples^®
• • Hold Me Tight / Let Me Go^® for Families
• • Prepare/Enrich^® Premarital Workshops

Interested in our groups and workshops? We can get you registered today! 770-451-0404

Groups and Workshops are a great way to get support and improve skills in a cost effective manner! Here are the groups that are currently forming:

– Body Respect Group for Women: Tired of yo-yo dieting? Trapped in the “I only exercise when I’m dieting” cycle? Break free and learn to utilize the science and research of Linda Bacon, PhD’s “Health at Every Size” and “Body Respect”. Led by Amy Jaynes, LPC.

– Postpartum Support Group: Momming is hard! Join Kelly Petaccio, LPC, in a community of women who are adjusting to the unique challenges of early motherhood. Babies welcome!

– Creative Coping for Teens: Do you have a teen who needs additional support and skills to help with emotional regulation? Or could use some coping strategies for stress and anxiety? Kelly Petaccio, LPC is blending arts and crafts with skills development in groups for middle and high school students.

Interested in our groups and workshops? We can get you registered today! 770-451-0404

Couples coming to us, often report needing help with one or more of the following concerns:

• • Premarital Counseling
• • Relationship Distress and Frequent Arguments
• • Broken Trust
• • Affairs and Infidelity
• • Communication Challenges
• • Restoring Passion and Hope
• • Work, Children, and Relationship Stress
• • Financial Problems and Disagreements
• • Blending Families and Coparenting
• • Impact of Addiction and Disordered Eating
• • Impact of Medical Diagnosis and Disability
• • Impact of church or faith community ruptures
• • Collaborative Separation and Divorce
• • Divorce Discernment Counseling
• • Navigating non-traditional relationship structures

The focus of all of our couple and marriage counseling is not on each partner– but rather on the relationship.  We are process consultants that help couples slow down their experiences and make sense of the negative patterns.  We know, from extensive research and training, that the internal experiences created by these repetitive, negative patterns is what leads to disconnection and relationship breakdowns.  Without blame or labeling one person as the “bad guy”, we help each person understand their part in these unwanted patterns. Once we know and can recognize the patterns, you will learn how to create new positive patterns and respond to your partner with loving kindness.  Our work also involves healing old wounds, the path to forgiveness, and restoring trust.

Needing to reset your relationship? Call to schedule today: 770-451-0404

The Center for Living Balance is the product of personal and business evolution. Founded by Amy Jaynes in 2016 as a solo counseling practice, the center has always focused on personal and relational well-being. As Amy’s passion for healing relational bonds continued to grow, she became more active in the professional mental health community. She was speaking at local events, serving on boards, and generally spreading the word about the power of healing attachment.

Through her service on the leadership team of the South Metro Mental Health Network, Amy came to know Deana Riley as an equally passionate counselor who was also transforming relationships. Deana had opened her own counseling practice, Abundant Life, PC, in 2004 and brought 30 years of experience to her clients, their families, and the professional community.

Over time, it became clear that Deana and Amy shared the same vision and passion for this transformational work. In 2018, they decided to merge their successful practices and opened as The Center for Living Balance, Inc on February 1, 2019.

Do you need a speaker for your event or organization?  We can bring any of our workshops and seminars to you!

We’ve spoken at:

• • Schools (for teachers, administrators, parents, and/or students)
• • Sales Organizations (real estate teams, medical offices)
• • Churches and Religious Organizations
• • Community Meetings (HOA meetings, social clubs, etc)
• • Sports Teams and Organizations (Boy Scouts, etc)
• • Community Organizations (MOPS, etc)
• • Hospitals and Health Clinics

Staying connected through life’s many stages is challenging work– we help families wade through those disconnected moments to find the path back to connection.  We see families who are seeking help with:

• • Communicating with and understanding their teenage children
• • Staying connected and also encouraging independence of their teen age and young adult children
• • Young adults who are experiencing “failure to launch”
• • Codependency and enmeshment
• • Teens who have a history of angry or acting out behavior
• • Parents who do not agree on parenting strategies or styles
• • Blended families and parenting across households
• • Families who are coping with and supporting a teen or young adult with mental illness
• • Families who are navigating non-traditional relationship structures

A special note about our work with teens:

No one exists in a bubble.  This powerful, yet simple, idea informs all of our work with teens.  We structure our sessions to leverage attachment and healing, including individual sessions, pairs (one parent and the teen or sibling pairs), couples/parenting sessions, and whole family meetings.  By structuring our sessions this way, we are able to make sense of the factors that are playing out in your family relationships, slow down when things become intense, and find new ways of being together that invite connection and calms problematic behaviors.  

Tired of living in a strained house? Call today for family counseling: 770-451-0404

Many of our clients spend their days taking care of the needs of other people — often at the expense of their own well-being or needs.   We understand (and live!) this unique experience that can create anxiety, depressed mood, increased stress, compassion fatigue, relational distress, and burnout for:

• • Doctors, Nurses, and Medical Providers
• • Counselors, Psychologists, Social Workers, and other therapists
• • Clergy Members and Church Leaders
• • Teachers and Educators
• • Parents and Grandparents
• • People in the Sandwich Generation (aging parents who require care and children at home who require care)
• • Family caregivers
• • People in professional sales roles
• • Leaders, executives, managers, and supervisors

Our work with caregivers focuses on understanding and assessing the unique situation that our clients are in.  We explore their strengths and stressors– organizing and making sense of what relational systems are preventing them from being able to access support and self-care, and their role in those systems.  Finally, we help our clients install new supports, find new ways of taking care of themselves, and establish positive patterns in their lives.

Ready to take care of you?  Call to schedule today: 770-451-0404