Begin Your Journey to Happiness
Extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and kind. Overall wonderful experience. Kristy has a very calming spirit and makes you feel at ease. This aspect of her personality really helped since this is my first time seeking any type of counseling
- Ashley Travis -
Our Mission
To provide quality and effective therapeutic services for families through assessment and counseling services for the enhancement of both a healthy mind and body.
Meet Kristy Odom, MA, LPC, CPCS
Kristy is a licensed professional counselor with the state of Georgia and the CEO of The Next Step Assessment and Counseling Services who has over 10 years’ experience in the helping profession. Kristy graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and received her Masters from Argosy University in Community Counseling. Kristy begins working in the counseling field in 2005 as a contractor where she investigated child abuse reports for the state of Georgia. She also has 5+ years’ experience in community-based therapy where she provided in home services to families in need.
Kristy has worked intensively with the inner-city population where she led psychoeducation groups, individual therapy, and art therapy for clients struggling with substance abuse/addiction.
She is certified in Moral Recognition Therapy (MRT) for both adolescents and adults which is the primary therapeutic model used for current drug court treatment facilities.
Kristy has a plethora of experience working with individuals in the community and is the liaison to several different DFCS case managers in the DeKalb, Clayton and Fulton County areas.
Our Therapeutic Practice
Our experience enables us to offer effective outpatient, individualized, therapeutic care.
We treat a number of mental health disorders and provide safe and effective group therapy.
We also provide a neutral ground in order to obtain the most positive experience while in our care.
Our Treatment Focus
Our focus is to help individuals heal, energize, and become aware of their inner strengths. We achieve this by providing a neutral safe space, listening to your concerns, and customizing a treatment plan. We also specialize in both solution focused and cognitive behavioral therapy to address depression, anxiety, stress and other mood disorders.
Our Patient Promise
We promise to be there for you every step of your journey. Our goal is to help you grow from your struggles, heal from your pain, and move forward to where you want to be in your life.
Meet Melanie Kenner, MS, LPC, NCC, CAMS II
Melanie is a National Certified Counselor and Certified Anger Management Specialist who earned her Master of Science in Marriage Family Counseling Therapy from Capella University. She also facilitates our parenting classes that are voluntary or court ordered.
Melanie began working in the counseling field in 2007 as a paraprofessional assisting in the completion of Comprehensive Child and Family Assessments, WRAP around services, and facilitating Independent Living Workshops with the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services. Her experience with individuals, couples, families, and groups range in settings from community, in-home, classrooms, corporations, to private practice.
Melanie focuses on solution focused and humanistic approaches when working with clients, providing a holistic perspective of mind, body, and soul.
Mentality is a way of thinking. A spa is a place where you go to relax. Melanie explores a client's way of thinking and its effects on feelings that cause tension in a client's life. Her philosophy is simple: Relax your way of thinking in order to improve your quality of life.
Melanie
Our Services
01
Individual Therapy
Stress, depression, and anxiety are some of the most common and uncomfortable emotions that we can experience at some point in our lives. Through counseling and treatment, we are able to help you recover motivation, perspective, and joy that you once had in your life.
Prices are provided at consult
02
Assessments are the first step in your therapeutic process. This guides as a tool focused on your needs for individualized success. We specialize in trauma assessments, substance abuse assessments (SASSI and court approved) and also initial assessments prior to the therapeutic process.
Prices are provided at consult