On the Cover:
Getting to Know Cumberland Counseling By Kristen Eleveld It’s no secret that many communities are filled with people seeking help and advice to address mental health struggles in their lives. But finding affordable, accessible care can be a struggle of its own, and while many churches and other organizations stand ready and willing to help, it can still be difficult to find the specialized resources people so desperately need. Now, thanks to Cumberland Counseling Centers, many of those in Gwinnett and its surrounding cities are able to receive care from experts whose passion is to love the community around them. Founded by Alexandra Thompson, LCSW, Cumberland Counseling Centers was created to fill a need that Alexandra saw in her church and in her community. She volunteered to counsel people seeking mental health services at her church. While the staff at Cumberland Community Church was working to provide as many people as possible with counseling, they were in need of some additional expertise to address specialized issues, which Alexandra was more than willing to provide. As Alexandra began counseling more and more people, she decided to make her services official and created Cumberland Counseling Centers. “We feel that this is something every church should be doing!” said Alexandra, speaking about how so many people in the community already turn to houses of worship for help and advice. “We want to love our community and partner with faith-based organizations and churches to become a place where someone can go for therapy.” Headquartered in Smyrna, Cumberland Counseling Centers has additional offices in Lawrenceville and Buckhead and partners with a church in Marietta to offer counseling services there. Alexandra and her team work hard to be intentional about creating an environment that allows their clients to feel safe and heard. The staff at Cumberland Counseling, which now has eight therapists plus an intake coordinator, recognizes
September 2023 Our Town Gwinnett
the diversity of the people they counsel and have worked to reflect that diversity in their own staff. “We want to provide intimate relationships and safety with each of our clients,” said Alexandra. “Many of our team members have experienced struggles unique to different situations and have a heart to reach those groups who may not otherwise find the counseling they need.” In addition to creating a safe space for anyone to receive mental health services, Alexandra and her team have also made it a priority to provide services at a cost that is truly affordable for a wide range of the surrounding community. They offer income-based scholarships on a sliding scale, Continued on page 17
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