Tara Tresslar, LPC, NCC

She/her/hers

Currently serving clients in Georgia

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Hey there, Iโ€™m Tara!
We all carry stories, some visible, some quietly tucked away. Life can throw sudden changes, invisible struggles, or seasons of overwhelm. It gets messy. It gets exhausting. I know how hard it can be to keep going when no one can see all that youโ€™re carrying. Healing isnโ€™t about having it all figured out, itโ€™s about understanding your story, finding tools that actually work, and creating balance that feels right for you.

I have experience supporting people living with chronic conditions, processing trauma, experiencing anxiety and depression, relationship stress, and lifeโ€™s curveballs. I work with partners and individuals from all backgrounds and identities, including 2SLGBTQIA+ folks, autistic folks, folks with ADHD, folks with PTSD, military spouses, and veterans, offering a space where you feel truly seen, heard, and supported!

Outside the office, you can find me planning my next tattoo, singing way too loudly, or laughing at funny cat videos! I believe therapy doesnโ€™t have to be all serious faces and stiff chairs. Openness, curiosity, and even a little humor can go a long way in the healing process!

If youโ€™re looking for a nonjudgmental, safe space to process whateverโ€™s on your mind, without the stuffy-office vibes, youโ€™re in the right place! This is your space to let go and breathe easier. To go at your own pace. To be accepted exactly as you are. 

Book a consultation with me:

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Are you and your partner(s) arguing more than connecting? Do small disagreements snowball into big fights? Maybe youโ€™re feeling unseen, misunderstood, or like the spark has dimmed. If trust has been broken, you might be wondering if itโ€™s even possible to find your way back to each other.

If youโ€™re stuck in the same painful patterns or just going through the motions, Iโ€™m here to help you reconnect! Every relationship faces challenges but with the right support, you can rebuild trust, improve communication, and start enjoying each other again.

As a visual thinker, I love using Gottmanโ€™s Sound Relationship House to help partners spot the cracks in their foundation, those overlooked areas where resentment builds or needs go unmet. Weโ€™ll work together to understand whatโ€™s not working, repair old wounds, and rebuild something stronger.

You donโ€™t have to stay stuck. With compassion and practical tools, Iโ€™ll help you break the cycle and create more secure, fulfilling relationships rooted in trust, emotional safety, and real connection.

Relationship Support

2SLGBTQIA+ and Poly Affirming

Trauma can weave its way through your body and mind, shaping how you see yourself, how safe you feel, and how you move through the world. It can make the simplest things like trust, rest, and connection feel just out of reach. 

In our sessions, we create space that feels safe enough to explore your experiences without rushing or forcing anything. Weโ€™ll use grounding tools to help you stay present, and weโ€™ll work with approaches that meet you where you are, not where anyone else thinks you should be.

I specialize in trauma-informed care because I believe healing happens best in a space that feels safe, supportive, and empowering. I understand how trauma can affect every part of life including our sense of self, our relationships, and how we move through the world. In our work together, weโ€™ll go at a pace that feels right for you, using grounding tools, gentle exploration, and evidence-based approaches. My goal is to help you reconnect with your strengths, rebuild a sense of safety, and move forward with more confidence and self-compassion.

Trauma Informed Care

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If youโ€™re living with chronic illness, you know how exhausting it can be to fight to be believed. I get it because Iโ€™ve been there, and Iโ€™m still there, right there with you! Iโ€™ve navigated my own journey with chronic migraines, endometriosis, PCOS, Chiari Malformation, and May-Thurnerโ€™s syndrome. Itโ€™s draining to keep asking for help after youโ€™ve tried it all and been to dozens of doctors.


Iโ€™ve experienced the gaslighting, the medical neglect, and the endless cycle of being given medication for symptoms instead of anyone looking for the root cause. From a person-centered approach, I offer a space where you feel seen, understood, and supported without judgment or pressure. Sometimes what we need most is someone who will truly listen, validate what weโ€™re going through, and help us reconnect with our own sense of strength and self-trust.
Together, we can explore ways to cope with the emotional weight of chronic illness, rebuild trust in your body, increase advocacy, learn to pace so you can do more with less "down for the count" time in between, find joy, connect with community, and create space for hope and healing!

Chronic conditions and chronic pain

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Life can get overwhelming fast! Between juggling responsibilities, showing up for others, and just trying to hold it together, itโ€™s easy to put your own needs last. And before you know it, youโ€™re running on fumes, wondering when youโ€™re supposed to catch your breath.

Anxiety, depression, and burnout are human responses to chronic stress and often just signs that youโ€™ve been carrying too much for too long. What you might need is space to slow down, sort through the noise, and feel what youโ€™re feeling without being judged or rushed.

In therapy, weโ€™ll explore whatโ€™s weighing on you and figure out ways to make things more manageable without adding more pressure. Whether youโ€™re navigating big emotions or just feeling kind of stuck, I focus on things like emotional regulation, self-compassion, and tuning back in to what you need.

When Life Feels like Too Much

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Deployments, frequent moves, and holding down the fort alone can feel overwhelmingโ€”especially when your support system is scattered or left behind at your last duty station. As a fellow military spouse, I totally get the challenge of learning a whole new area while rebuilding your support system from scratch. It can feel like starting over again and again, and somehow taking care of yourself in the middle of all that? Not easy.

Military life can bring a unique kind of stressโ€”one thatโ€™s hard to explain to people outside this world. Maybe you're feeling isolated, disconnected from your partner, or unsure of your own identity beyond the roles youโ€™re filling. 

Together weโ€™ll tackle PCS stress, identity shifts, parenting overload, relationship strain, and carve out time for you. You deserve steadiness, community and a space for your own needs during this chapter of your life!

Military Spouses and Parents

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Centered on You: Therapy That Honors Your Story

One thing to know about working with me: you set the tone. Our sessions arenโ€™t about me telling you what to do or trying to fix things. Instead, itโ€™s about holding a space where you can be exactly as you are, even if itโ€™s hard to put your story into words.

Iโ€™ve been there myself, shutting down, masking the pain, easily triggered and slipping into those dark places that feel impossible to escape. I get how tough it can be, and I know how important it is to just have someone listen and understand. My job is simply to be here with you, without judgment, as you navigate whatever brought you in.

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My Specialties

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My approach and what a session with me looks like:

Itโ€™s important for me to create a safe, supportive and inclusive environment that respects your background, identity, and unique perspectives. I want you to feel heard and understood, and therefore I take an empathic approach to ensure you that I truly care about your concerns and experiences. While always supportive, I do like to challenge when necessary, which helps confront difficult truths or behaviors to foster growth and lasting change. I like to keep it real and also be real! I will be the first to say I am not perfect and I do not have all of the answers! Itโ€™s truly a pleasure to connect with clients by recognizing that weโ€™re all human, constantly learning and growing. Weโ€™re all a work in progress, and Iโ€™m right here with you on that journey!

I like to take an eclectic approach to therapy, meaning I tailor each session to your unique needs by drawing from various techniques and theories. If you just need to vent, Iโ€™m here to listen. If youโ€™re looking for guidance, I can offer insight. If interactive activities help you process things better, Iโ€™ve got those too. Whatever you need to move forward, Iโ€™ll do my best to support you on that journey!

With a background in health coaching and wellness, my perspective has evolved over time. I donโ€™t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. We donโ€™t have to fit into societal standards or compare ourselves to people who seem to have it all together. Thereโ€™s something incredibly freeing about embracing who we are, loving ourselves as we are, and living life in a way that feels right for us. And Iโ€™m here to help you achieve that!


Badges, Certifications, & Directories

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Mentaya Badge

Proud Member of TherapyDen
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Openings available

I accept:

Self-pay

Sliding scale

Open Path

Out-of-network benefits

FSA/HSA

In network with:

Aetna

Credentialing in progress for:

BCBS

For clients wishing to use out-of-network benefits:

We've partnered with Mentaya, a service that streamlines getting reimbursed for your therapy sessions through out-of-network benefits.

See if you qualify: https://mentaya.co/checkbenefits/counselingzebra

Mentaya is perfect if you:

โ€ข Have out-of-network benefits

โ€ข Feel overwhelmed by superbills and insurance

โ€ข Have submitted superbills but failed to get any reimbursement

โ€ข Simply want to skip the hassle of paperwork!

You can also use the tool below to check your out-of-network benefits:

Working with me

Direct supervision under:

Kari Viola-Brooke, LPC, CPCS

Clinical Direction under:

Lauren St John, LPC, ATR, NCC, ASDCS

https://nbcc.org/search/counselorverify

https://verify.sos.ga.gov/verification/Search.aspx

Mentaya check your benefits widget, you can also check your insurance benefits by clicking the button to the right if you are unable to use the widget.

Use the calendar below to schedule a free 15-minute consultation phone call with the therapist you would like to work with, or you can contact us through the contact form for help scheduling a free 15-minute video chat consultation!

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Schedule a consult call

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