Specializations
  • Adolescents and Young Adults (Ages 8-30)
  • Grief and Loss 
  • Anxiety and Panic Attacks 
  • Spiritual Concerns 
  • Communication and Relational Issues 
  • Stage-of-Life Changes (teens, young adults, marriage)
Qualifications​
  • Fern has experience and training using modalities such as IFS and parts work, attachment theory, CBT, DBT skills, solution focused, and motivational interviewing. She comes from a social work background and values a person-centered approach to counseling. 
  • Certification in Trauma Focused CBT
  • Masters of Social Work with an emphasis in individual practice from the University of Georgia 
  • Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the University of Georgia 
  • Bachelors of Social Work from the University of Georgia
  • Under supervision of Vance Sims, LCSW 
  • Under Direction of Kim Lareau, LPC 
Rates
Individuals $120

Contact:
​706-310-9046
Vance believes that most people have a host of answers inside themselves and many times just need help in finding those.  He feels that we all have a tendency to act rationally in our own mind but sometimes our thinking becomes unclear and occasionally even chaotic.  His goal is to assist people in acting in ways that are consistent with what they cognitively want and that good feelings will follow.   He believes all people can change!  He also will provide couples and marriage therapy. Vance's approaches include Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Behavior Modification, Mindfulness, Solution Focused Therapy, and he is working on his certification for Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Vance Sims was a School Counselor for over 15 years in Clarke, Barrow and Oconee Counties.  Before becoming a school counselor, Vance worked at Advantage Behavioral Health Systems providing mental health services and alcohol/drug treatment to children and adolescents for 4 years. Prior to that, Vance was a youth and family minister for more than 17 years.  He worked at Circuit City Stores for 4 years prior to that.  He grew up in Texas, completed his undergraduate degree in Arkansas, Masters of Social Work and Educational Specialist in School Counseling from UGA.  He is licensed to practice Clinical Social Work in the state of Georgia (LCSW).

Vance has been married since 1982.  He has 3 adult children who live in Athens, Atlanta, and in the EU.​Vance believes that most people have a host of answers inside themselves and many times just need help in finding those.  He feels that we all have a tendency to act rationally in our own mind but sometimes our thinking becomes unclear and occasionally even chaotic.  His goal is to assist people in acting in ways that are consistent with what they cognitively want and that good feelings will follow.   He believes all people can change!  He also will provide couples and marriage therapy. Vance's approaches include Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Behavior Modification, Mindfulness, Solution Focused Therapy, and he is working on his certification for Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Vance Sims was a School Counselor for over 15 years in Clarke, Barrow and Oconee Counties.  Before becoming a school counselor, Vance worked at Advantage Behavioral Health Systems providing mental health services and alcohol/drug treatment to children and adolescents for 4 years. Prior to that, Vance was a youth and family minister for more than 17 years.  He worked at Circuit City Stores for 4 years prior to that.  He grew up in Texas, completed his undergraduate degree in Arkansas, Masters of Social Work and Educational Specialist in School Counseling from UGA.  He is licensed to practice Clinical Social Work in the state of Georgia (LCSW).

Vance has been married since 1982.  He has 3 adult children who live in Athens, Atlanta, and in the EU.