Rusty Godwin, LCSW

I believe with the right support, we all are capable of overcoming challenges that disrupt our daily experience, leading to the life we desire. In therapy, I give respect to the lived experience of my clients, so I am more the consultant, guiding, educating, and offering approaches that we agree have relevance for the specific situations. We explore and problem-solve together. I pride myself on staying on top of the advancement of research supported therapeutic practices.  It is an exciting time in the field of therapy. Recent research is unveiling the reality that we have the power to change our lives and relationships through simple shifts in our thought and lifestyle patterns. These shifts have, in fact, been shown to alter/improve the genetic makeup of brain pathways resulting in more healthy ways of functioning. This work is especially significant in the areas of relationships, anxiety and depression.

Throughout my 25 years of providing direct care , I have  had the fortune to experience a diverse array of clinical settings. I have  been drawn to challenges and helping others overcome the difficulties in their life. My clinical and therapeutic experiences include the following:

• Working on Staff at the VA Medical Center with veterans from the Vietnam and Persian Gulf conflicts.
• Providing therapy and crisis intervention to the severely mentally ill at the Georgia Mental Health Institute.
• Co-founding and performing as Executive Director of The Georgia Counseling Network, Inc., a nonprofit agency providing counseling and outdoor therapeutic programs to at-risk adolescents and families.
• Supporting Fulton County Schools as a School Social Worker , where I teamed up with students and families at the alternative school in an effort to keep kids in school and education a priority.  
• Running a private practice where I help adolescents, adults, and families, find their path to a brighter future.

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When I am not working, I enjoy a being with my family including my wife who grew up with me in Decatur, our two college age daughters, and our rescue dog, Cumberland. We enjoy hiking, camping, boating, or anything that gets us outside into nature as a family.  I often retreat to the mountains to enjoy myself while trout fishing in a cool river or stream.