Way Stone /wā/stōn/ – a safe place to heal along your journey
A waystone both marks the trail and indicates a safe place to rest and be restored before continuing on your journey.
Both Way and Stone are names Jesus uses to refer to Himself: “I am the WAY the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)
The early church referred to themselves as The Way, or people of the Way. “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood.” (1 Peter 2:4-5a)
About You (Getting Started)
Coming to counseling is a brave step, so way to go! We understand that it can be scary to ask for help and be vulnerable with someone, but research shows that the average person in therapy will have better outcomes than 79% of those who don’t seek treatment (Dr. Henry Westra, summary of over 3000 scientific studies). Studies comparing therapy to medication show that therapy is as effective or more effective during treatment than medications and the results last after treatment is completed.
The two key indicators of the effectiveness of therapy for you is the relationship or fit with your therapist and how much you practice what you learn in therapy in your every-day life. So schedule a time to come meet with us and begin your journey towards health and healing. Contact us for more information.
About Us
Beth Leonard, LMFT, Founder
I take seriously the privilege of journeying with clients through the process of healing. My desire is to create a safe place to heal and grow in an environment where you feel honored and respected, have space to process life issues and relationships, and to determine and work toward your goals. I specialize in treating trauma and working with those who feel voiceless and struggle with codependency. I love helping individuals find greater meaning and purpose in life, and couples at all stages (dating, pre-engagement, engagement, marriage, divorce and remarriage) develop greater intimacy in all aspects of their relationships. My life motto is: “Don’t waste your pain.” In life, pain is inevitable. The many ways we try to push it away, anesthetize it, or avoid it can further wound us and cause damage to us and our relationships. But when we allow it, pain can be a powerful tool in the Father’s hand for change and growth. Specific sex therapy issues I address include trauma, sexual /physical abuse, desire disorders, mismatched desire in couples, female sexual pain and recovery from the impact of sexual addiction/betrayal. I am a member of the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapists (AAMFT), the American Board of Christian Sex Therapists (ABCST), and The Southeast Brainspotting Institute. I’m in training to become an AAMFT approved supervisor. I am certified in Brainspotting and trained in, EMDR, Sand Tray, and Trauma-Focused Art Therapy. I am also certified in PREPARE/ENRICH for premarital couples. I work with adults ages 18+. To learn more about Brainspotting, click HERE to watch an informational video or click HERE to watch a demonstration. I can be reached at 678-353-6778 or beth@waystonelmft.com.
Karis Rodila, LPC, LMFT
I desire to create a space where you can feel safe and where your story can be heard and honored. I understand the privilege of traveling with you on your healing journey and offer the skills to guide you well. I specialize in treating sexual issues and love helping couples at all stages (dating, pre-engagement, engagement, marriage, divorce, and remarriage) develop greater intimacy in all aspects of their relationships. I believe in assisting engaged couples in creating a strong foundation from which they can launch their marriage. I desire to assist couples in distress to heal and grow in intimacy together. I also enjoy working with families and individuals, helping them find greater meaning and purpose in their lives. I have a heart to assist those who feel voiceless and struggle with codependency. I am trauma-informed and I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), an evidence-based treatment for the healing of trauma. I graduated from Richmont Graduate University in May of 2020 with a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and a certification in Christian Sex Therapy. I am a member of the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapists (AAMFT). I work with adolescents and adults age 16+ and I see clients in person and virtually. You can contact me at 678-644-0407 or karis@waystonelmft.com.
Louise Finley, LPC
As a clinician I am frequently shifting between different therapeutic worlds across the day–helping with career exploration in one session, switching to talk about nervous system arousal and how you slept after your last neurofeedback session in the next, then landing in processing relationship struggles. As a client you can expect an individualized approach that will pull from cognitive behavioral work, Gottman’s relational theories, the Knowdell Career Transition Model, and more–but also a flexible clinician who can adapt to your needs as they change!
Prior to obtaining my counseling degree I worked for several years in the corporate world as a Human Resources Professional and developed a heart for helping individuals manage the many challenges of work and life. I enjoyed many things about that work, but wanted even greater freedom to assist individuals with finding healing and help in their daily lives, which ultimately led to my entering the counseling field.
My therapy career has included both private practice and outpatient (partial hospitalization and individualized outpatient) settings. Across these settings I have worked with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationships, ADHD, life transitions, career exploration/career transition, and more. To learn more about my therapy or neurofeedback offerings and what may be a good fit for you, please reach out to schedule your complimentary consultation!
I am available to see clients on Monday and Wednesday I can be reached at 678-679-6368 or Louise@waystonelmft.com.
Jessica Chong, MA
I am passionate about intergenerational healing in families. I am committed to creating a safe environment for my clients to explore and discover what shapes their story and identity. As a second-generation Asian American woman, I understand the importance of cultural factors that uniquely shape who we are today. I desire to join my clients, both big and little, to see themselves with honesty and compassion to live more fully and empowered.
I support my clients to overcome struggles with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, self-esteem and self-exploration, attention and learning difficulties, relationship issues, and intergenerational trauma. I draw from a person-centered and attachment-based approach. I highly value the collaborative aspect of the therapeutic relationship to best support my clients, and I often incorporate aspects of CBT, mindfulness, narrative therapy, art therapy, and play therapy.
Before entering the mental health field, I taught middle school science in the Atlanta Public School system. This confirmed my heart for working with kids/teens and their families which continues to be a focal point in my current work.
I am available to see clients on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and I can be reached at 678-672-6562 or jessica@waystonelmft.com.
Appointments
Existing clients can log on to SimplePractice using the following link to schedule or change appointments: https://waystone.clientsecure.me. If you need help navigating SimplePractice, you can view this instructional video: https://vimeo.com/664045347.
New clients can contact Waystone at 678-466-9678 for a free consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!
Therapies We Offer
Our Team takes seriously the privilege of journeying with clients through the process of healing. See the types of services we offer below:
Individual
Some of the specific issues we focus on are codependency, anxiety, depression, trauma and entrenched thoughts and behaviors, which leave clients feeling stuck in undesirable patterns.
Our vision is to help people move from surviving to thriving, believing that even though we all struggle, there is greater freedom to be experienced with healing. Each team member focuses on different issues, so please take a look at the Team Bio’s.
Pre-marital
We have a passion for helping couples create a healthy foundation from which to launch their marriages. Our pre-marital package consists of 6 sessions covering topics such as communication, conflict resolution, common stressors that couples face (in-laws, finances, etc.), sexual connecting, boundaries, and spirituality. We also offer a free follow-up session, which is typically held 3-6 months after the wedding.
We use Prepare-Enrich testing, which offers personalized test results, providing insights that will put you on a path toward life-long relationship growth.
Marriage/Couples
We focus on the relational system in marriages and relationships in order to identify patterns and provide tools to help couples get to a healthier place. According to research, 69% of marital conflict is not resolvable because it’s related to gender, family of origin, and personality differences (Gottman). The goal becomes helping couples navigate their differences in healthy ways while honoring one another so that each feels heard and understood. We focus on helping each of you accept responsibility for your contributions to the relational dance and teach tools that will shift you towards healthier dynamics and maximize effective communication.
Sex Therapy
Healthy sexual connecting is a protective factor in marriage. We focus on casting a redeemed vision for sex that honors God’s intent for intimacy in the relationship, both relationally and sexually. We offer a shame-free environment to speak openly about issues that commonly cause tensions in relationships. We cover a variety of issues, including: differences in desire; the different ways men and women view and respond to sex; sexual pain; sexual dysfunction; enhancing optimal functioning; and recovering from the impact of trauma, sexual addiction and affairs. We are available to work with both couples and individuals experiencing any of the above issues.
Trauma We have a heart for people with a history of trauma and understand how frightening and overwhelming it can be to begin working on those issues. We work hard to create a safe and healing environment, and to go at a pace that honors the individual. We are available to help with childhood and adult sexual abuse, PTSD, single-incident traumas, childhood neglect and abuse, and more.
Because talk therapy cannot deeply heal trauma memory, we take a neurobiological approach to trauma treatment, using techniques such as Brainspotting (Beth), EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (Karis), Somatic (or body-based) approaches and Neurofeedback (Louise). The goal is to break the power of distressing memories and entrenched thinking which keeps people stuck in undesirable patterns of behavior and keeps them re-experiencing painful memories and sensations.
Brainspotting, EMDR and Neurofeedback are evidence-based treatments shown to effectively alleviate the emotional impact of trauma and distressing memories.
Groups
Groups are gaining more and more in popularity for many reasons. First, they are an effective and a much more cost-friendly approach to therapy. Second, they act as a powerful change agent in the members’ lives because of the power of community and the felt sense of not being alone in the struggle. Seeing life change in fellow members can empower participants to courageously move forward in their own journeys. We currently offer a women’s “Overcoming Codependency” group in the Spring and Fall, designed for women who struggle to have a voice and who can feel resentful, overly responsible and overwhelmed in relationships. This structured group meets twice a month for 8 meetings and covers topics such as gaining insight into unhealthy patterns, boundaries, self-care, and identifying and overcoming negative thought patterns.
Beth offers a group for female survivors of childhood trauma. The group meets twice a month. This group is currently full, however if you would like to be placed on a waiting list, please contact Beth: beth@waystonelmft.com.
Children
Family Therapy
Contact Us
Address: 515 E. Crossville Rd., Suite 340, Roswell, GA 30075
Phone: 678-466-9678
Waystone Therapy 