Counseling for Individuals and Couples in Alpharetta, GA
A warm supportive space for therapy – helping individuals and couples heal, grow, and connect
Dorit Atar, MS, LMFT
Hello, I’m Dorit.
I believe that meaningful change begins when we feel truly seen, heard, and understood. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I feel incredibly fortunate to do work that allows me to connect with people on such a personal level and be part of their journey toward healing, growth, and a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationships.
I approach therapy with warmth, compassion, curiosity, and honesty. I want you to feel comfortable being yourself, sharing your story, and exploring even the parts of your life that may be difficult to talk about. I also believe that therapy is about more than simply having someone listen. It’s about gaining insight, recognizing patterns, challenging the beliefs that may be holding you back, and discovering new ways of moving through life.
My philosophy is that you are not broken and don’t need to be fixed. We all have experiences that shape how we see ourselves, how we connect with others, and how we navigate the world. Sometimes, we simply need the right support to make sense of those experiences and reconnect with the strengths we already have within us. I tailor my approach to each individual and couple, drawing from a variety of therapeutic approaches, including Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), The Gottman Method, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Adlerian Psychotherapy, Mindfulness, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Discernment Counseling.
Whether you’re navigating a difficult season, struggling in a relationship, healing from painful experiences, or simply feeling ready for something to change, I want you to know that you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. My hope is that our work together provides a place where you feel accepted, supported, and sometimes gently challenged, so that you can move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and a stronger connection to yourself and the people you love.
As a mental health professional myself, I am very qualified to recognize the difference between an average clinician and a truly exceptional one. Dorit is truly exceptional. Dorit has helped me through some of the most difficult periods in my life and has been instrumental in helping me manage anxiety and improve my relationships. Her insight, warmth, and ability to get to the root of issues are remarkable. She has been a grounding, trusted presence when I needed it most, offering both encouragement and practical guidance that has led to real change. Therapy with Dorit has been life changing for me, and I cannot recommend her highly enough! Jen
Dorit, was my therapist during a rough patch in my life, and I lost my Mother. She is a genuine soul, who you immediate connect with. I need to make 2025 a year of mental peace. I will be seeing her again. Rachel
Dorit is a straight forward & kind therapist. She helps you understand by her questions to you, and the words she uses. She listens with a ear to fully understand & help you heal(if you are ready). I like her approach & I’m healing & better than I was! Lakeisha
Dorit is one of the most loving and incredible people on this planet. She has helped my wife and I immensely through several challenges and I don’t know where we would be without her. Five stars truly doesn’t do her justice and I would strongly recommend her for anyone and everyone. Joey
Dorit helped my 23 year old daughter and I create new boundaries for a healthy parent-adult child relationship. She was able to ask the right questions and gently call each of us out on doing the wrong things while reinforcing and praising the right things. All along she was pro-relationship and taught us to fight as a team for each other instead of against each other. She is a great listener, compassionate and is not afraid to speak up when necessary. She is also very in tune to body language and helped us understand each other in many new ways. I believe her sessions will benefit our relationship for many years to come. Thank you , Dorit! Julie
Dorit is amazing. My son (18yo) has been seeing her for the last couple of years and she has made such a difference in his life. He has severe anxiety and depression to the point we had to take him out of regular High School. Dorit has helped him learn the coping tools he needs to be able to function and grow in his daily life. She know just what he needs and is not shy about calling him out when he needs it, encouraging him, giving him support and compassion when he is feeling like he will shatter, and helping him through the anxiety of learning how to do “Adulting”. Recently I gave him the name and number of a new doctor and told him to call them and set an appointment that works on his schedule. She helped him make the call and get through the anxiety of the questions and steps needed to get set up with a new doctor. Her support reminds him he can do the big and little things in life for himself just fine. I am so thankful to have Dorit as part of the village that loves and supports my son on his way to becoming a self aware and self confident man. Brigitte
Excellent, caring family counselor. In a time of crisis, we relied heavily on Dorit. She made herself readily accessible and got us through it. Her knowledge and understanding of relationships allowed us to begin and accomplish the healing process. Sarah
Words that describe Dorit are: warm, compassionate, caring, accepting, nonjudgmental, supportive, nurturing. I could go on. I have been in therapy off and on for over forty years. I have never had a more therapeutic relationship with a therapist. I have made great progress while working with Dorit because of Dorit’s personality and skill. She is gentle but can challenge at the right time. She knows when to speak and when to listen. Her environment is so safe and loving. She is a blessing. Lynn
Getting counseling from Dorit was one of the most important decisions of my life. She helped get me out of a dangerous situation and into a healthy and happy life. Dorit truly cares about her patients and works hard to make sure they get what they need. I am so lucky to have found her. She is by far the best therapist I’ve ever seen. Lauren
Dorit is a wonderful therapist, I never felt so comfortable and able to open up . Her warmth and skills allowed me to access issues that have bothered me for years. I would recommend her to anyone who wants to get well. Susan
Empowering Your Journey to Mental Health
Explore our comprehensive counseling services, committed to professional care and your personal growth. Sessions are offered at the comfort of our office in Alpharetta, or virtually by video or phone wherever you are.
Individual Counseling: Finding Your Way Back to Yourself
Sometimes, life can feel overwhelming, leaving you anxious, stuck, or unsure of how to move forward. You may find yourself overthinking, struggling with self-doubt, putting everyone else’s needs before your own, or feeling caught in patterns that keep you from experiencing the peace and fulfillment you deserve. Perhaps you appear to have everything together on the outside, while internally you are struggling to make sense of your emotions or find your footing.
You deserve to feel at peace with yourself, trust your decisions, and create a life that feels authentic to who you are.
In individual counseling, I provide a supportive, nonjudgmental space where you can explore your experiences, gain a deeper understanding of yourself, and begin to make meaningful changes.
Together, we work to identify patterns that may be holding you back, develop healthier ways of managing anxiety and stress, strengthen self-esteem, and establish boundaries that honor your needs.
My goal is to help you move beyond simply getting through each day toward feeling more confident, emotionally grounded, and connected to yourself. You don’t have to navigate life’s challenges alone; therapy can help you find clarity, rediscover your strengths, and create lasting change.
Couples Counseling: Rebuilding Connection and Understanding
Couples Counseling: Rebuilding Connection and Understanding
Even couples who deeply love each other can find themselves caught in painful patterns of conflict, misunderstanding, or emotional distance. Conversations that begin with good intentions may turn into arguments, leaving one or both partners feeling unheard, misunderstood, or alone.
Over time, unresolved hurts and unmet needs can create distance, making it difficult to remember the closeness and connection that brought you together in the first place.
You can love each other and still need help finding your way back to one another. In couples counseling, I help partners better understand each other’s perspectives, communicate more effectively, and recognize the patterns that may be creating disconnection.
Together, we work to navigate conflict more constructively, rebuild trust, express needs without blame, and strengthen emotional intimacy.
Whether you are struggling with recurring disagreements, feeling disconnected, navigating a major life transition, or hoping to strengthen an already meaningful relationship, therapy offers an opportunity to slow down, listen differently, and begin creating new ways of relating to one another.
My goal is to help you move beyond the cycle of conflict and toward a relationship built on greater understanding, emotional safety, respect, and connection.
Discernment Counseling: Finding Clarity in Uncertainty
When a relationship reaches a crossroads, knowing whether to stay and work toward healing or move toward separation can feel overwhelming. You may find yourselves caught between hope and doubt, wanting things to change but feeling uncertain about whether the relationship can be repaired.
Perhaps one of you is ready to consider ending the marriage, while the other is still holding on to the hope of rebuilding what has been lost. The uncertainty can leave both partners feeling emotionally exhausted, disconnected, and unsure of what comes next.
You don’t have to have all the answers today. Sometimes, the first step is finding clarity about what comes next. Discernment counseling offers a supportive, structured space for couples to slow down, explore their individual experiences, and gain a deeper understanding of the patterns and circumstances that have brought them to this point.
Rather than immediately focusing on fixing the relationship, we work to understand each partner’s perspective, acknowledge the pain and concerns that exist, and explore the possibilities ahead. The goal is to help you move away from confusion and indecision toward greater clarity and confidence in your next steps.
Whether you ultimately choose to work toward rebuilding your relationship, maintain the status quo while reflecting further, or move toward separation, discernment counseling can help you approach that decision with greater understanding, intention, and care.
Healing from Narcissistic Abuse: Reclaiming Yourself
Being in a relationship marked by narcissistic traits, manipulation, or emotional abuse can leave you questioning your reality, doubting your worth, and feeling disconnected from the person you once were.
You may have spent years walking on eggshells, trying to keep the peace, taking responsibility for someone else’s behavior, or wondering whether you were the problem.
Even after the relationship ends, the emotional impact can linger, affecting your confidence, boundaries, relationships, and sense of self.
You deserve to feel safe, trust yourself, and rediscover who you are beyond the relationship.
Through compassionate, individualized therapy, I help clients process the effects of emotional abuse, understand unhealthy relationship patterns, rebuild self-esteem, establish healthy boundaries, and reconnect with their own voice and intuition.
Together, we work toward releasing self-blame, reducing anxiety, restoring emotional balance, and developing the confidence to create healthier relationships.
Healing is not about who you were before the relationship; it is about reclaiming your power, recognizing your worth, and building a life in which you feel grounded, confident, and free to be yourself.
Insurances Accepted: Anthem BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, Curative, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Oscar
Self Pay rate: $180
Discernment Counseling (1.5 hr): $250
