Our team

Buddy has a heart for the family unit and all the relationships within it. It's true for every family that these relationships become strained from time to time, and it is Buddy's desire to help minimize the strain on these familial relationships. Buddy has a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. He received his Master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Liberty University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Buddy is also a Certified Master Addiction Counselor and Certified Adolescent Addiction Counselor. 

Buddy is able to meet with clients in person at our Toccoa office, at Living Hope Church of Athens or via Telehealth.

Buddy has many years of experience working with families, married couples, and blended families who are experiencing crisis. Prior to his current role, he was a youth pastor, foster parent, adoptive parent, small group leader, a case manager with DFACS, and an addiction counselor. His life experience and ability to relate to others, education, professional experience, and love for God has made him uniquely qualified to help others through many types of life struggles.

Buddy is married to Alicia and has 10 children he calls his own. Of these 10, he has 5 biological daughters, 1 foster daughter, 2 adopted sons, and 2 step-sons. He often jokes that he couldn’t have his own sons so he stole someone else’s to love as a father would. Buddy strongly believes that he doesn’t simply provide his clients with a healthier life, but instead comes alongside them to walk them toward a healthier and more fulfilling life.

Angela is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia.  She earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Piedmont College. She is a Christian individual and offers a Biblical worldview in her work with clients. She uses strengths-based and collaborative approaches and is also integrative in selecting therapeutic techniques from various approaches according to the unique needs of each client.

 Angela has a heart for applying what she has learned and how she has grown in her own personal life, marriage, and family as well as her ministry experience and education to support individuals, couples, and families as they grow through their challenges and work to achieve goals. She is passionate about working with couples to help them experience connected, fulfilling, and God-honoring marriages. Angela strives to empower individuals to discover and use their strengths, develop healthy coping strategies, and improve their relationships. 

Some areas of focus in her counseling include relationship growth, improving communication, conflict and stress management, identity development, general anxiety, social anxiety, depression, problems resulting from trauma, self-esteem issues, loss and grief, and substance use.

Angela has been married to her high school sweetheart for 28 years and has two adult children. She enjoys being outside, walking, hiking, going to the beach, being involved in church ministry, and watching the Georgia Bulldogs play.

Lindsey is a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor and practices under the clinical supervision of Patricia Smith, LPC, CPCS, Lic. 1271 and the director of The Counselors Nest, Ernest R. Prow III, LPC.  She has a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Brenau University. 

Lindsey knew at a young age that she wanted to help people and tried many routes to do so. Throughout undergraduate, Lindsey changed majors several times trying to find her passion. After graduating, she worked in a microbiology lab for two years but soon realized lab work was not it for her. Soon after realizing this, Lindsey followed a message from God and went back to school to become a counselor. 

Becoming a counselor turned out to be what Lindsey was looking for to help others. Through counseling, Lindsey is passionate about helping her clients become the best version of themselves by utilizing several different modalities and interventions within her counseling approaches. Lindsey strives to find what works for each of her clients and to help them every step of the way.

Outside of being a counselor, Lindsey has a tuxedo cat who she loves dearly. Lindsey also enjoys painting, being outside and finding new hiking trails, and spending time with her friends and church family. 

Michaela was born and raised in New Jersey and moved to Pennsylvania to complete her Master of Science in Counseling degree from a Christian University. Clarks Summit University gave her the opportunity to get her degree through a biblical lens.  Completing her field experience in Scranton, Michaela found herself enjoying her field working and exploring different counseling career options for over 5 years.

Michaela worked with people of all ages in private practice but mostly spent her time helping out with adolescence at her church, working as a therapist at an alternative school, and working within the home of broken families. She soon found her passion for adolescence and families. 

Now finding herself in Georgia, she wants to establish herself here to see how God will use her. She is humbled by His plan for her life and is amazed by the opportunities she has been given to pour into people’s lives. 

When Michaela has free time, she loves to spend time with her brother and sister who she has helped raise, being creative in the kitchen, exploring locally and seeing new things, staying active, and traveling whenever she gets the chance! 

Andrea is a Christian, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She graduated from Emmanuel University with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology in 2012, and her Master of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Lee University in 2014. She has worked for over five years with a child advocacy and sexual assault center with clients who experienced all kinds of trauma.

Andrea specializes in working with children, families, and couples who have experienced trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and grief. The primary therapy modalities she uses are: Play Therapy, TF-CBT, CBT, SFT, EFT, and other interventions and techniques from a Family Systems approach. 

Additionally, Andrea taught as an adjunct psychology professor at Emmanuel University for 6 years; now she is teaching full-time at Emmanuel as an assistant professor. She enjoys connecting with the students and teaching the foundations of the field of psychology and therapy. Lastly, Andrea has a passion for offering a Biblical worldview to her students and clients.

Sara Henriques is an intuitive and down to earth Counselor. She has 9 years of experience in direct care at a therapeutic teen program along with 8 years of experience with addiction care and maintenance. Sara holds a Bachelors Degree in Counseling and Psychology from Toccoa Falls College. She is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Sara is navigating her best counseling approach while preferring Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Family Systems Therapy.

Caleb, a dedicated member of our team, holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Otterbein University and is advancing his expertise through a master's program in Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University. His journey as a worship leader and his experiences in adult recovery and youth treatment deeply resonate with our mission at The Counselors Nest. Embracing his calling at 27, Caleb devoted his life to Christ and to supporting those in pain or facing challenges. His commitment is to empower individuals to realize their potential, fostering healthy relationships and positive aspirations. Together with his wife Hilary and daughter Willow, Caleb treasures family moments, reflecting the warm, community-focused values we cherish here at The Counselors Nest.

Daniel seamlessly integrates his academic background in Psychology from Middle Georgia University with his ongoing studies in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Walden University. His dedication to supporting adolescents is evident through his commitment to enhancing teen resilience and self-worth. Beyond the counseling room, Daniel's personal interests in art, camping, hiking, and fishing reflect his values of personal growth and exploration. With a blend of humor, practical wisdom, and a collaborative spirit, Daniel is deeply invested in building trust and a sense of safety among the youths he mentors, making him a valuable addition to our team at The Counselors Nest.

I am a graduate of Liberty University and one of the highlights of my career is meeting with interns and new clinicians to provide an arena of support and encouragement as they develop their own specific counseling skill set.

During our meetings we will discuss case studies, processing together the various ways of working with clients to encourage growth. We will address areas of concerns, ethics, licensing rules, self care, avoiding burnout, treatment planning, progress note protocols and any other identified need at the moment. 

One of my joys is watching new counselors grow in their confidence, insights, and strengths.  I learn from each person I have the privilege of meeting with, each one has unrealized potential and I look forward to drawing that out.  

I offer individual as well as group supervision with times available on Mondays or Thursdays.

I am part of a private practice group in Oakwood GA with emphasis on trauma, addiction recovery, couples therapy, depression and anxiety. 

I am married, have 4 children and 4 grandsons.  I love to spend time with my family, hike with my dogs, go to the beach, read and travel for foreign mission work in Uganda.   

Robin is a Pastoral Counselor/Life Coach and holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling (MABC), as well as a Certificate as an Anger Management Specialist II. She graduated from Luther Rice Seminary in 2015 and has been practicing since 2021. Robin works with Children from ages 7 on up, individuals, couples and seniors. She also specializes in Low-self-esteem, Low- Self-worth, Anxiety/Panic, depression and identity.