Meet Brooke Atkinson, LPC CPCS

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brooke Atkinson, LPC CPCS and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brooke, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Starting my own practice wasn’t something I set out to do from a purely entrepreneurial place. It really began as a response to a calling and to what I was repeatedly seeing in the counseling world. I noticed how many people were carrying deep trauma and attachment wounds, yet were struggling to find spaces that felt both clinically excellent and genuinely safe—places where they could be fully known, spiritually and emotionally, without having to compartmentalize parts of themselves.
At the same time, I was watching counselors burn out in systems that didn’t allow them to practice in alignment with their values or with the pace and depth that true healing often requires. I felt a growing conviction that there had to be a different way to do this work—one that honored the sacredness of the therapeutic relationship, integrated faith thoughtfully, and created a culture of care not only for clients, but for clinicians as well.
So the thought process behind starting my own business was less about building a company and more about stewarding a vision. It was about creating a community where restoration, attachment, and spiritual formation could be held together with excellence and integrity, and trusting that God would lead the growth and direction from there.

What should our readers know about your business?
ARC Counseling was born out of a desire to create something deeper than a typical therapy practice. What sets us apart is our commitment to clinically excellent, trauma-informed, attachment-focused care that honors the whole person—emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. We are a faith-based practice, but in a way that is thoughtful, respectful, and fully integrated with best clinical practices. My heart has always been to create a space that feels genuinely safe, grounded, and restorative for clients, and also life-giving and sustainable for clinicians.
What I am most proud of is the culture that has been built. Healing happens in relationship, and that starts with the environment. I am deeply grateful for the team God has brought together and for the way the practice has grown not just in size, but in depth, integrity, and mission. I’m also excited about the broader vision of what ARC is becoming—a community rooted in restoration, connection, and long-term transformation, not just symptom relief.
Getting to where we are today was not easy. Building a practice meant stepping into uncertainty, carrying responsibility for others, and learning how to hold both clinical leadership and business leadership at the same time. There were seasons of long hours, financial stretching, and the emotional weight of caring for both clients and a growing team. What sustained me was prayer, wise mentorship, and a constant return to the question, “What does faithfulness look like in this season?” rather than “How do I grow the fastest?”
The greatest lessons I’ve learned are that growth requires patience, that leadership is first about stewardship, and that alignment matters more than speed. For me, that alignment begins with listening for and trusting God’s direction, even when the path is unclear or slower than I might choose on my own. When values and vision are rooted in Him, decisions become clearer—even when they are hard. I’ve also learned that you don’t build something meaningful alone; what is truly lasting is built in community, with humility, collaboration, trust, and a shared dependence on God’s guidance rather than our own striving.
What I want the world to know about my brand and my story is that ARC was never about building a name—it was about answering a call. It is about creating a place where people can be authentically known, relationally held, and healed through connection. In fact, that’s why we called it ARC; it stands for authentic relational connections. We also want to be a place where clinicians can practice with excellence, integrity, and rest. Every part of the journey has been shaped by the belief that restoration is possible, relationships matter, and that when something is built with intention, faith, and love, it can become a refuge for many.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I were to tweak the question slightly and imagine that it was my sister coming to visit instead of a friend, I’d want to give her a true taste of both my life and the beauty of North Georgia.
I’d start by bringing her to ARC Counseling so she could see the space and the heart behind the work she’s supported for so long. From there, we’d head to Whole Being Café in Flowery Branch for coffee and something safe and nourishing to eat. With my food allergies, finding places that are both delicious and accommodating matters, and Whole Being does an amazing job offering gluten-free and dairy-free options in a really warm, welcoming environment.
Nature would be a big part of the week. I’d take her to Amicalola Falls to experience the power and beauty of the mountains, and we’d spend time at Jaemor Farms, walking the grounds, enjoying the season, and soaking in that peaceful, simple joy. We’d also go hiking at Sawnee Mountain in Cumming or visit the Elachee Nature Science Center in Gainesville—places that feel grounding, quiet, and restorative.
For meals, we’d likely keep things simple and relational. We eat at LongHorn fairly often because it’s one of the easier places for me to navigate with allergies, and the rest of the time we’d probably cook and eat at home. For me, some of the best conversations and memories happen around a kitchen table rather than in a restaurant, so a lot of the week would be spent talking, laughing, and just being together in the everyday rhythms of life.
I’d want to end the week with a gathering at my home, bringing together friends and family so she could experience the community that surrounds our lives. Sharing food, stories, and laughter in a space where everyone feels known and welcomed would be the perfect way to close out her visit. It would reflect what I believe at the core of both my personal life and my work—that life is about relationship, and that it’s in those moments of genuine connection that we experience the deepest joy and meaning.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, my faith anchors everything I do, and I believe God has been the true author and sustainer of every step of this journey. There have been countless moments where doors opened, guidance was given, and strength was provided in ways that were clearly beyond my own doing.
From a professional standpoint, I am deeply grateful for the mentors who shaped both my clinical skill and my heart for this work. Lori Holbrook, LPC, CPCS at Avita Community Partners was more than a supervisor—she became a true mentor and friend whose wisdom and encouragement continue to inspire me. My own clinical supervisor, Dawn Echols, LPC, CPCS, played a pivotal role in helping form my clinical foundation and professional identity. And my best friend and business partner, Lisa Brown, LPC, deserves special recognition. We consult, collaborate, and encourage one another daily, and her support, insight, and shared vision have been an immeasurable gift in both life and work.
My greatest personal supporter is my husband, Frank Atkinson IV. He is my constant encourager and cheerleader, faithfully holding our family and home together during the long hours and emotional weight that often come with trauma work. I truly could not ask for a better life partner. My children are also a profound source of joy and grounding, even if I choose to keep their names private.
My sister, Heather Reynolds, an attorney in California, deserves special recognition. In pivotal moments when I was standing at a crossroads—wondering whether to step out in faith or simply take another job—she was the one who encouraged me to trust the calling and take the risk to build something of my own. Her belief in me was not only emotional, but practical and sacrificial; at one point, she even gifted me a new computer so I could continue building the practice. Her support, generosity, and steady confidence in what God was doing in my life were instrumental in making this journey possible.
And finally, I would shout out my dear friend Jessica Wentz, a teacher whose perspective continually reminds me of the goodness and normalcy in the world. In a profession where I am entrusted with hearing the hardest parts of people’s stories, she helps me remember that those experiences are not the whole of life—and that hope, innocence, and beauty are still very real.

Website: https://www.arc-counseling.com