Effective Therapy Goes Beyond Simply Talking
At Authentic-Life Counseling we empower growth and change, supporting and guiding you every step of the way.
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"The seed of suffering in you may be strong, but don't wait until you have no more suffering before allowing yourself to be happy."
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Thich Nhat Hanh
Serving Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Buford, and Duluth, GA - In Person or Telehealth
Individual Therapy
Life can become overwhelming, and at times, our usual coping mechanisms are no longer effective.
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Recognizing the need for change is the first step toward improving your emotional and mental well-being.
Effective therapy might feel unsettling at times, but that is often where growth begins.
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If you're ready to embark on this transformative journey, I would be honored to accompany and support you every step of the way.
Anxiety Therapy
Anxiety can affect both your mind and body-causing symptoms like restlessness, difficulty sleeping, feeling on edge, and excessive worry.
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At Authentic-Life Counseling, we provide evidence-based anxiety therapy to help you reduce symptoms, regain control and experience a greater sense of calm,
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Therapy for anxiety can help you feel more in control and less overwhelmed.
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You can read more about our approach to anxiety on the Therapy page.
Depression Therapy
Depression can make even simple tasks feel overwhelming.
Whether you're struggling with low energy, hopelessness, or difficulty concentrating, therapy can help you reconnect with your motivation and sense of self.
At Authentic-Life Counseling, we use evidence-based approaches to support clients navigating depression with compassion and care.
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Learn more about our work with depression and mood concerns on the Therapy page
Marriage Counseling
Relationships can be hard to navigate.
We may love our partner deeply, yet still struggle to communicate, feel heard, or trust one another.
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Over time, relationships evolve — from the early emotional highs of new love to the painful lows that can come with distance, disappointment, or even separation. Each stage brings unique challenges.
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In our work together, I’ll help you and your partner build practical strategies to reconnect, deepen emotional intimacy, and improve communication and conflict resolution.
Communication
Healthy communication is at the heart of every strong relationship.
In marriage counseling, we help couples identify unhelpfu patterns, express needs more effectively and learn to listen.
You will gain tools to reduce misunderstandings and build respect and connection through honest and respectful dialogue.
Read more about how we support healthy communication in relationships.
Affair Recovery
Healing from an affair is possible, but it takes time, honesty, and support.
We provide a safe space for both partners to process emotions, rebuild trust, and understand what led to the breach.
Through guided conversations and structured therapy, couples can begin to repair their bond and redefine their relationship.
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You can learn more about our approach to affair recovery and trust rebuilding on the Marriage Counseling page.
Symptoms I Can Help You Manage
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Welcome to Authentic-Life Counseling! Offering individual therapy and marriage counseling in Suwanee, Duluth, Sugar Hill, and Buford.
I'm Diane Chrestman, LCSW, and from my office in Suwanee, Georgia I provide an approach to therapy that is "results-oriented."
For therapy to be effective, there needs to be a time and space for clients to "tell their story".
I provide a safe and non-judgmental environment where you can talk about your history as well as the incidents that make your world feel like it is crumbling.
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Once I have a good sense of why you have come to therapy, it is time to roll up your sleeves and begin the hard work of changing the ineffective responses and patterns that no longer serve you.
You have limited control over the problems that are causing you pain, but you have unlimited control over how you respond to those problems.
Creating new patterns is not easy. But until new emotional, cognitive, and behavioral patterns are identified and developed it is unlikely that you will cope or respond to your problems any differently.
You won't be leaving your appointment without "homework assignments".
The homework assignments are designed to help you live and love and adapt to the crazy roller coaster of life more effectively.
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The value I bring to your journey is in identifying tools that will help you realize the changes you want.
Change and growth are not necessarily easy, but with the right tools, the process is definitely easier.
A Buddhist Psychology Approach to Therapy
My approach to psychotherapy is quite different because I am one of the few therapists in Georgia that utilize a theoretical approach of Buddhist Psychology.
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One of the main differences between Buddhist Psychology and many "Western" therapeutic approaches is the lens through which "mental health disorders" are defined and treated.
In very general terms, Buddhist Psychology focuses on conducting a personal investigation to understand your suffering. Freedom from that suffering relies on personal autonomy, building strength, and more than a dab of courage and diligence.
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Consider an analogy of your sense organs. Your eyes, nose, ears, skin, and mouth provide sensory data about your environment. The sensory input from the eyes, which allows you to see colors, shapes, and objects is not better or worse than the sensory input of sound waves you receive from your ears. Both provide information about the environment. One is not better or worse than the other.
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In the same way, Buddhist Psychology is just a different experience of recognizing what is going on around us and within us. The therapeutic approaches of Buddhist Psychology provides very beneficial perspectives in regards to how we respond to those conditions.
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Buddhist Psychology is not a theoretical approach that requires the exclusion of any spiritual belief including Christianity. It does provide a path that helps us to be free from suffering through self-examination, awareness, and personal autonomy. I work, and am spirituall cross-pollinated by clients of many faiths, which is quite beautiful.
Therapy Is Offered Either Through Telehealth Or In Person Conveniently Serving Suwanee, Duluth, Sugar Hill, and Buford Ga
Our office is located at
4485 Tench Rd Suite 1220 A, Suwanee, GA 30024
and conveniently serves the local communities of Suwanee, Sugar Hill, and Lawrenceville, GA.
Meet Your Therapist
Diane Chrestman, LCSW
For over 10 years I have been providing therapy to clients in Georgia, and I feel grateful to be doing the life's work that I was intended to do.​
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l obtained a Master's Degree from Georgia State University and later obtained additional certifications in "alternative" treatment approaches such as Energy Psychology. I hold a professional License of Clinical Social Work from the state of Georgia.
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In 2019 I published Zenergy Mindfulness which examines perspectives of energy and Buddhist Psychology for mental health healing. I have also contributed to several online publications most often related to the topic of mindfulness and meditation and offer regular meditation instruction to the community.
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My greatest education, however, bar none, has been the education I received sitting on my meditation pillow.
