Alex Prince, LPC

You could say this is my second career. I spent many years in the entertainment industry having graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. I worked in New York and Los Angeles so creativity runs deep inside of me. When I decided I wanted to go back to school and do something that had benefited me and taught me so much about myself and others, I did as I had always done, followed my passion. I have worked in many settings, just about all mental health issues from small to chronic and within every socioeconomic group. I do not believe anyone is a textbook and so often that is how clients feel about counseling. They feel as if all treatment is the same. That could not be further from the truth. You hear about cognitive behavioral therapy but that is a broad area. I go to the source of the problem, that core part of us that runs us without us even being conscious of it. That is why we cannot figure out why things never seem to really change or stick. I believe my empathy, sensitivity and creativity give me a connection with the person in front of me and my work with each person is based on that connection. I had not even thought of working with clients in the entertainment industry, but I suddently found that with Atlanta becoming such a big film hub, I was getting clients that saw a simple statement in my bio about having acted. From known performers to those making the movies move behind the scenes I saw the clients grow. I actually went back to an acting class for the creative energy and actually was shocked that I had access to any emotion almost effortlessly, and a keener sense that when I was actually acting professionally. I believe it is my use of counseling in the past that created that instinct and comfort with emotions. What others i, the class thought as so easy was easy because I did not carry the blocks once holding me back. I say this to make the point that it does not matter if someone is successful, known or unknown by many, we are all human and we all have things that can become more than we can handle or more than we can figure out on our owns. We hold ourselves back, fearing the feelings that we carry. not knowing how to handle them. One known performer told me he had never had a place since making it to a certain position in the industry where he felt he could be himself again. My job was easy. I just needed to remind him that he had not been lost but sat right there in front of me. The rest was circumstantial. It is a tough business but it is unique at its very core. I get that and mostly I get that we are all human and human beings go through storms or confusion at times. and we cannot always do it without someone who can be obective and unconditional with us. To heal we have to be able to trust the one we count on to help us get there. We were never created to walk alone and we can only fool ourselves that we can do so. Maybe it is time to let someone hold your hand through the confusion, and this year has certainly had its share of that. Alex                      NOTE: Due to COVID-19 all sessions are virtual telehealth through Zoom. At this time it is uncertain when office visits may resume as an option.