Alex Hopkins,
MA, LPC, RPT
Licensed Professional Counselor & Registered Play Therapist
Atlanta Location
WHO I WORK WITH:
AGES 6-22
AREAS OF SPECIALITY:
- Acute and Complex Trauma
- Attachment and Development Trauma
- Grief & Loss
- ADHD and Autism
- Anxiety
- Emotional Regulation
- Depression
- Sexual Health and Identity Development
Hey there! I'm Alex.
I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist who’s endlessly fascinated by the brain—and by the ways relationships shape who we are and how we heal. I’m passionate about helping kids, tweens, teens, and families navigate the big feelings, anxious thoughts, and complex stories that come with growing up in today’s world.
If we’ve met, you’ll quickly notice I love using creativity, curiosity, and play to connect. I believe therapy works best when it feels safe, relational, and even a little fun. My approach is rooted in relational neuroscience and attachment theory, which simply means I pay close attention to what helps the nervous system feel safe and connected. When we understand the “why” behind behavior, we can respond with compassion instead of correction—and that’s where real change begins.
In sessions, I use a blend of child-centered play therapy, person-centered therapy, and more structured approaches like EMDR, Theraplay, IFS, and CBT/DBT-informed strategies to help clients move toward safety, connection, and wholeness. I specialize in trauma, attachment, anxiety, and neurodivergence (including ADHD and autism), and I’m continually adapting my work to honor the unique ways every brain learns, feels, and communicates.
Outside the therapy room, I’m a new dad (which is both humbling and the best adventure yet!). I’m also a lifelong golfer, DIY project enthusiast, and proud Vermonter—so yes, only real maple syrup, white cheddar, and Ben & Jerry’s for me. I’m a Chicago Cubs and Bears fan, pasta is my love language, and while Atlanta is home, you’ll find me up in New England every summer soaking up that crisp air.
If you’re a caregiver or young person navigating big emotions, anxiety, or disconnection, you’re in the right place. Together, we’ll work toward understanding, healing, and rediscovering the sense of safety that allows growth to flourish.
Education & Trainings
- Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (2016)
- Registered Play Therapist Credential (RPT)
- EMDR Basic Training
- Advanced EMDR Training (Integration of Play Therapy and EMDR)
- Theraplay Level 1 Training
Modalities & Interventions Used
- Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)
- Person-Centered Therapy (PCT)
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- EMDR
- Theraplay
What Does a Session Look Like With Me?
When you come into my office, you’ll probably notice right away that it doesn’t feel like a “typical therapy” space. It’s warm, comfortable, and full of things that make connection a little easier—snacks, games, art supplies, and a mini basketball hoop that’s seen its fair share of epic free-throw battles. We might start by grabbing something from the kitchen (I’m a firm believer in snack breaks—beginning, middle, and end), then ease into talking or playing together, depending on what feels most natural that day.
Some sessions look like conversations over a game of ping pong or cards. Others involve creating in the sand tray, painting, or building something to help express feelings that don’t always have words. For kids and teens, play and creativity are often the pathways to connection—and connection is the foundation for healing.
I don’t expect anyone to sit still on a couch and talk for an hour. Instead, sessions are interactive, flexible, and shaped around what helps each person feel comfortable and understood. Whether we’re laughing over a missed ping pong shot, unpacking something hard that happened at school, or exploring a story in the sand, my goal is always the same: to create a space that feels safe, supportive, and real—a place where growth can happen without pressure, and where being fully yourself is more than enough.
Favorite Modalities & Therapeutic Interventions
I take an integrative approach, drawing from several therapeutic modalities to support each client’s healing process. At the core of my work is relational neuroscience and attachment theory—an understanding that our brains and nervous systems are shaped by relationships. The quality of connection, or the absence of it, influences how we regulate, feel safe, behave, and grow.
Within this framework, I often use child-centered play therapy (with children and tweens) and person-centered therapy (with tweens and teens) to build connection and trust. These “non-directive” or “client-led” approaches allow the child to take the lead. I trust that when a safe, attuned relationship and supportive environment are in place, a child’s natural capacity for growth and healing will begin to unfold.
I also integrate more directive modalities—including EMDR, Theraplay, IFS, and CBT/DBT-informed strategies—to help focus and deepen the healing process. These methods provide structure for processing difficult experiences, building new patterns of thinking and feeling, and strengthening connection both within the self and in relationships. I tailor each approach to fit the client’s developmental stage and nervous system, always keeping the relational foundation at the center.
As part of this work, I am constantly reflecting on how each intervention fits the individual in front of me. I pay close attention to differences in learning, processing, and communication, ensuring that the strategies I use honor each client’s unique neurobiology. This includes thoughtfully adapting approaches for neurodivergent clients so therapy feels accessible, empowering, and truly aligned with how their brains work best.
Whether we’re reprocessing a memory, practicing regulation through play, exploring inner parts, or developing coping tools, the goal is the same: supporting each client’s movement toward safety, connection, and wholeness.
