Community Highlights: Meet Stephanie Landrum of Mind in Bloom Counseling

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Landrum.

Hi Stephanie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I earned my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Georgia, where I immersed myself in two different research labs. One focused on infant development, and the other studied romantic relationships, stress, and emotions. Even then, I was drawn to understanding how people connect, cope, and grow — especially during vulnerable seasons of life. After exploring different areas of psychology and spending time talking with graduate students about their paths, I realized I didn’t just want to study people — I wanted to sit with them, support them, and help them move through hard things. That’s when I knew counseling was the direction for me.

I loved being a student at UGA, but was ready for something smaller and more quiet, so I went on to earn my Master’s of Education in Professional Counseling from the University of West Georgia. During graduate school, I had the opportunity to work in both a community mental health setting and at Willowbrooke at Tanner Inpatient Hospital in Villa Rica. Those experiences shaped me deeply. I worked with a wide range of mental health conditions and saw firsthand how important compassionate, skilled support is — especially during moments of crisis.

After graduation, I began work in community counseling before transitioning into private practice. Early in my career, I focused heavily on working with children and adolescents. I pursued extensive training in play therapy, exposure and response prevention (ERP), mindfulness, and perinatal mental health. That training laid the groundwork for the specialized anxiety and OCD work I do today.

One of the most defining moments in my professional journey came through my personal life. After experiencing an extremely difficult and traumatic pregnancy as well as a long NICU stay with my twins, I felt firsthand the emotional toll that pregnancy, postpartum challenges, and lack of adequate support can have on parents. That season changed me — both as a mother and as a clinician. I became deeply committed to supporting women and families navigating pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood. I pursued additional education in perinatal mental health and began focusing more intentionally on helping mothers who felt overwhelmed, anxious, isolated, or unsupported.

In 2023, after almost a decade in private practice, I opened Mind in Bloom Counseling. I wanted to create a practice where I could fully integrate a holistic, individualized approach — blending a combination of my expertise of specific evidence-based therapies, collaboration and consultation with patients’ healthcare providers, and the time and space for genuine human connection. Studies have shown that the quality of the relationship between therapist and client is the biggest predictor of positive change and growth. We also know that since mental health is so closely connected with physical health, it is important to work together with each patient’s team of healthcare providers.

Beyond my clinical work with individual clients, I’m honored to serve as the mental health advisor for the NICU Parent Club, a local organization supporting families who have experienced a NICU stay. I also became an advisor and provider for the Head Start/CAFI program in Coweta County, where I help assess and connect pregnant and postpartum mothers to mental health resources in their community. I run a monthly consultation group for therapists in the South Metro Atlanta area and provide webinars and corporate wellness seminars for local businesses who want to better support the mental health of their teams.

I’ve built a practice rooted in both expertise and empathy. My work is informed by research, extensive training, and years of experience — but it’s also deeply shaped by lived experience, community involvement, and a belief that growth is possible even in life’s most overwhelming seasons.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest challenges in opening my private practice was learning how to sustainably balance motherhood and a demanding clinical career. Becoming a psychotherapist requires years of education, financial investment, and ongoing professional development — and the work itself is emotionally intensive.

When I became a parent, I realized that the traditional structures within the field didn’t always support long-term sustainability. Rather than allow one role to suffer, I made the intentional decision to design a practice model that aligned with both my professional standards and my family life.

Opening my own practice gave me the autonomy to build a schedule, culture, and workload that support high-quality care without burnout. That shift not only strengthened my personal balance, but also improved the way I show up for my clients and my community.

We’ve been impressed with Mind in Bloom Counseling, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Mind in Bloom Counseling, I help adults who are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stuck, or just not feeling like themselves. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, OCD, panic, burnout, perfectionism, or navigating pregnancy and postpartum changes, I provide therapy that is compassionate, practical, and tailored specifically to each client.

I specialize in anxiety disorders and OCD, and I have advanced training in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT). These are gold-standard approaches for treating OCD and anxiety — and I’m passionate about helping clients finally feel relief from intrusive thoughts, constant worry, and cycles that feel impossible to break. I also work extensively with perfectionism and self-esteem concerns, especially with high-achieving professionals who look like they have it all together on the outside but feel pressure, self-doubt, or burnout on the inside.

Many of my clients are driven, capable, and successful — yet privately struggle with overthinking, imposter syndrome, fear of failure, or never feeling “good enough.” Together, we work on quieting that inner critic, building self-trust, and creating a healthier, more sustainable version of success. I integrate CBT, IFS, DBT skills, psychodynamic aspects, and mindfulness-based strategies depending on what fits the client best. Therapy with me isn’t one-size-fits-all — it’s collaborative and personalized. I believe that each therapist hones in on a specialty that really makes them an expert at what they do and that is so important. I’ve had clients that have struggled for years before coming to see me, and that is because they needed something more than generic, cookie-cutter therapy. I complete a thorough initial assessment with each client so I can make sure we develop a treatment plan that best fits their needs and if not, I always connect them with a specialist who can help get them feeling better.

What really sets my practice apart is what my clients get from me. Not only can I provide the most current evidence-based treatment for an array of concerns, but I provide a holistic approach – in that we are touching on the importance of a whole body approach. I make sure I am connected (with the client’s permission) to the client’s healthcare team to communicate if needed on health issues, medications, and advocacy to help my clients reach their goals. Evidence-based therapies can sometimes feel very structured or rigid, and I try to bring in other complementary modalities based on client personalities and individual needs. I’m a very proactive therapist and believe client feedback is of utmost importance.

I’m especially proud of the brand I’ve built at Mind in Bloom Counseling. It reflects growth, resilience, and the belief that even in hard seasons, change is possible. My goal is to make therapy feel approachable and grounded — not intimidating. I want clients to feel like they’re walking into a space where they can exhale. I bring over 12 years of experience, but more importantly, I bring warmth, curiosity, and a nonjudgmental space where clients can be honest about what they’re going through.

In addition to individual therapy, I also provide speaking engagements and consultation for other professionals, particularly around anxiety and OCD treatment. Supporting both clients and fellow clinicians is something I deeply value.

At the heart of it all, I want people to know this: you don’t have to manage life alone. Life is hard. Whether you have debilitating OCD, need a little extra support during a tough season, or want to focus on personal and professional growth; we can do that. Healing and growing doesn’t require perfection — just the willingness to show up and a safe place to do it.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
If you’d like to reach out for individual therapy, consultation (for therapists or businesses), corporate wellness presentations, or networking, you can fill out a contact form on my website – www.mindinbloomcounseling.com – or call my business phone at 770-741-2184. We can schedule a time to have an initial consultation call to discuss your needs and ask questions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mindinbloomcounseling.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindinbloomcounseling
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091816107274
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-l-51495034