Inspiring Conversations with Allie Sheaffer of Magis Counseling Services

Today we’d like to introduce you to Allie Sheaffer.

Hi Allie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My path to becoming a therapist began with community based work. After graduating from college, I spent a year in Kansas City working for a nonprofit organization that provided wraparound support for families experiencing poverty. Alongside housing assistance and access to food and clothing, the organization offered meaningful mental health services. I was inspired by the work being done there and it led me to pursue a master’s degree in social work. I wanted to better understand mental health, not only through an individual lens, but within the broader context of families, communities, and systems.
After graduate school, I served for two years in the Peace Corps, where I continued combining community development with mental health resources. Those experiences reinforced my belief that healing happens when people feel seen, supported, and connected to their communities.
When I returned to the United States, I knew I wanted to build a career providing direct clinical care, particularly for individuals navigating trauma, anxiety, and the lasting effects of difficult life experiences. That passion eventually led me to open my own private practice here in Atlanta.
Today, owning my practice allows me to do the work I love most: creating a space where clients feel safe enough to be vulnerable, process their experiences, and build meaningful, lasting change. Looking back, every step of my journey, from community nonprofit work, to the Peace Corps, to private practice, has shaped the therapist I am today. While the settings have changed, my mission has remained the same: helping people heal and empowering them to live fuller, more connected lives.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It certainly hasn’t been a completely smooth road, but I wouldn’t change the journey. Over the years, I’ve lived and worked in many different places—from Philadelphia to Kansas City, Arkansas, Eastern Europe, New England, and now Atlanta. Each move meant starting over, learning a new community, and gaining a deeper understanding of the cultural, social, and economic factors that shape mental health.
Those experiences have continually taught me something new about the privilege and responsibility of working in a helping profession. Every community has its own strengths, challenges, and stressors, and I’ve had the opportunity to witness how people adapt, persevere, and find resilience under very different circumstances. I’ve learned the importance of meeting people where they are and understanding the context of their lives before helping them move forward.
Over the past decade, I’ve also had the privilege of walking alongside clients through moments that have shaped our collective experience—from periods of social and political uncertainty to a global pandemic and other major life disruptions. Those experiences have reinforced that mental health doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Our relationships, communities, and the world around us all influence how we cope, heal, and grow. That perspective continues to guide the work I do today.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Magis Counseling Services, I help adults navigate trauma, anxiety, OCD, depression, and life transitions with the goal of creating meaningful, lasting change. I believe therapy should be both compassionate and grounded in evidence-based care—offering a space where clients feel safe enough to be vulnerable while also gaining the insight and practical tools needed to move forward. My approach is tailored to each individual’s unique story, values, and goals, recognizing that healing looks different for everyone.
What I’m most proud of is creating a practice where people feel genuinely seen, supported, and understood. My hope is that every client leaves therapy with greater resilience, a deeper understanding of themselves, and the confidence to build a life that feels more connected, fulfilling, and aligned with who they want to be.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
A lot of people don’t know that my practice name, Magis Counseling Services, wasn’t chosen randomly. “Magis” is a Latin word that roughly translates to “the more” or “the greater good.” Rather than striving for perfection, it represents the idea of continually growing into the fullest version of yourself and choosing what leads to deeper purpose, healing, and authenticity.
That philosophy is at the heart of how I practice therapy. My goal isn’t to help clients become perfect or “fix” themselves—it’s to help them better understand themselves, heal from what’s keeping them stuck, and build lives that feel more aligned with who they truly are. The name isn’t just a brand; it’s a reminder of the mission behind every session.

Pricing:

• $180 for Individual Therapy
• $200 for Couples Therapy

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.magiscounselingservices.com/
• Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/allison-sheaffer-atlanta-ga/1125375