GRACE & GROWTH COUNSELING
Dr. Gabriela C. Jacob
Email:
Address:
5150 Roswell Road
Atlanta, GA 30342
About Me
I am an emigrant from Havana, Cuba with over a decade of experience in the mental health field, working across diverse populations including children on the autism spectrum and highly sensitive children, teens, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, and chronic stress. My clinical work is grounded in a deep appreciation for the unique ways individuals experience and process the world, particularly those with heightened sensitivity. Through both practice and research, I have been committed to creating supportive, attuned spaces that foster emotional resilience, self understanding, and meaningful change.
I previously served as core faculty in the Master of Family Therapy Program at Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia and currently teach as an Adjunct Faculty for a virtual Marital Family Therapy program. My doctoral research focused on psychological distress in highly sensitive individuals, leading to the development of an 8-week group therapy program integrating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with Bowenian Family Systems Theory. This work emphasizes the role of family dynamics, mindfulness, and behavioral strategies in reducing distress while cultivating self-awareness, social support, and adaptive coping. My approach highlights the power of group therapy as a space for shared understanding and validation, particularly for those with sensory processing sensitivity.
Work Experience
August 2016 - June 2023
August 2018 - June 2021
March 2022 - November 2024
July 2025 - Current
I attended The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where I earned a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Marital and Family Therapy. I also contributed to the publication of scholarly work in my field: Lotus Therapy Program: ACT Therapy for Psychological Distress Symptoms in People with Sensory Processing Sensitivity
I completed my clinical training at a practicum site serving immigrant children and families, where I facilitated a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program to support emotional regulation and interpersonal skills. During this time, I also began providing psychotherapy to adults and couples. I have completed Level 1 training in the Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT). This training informs my work by integrating attachment theory, neuroscience, and relational dynamics to support healthier, more secure partnerships.
I provided family therapy services within a children’s and adolescents’ art therapy practice, integrating creative and relational approaches to treatment. I subsequently joined the Master of Family Therapy program at Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia as core faculty, where I also began my supervisor training. In collaboration with MFT students, I contributed to the development and delivery of professional academic and community presentations. These presentations addressed topics including Highly Sensitive Children, implementation of the Biopsychosocial Model in Medical Care, and Relational and Stress Magement Approaches for Individuals with Chronic Illness.
I founded my private practice, Grace and Growth Counseling, where I provide psychotherapy services grounded in evidence-based and relational approaches. I also serve as an adjunct faculty member in an online Marriage and Family Therapy program, supporting the development of future clinicians. In addition, I have begun researching and integrating the Lotus program into equine-assisted psychotherapy. To support this work, I obtained certification in Introduction to Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy.
