All sessions are conducted under the clinical supervision of Kristi Gilleland, a licensed therapist at The Banyan Tree Center. This means clients receive attentive, evidence-based care with an additional layer of professional oversight.

I’m Alex Brock, an associate clinician at The Banyan Tree Center in Athens, Georgia. I work primarily with children and teens navigating neurodiversity, emotional regulation, anxiety, and life transitions. I see clients in person in Athens and via telehealth, supervised by Kristi Gilleland.

Counseling was never on my radar growing up. Like a lot of young men, I believed that going to therapy or asking for help meant something was wrong with me. My own experience in counseling changed that completely. It shifted my perspective, deepened my passion for helping others, and led me here. I now have the privilege of walking alongside people as they navigate life’s challenges and work toward becoming the best version of themselves.

Before counseling I worked as a cognitive teacher supporting children with learning disabilities. That work gave me a deep understanding of the academic, emotional, and social struggles many kids face, and it reinforced my passion for helping young people and their families build on their strengths. I bring that background into every session.

My style is warm, collaborative, and strengths-based. I believe every person has unique strengths and the capacity to grow, even in the hardest seasons. Whether we’re working through play, conversation, or evidence-based tools, my goal is for clients to feel supported, encouraged, and like they’re actually making progress.

“Every person has unique strengths and the ability to grow, even during difficult seasons of life.”

Background and Credentials

• Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling, Liberty University
• Associate Clinician, supervised by Kristi Gilleland
• Training in Adlerian Play Therapy and sandtray therapy
• Certificate in Bible, Columbia International University
• Background working with children with learning disabilities and ASD
• Experience with psychological testing support

How I Work

• In person · The Banyan Tree Center, Athens GA
• Telehealth available
• Ages 5+

Approaches: Adlerian Play Therapy · CBT · ACT · Solution-focused · Sandtray therapy · Strengths-based · Faith-integrated (on request)

What I Specialize In

Neurodiversity, ADHD, and ASD in Athens, GA

Who I work with: Clients coming in with these concerns may feel overwhelmed, stuck, or like they are the problem. Those feelings can show up as emotional outbursts, withdrawal, or difficulty managing everyday responsibilities, which can reinforce negative patterns over time. It also affects the whole family, often leaving parents and siblings feeling anxious, exhausted, or unsure how to help.

What we do together: I focus on understanding how the brain works rather than just targeting behavior, building on strengths to create meaningful change. This leads to increased insight, confidence, and skills that support real growth. A key part of this work is involving parents and support systems to build understanding and reinforce change outside of session, with practical strategies that create structure and connection at home and in daily life.

Emotional Regulation in Athens, GA

Who I work with: Someone coming in for emotional regulation may feel like their emotions are intense, unpredictable, and hard to control. It can show up as outbursts, increased frustration, or shutting down completely. Over time these patterns can start affecting relationships, school, work, and everyday life in ways that feel really hard to manage.

What we do together: In our sessions we slow down together and work on becoming more aware of thoughts, emotions, and body responses. We build practical coping skills for managing intense emotions and develop healthier ways to express what’s going on inside. The goal is more emotional insight, better regulation, and stronger confidence through improved communication and self-understanding.

Anxiety in Athens, GA

Who I work with: Someone coming in for anxiety may feel constantly worried, on edge, or overwhelmed. Anxiety is a normal human experience, but when it becomes more intense or persistent it can start interfering with daily life, reducing confidence, causing withdrawal, or making things that used to feel manageable suddenly feel impossible.

What we do together: I focus on how anxiety shows up specifically for each person, including where it appears in daily life and how it feels in the body. We explore unhelpful thought patterns, gently challenge and reframe them, and build coping skills that help clients live more in line with who they are and what they value. For children, much of this work happens through play, which helps them express emotions and build skills in a way that fits how they naturally communicate.

Grief, Loss, and Life Transitions in Athens, GA

Who I work with: A client coming in with these concerns often feels overwhelmed with sadness, confusion, or stuck following a major life change like losing a parent or going through a divorce. For children especially, adjusting to new routines, roles, and family structures while trying to return to everyday life can be really hard. These changes rarely affect just one person. They ripple through the whole family, making it harder to process your own emotions while also trying to support everyone else.

What we do together: Sessions focus on understanding emotions, normalizing the process, and building practical ways to cope and adjust over time. We work on making meaning of what has changed and strengthening support systems, including family involvement when it helps. For children, play-based approaches help them express and process what they’re carrying in a way that fits where they are developmentally. The goal is for clients to feel more grounded, supported, and able to move forward at their own pace.

A Few Things I Want You to Know

Before your first session: It is completely normal to feel nervous or unsure about starting counseling, and you have already taken one of the biggest steps by reaching out. My goal is to create a welcoming, supportive space where we can work together on what matters most to you.

Something I wish more people knew: Counseling is not about admitting defeat or saying something is wrong with you. It is a collaborative process that moves at your pace and is centered on your goals. My role is to understand your experiences and tailor my approach to fit you, so you can gain insight, skills, and support in a way that feels meaningful.

Who I do my best work with: Children and teens navigating life changes, neurodiversity, or emotional challenges. I love tailoring sessions to each client, incorporating their interests, whether that’s sports, games, or other parts of their world, to explore thoughts and feelings in a way that actually fits them. I also value parents being part of the process, because real change happens when we support the whole environment alongside the individual work.