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 Anna Beth Thompson, a social work intern and MSW student at The Banyan Tree Center in Athens, Georgia. I work with teens and adults navigating mental health challenges, substance use, and elder caregiving. I see clients in person in Athens and via telehealth, supervised by Kristi Gilleland.

My path to social work is one I never could have predicted. I spent years as a professional artist, earned two BFAs in Photography and Digital Media, and worked for over a decade in a photo lab where I was surrounded by people’s most precious and sometimes most painful moments. I was also a community organizer in the South Bronx, working to preserve neighborhood gardens for the people who depended on them. All of that taught me something that no classroom could: that people carry their whole lives with them, and that the best thing you can do is meet them exactly where they are.

I bring a deep love of the natural world into my work. I am a gardener, an herbalist, and a certified permaculture designer, and I believe that connecting with nature — whether that’s tending something living, spending time outside, or simply paying attention to the seasons — can be a real part of healing. I think outside the box, and I encourage the people I work with to dream about the life they want and then start building it, one small step at a time.

My style is warm, nonjudgmental, and grounded in the belief that people already have what they need to change. My job is to help them find it.

“Dream the life you want. Then let’s start building it, one step at a time.”

Background and Credentials

• Graduate Student Counselor, The Banyan Tree Center, supervised by Kristi Gilleland
• MSW student and social work intern
• Substance Use Certificate in progress, including Intro to Substance Use and Substance Use Treatment coursework
• Betty Ford / Hazelden Clinic immersion, Portland, OR (July 2026)
• Clinical shadowing, Athens Clinic (2 semesters)
• BFA in Photography and BFA in Digital Media
• Certifications in Native Plants and Permaculture Design
• Reduced fee available

How I Work

• In person · The Banyan Tree Center, Athens GA
• Telehealth available
• Ages 13+

Approaches: Motivational interviewing · Eco-therapy · Art therapy informed · Person-centered · Solution-focused · Strengths-based

What I Specialize In

Self-Care Practices and Skill Building in Athens, GA

Who I work with: Some clients come in navigating a new diagnosis and feeling overwhelmed by what it means. Others are dealing with the aftermath of a difficult season, including hospitalization, crisis, or just a long stretch of feeling like things are out of control. Many are also managing substance use or difficult past experiences alongside everything else. Whatever is going on, they arrive wanting to feel more stable and less alone.

What we do together: Together we focus on building practical tools that help day to day. That might look like working on coping skills, developing a self-care routine that actually fits your life, or connecting with community resources that can offer additional support. I bring curiosity and zero judgment, and I believe deeply that people are capable of more than they often give themselves credit for.

Elder Care and Caregiver Support in Athens, GA

Who I work with: Caring for an aging loved one is one of the most demanding things a person can do. You may be managing their finances, their medical appointments, their home, and their emotions, all while trying to hold your own life together. The grief of watching someone you love lose capacity is real, and it can arrive long before they are gone. Many caregivers feel isolated, exhausted, and guilty for feeling anything other than grateful.

What we do together: I help caregivers find practical solutions to the challenges they’re facing while also creating space to talk about how hard this actually is. We work on finding resources, building routines, and most importantly, figuring out how to take care of yourself while you’re taking care of someone else. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and you deserve support too.

Substance Use and Recovery in Athens, GA

Who I work with: Whether your drinking has started to worry you, you’re relying on substances more than you’d like, or you’re dealing with other compulsive behaviors that feel out of control, reaching out is a brave first step. Most people who come in for this aren’t sure what they need yet. They just know something has to change.

What we do together: My approach is person-centered and meets you exactly where you are, whether that includes a spiritual framework or not. I am currently pursuing a Substance Use Certificate and completed an immersive training at the Betty Ford / Hazelden Clinic, and I work under the close supervision of Kristi Gilleland. Together we explore what’s going on and start building toward something that feels more manageable.

A Few Things I Want You to Know

Before your first session: Don’t be shy about sharing your experiences. I won’t judge you. I’ve seen a lot of life and I believe deeply that there is always another way forward. Whatever brought you here, I’m glad you came.

What is valuable about working with a graduate student counselor: Working with a graduate student counselor means you are working with someone who is current, closely supervised, and fully invested in your care. I bring fresh training, close oversight from Kristi Gilleland, and a deep commitment to getting this right for every client I see.

Something I wish more people knew: Therapy is not just about processing what’s hard. It’s also about building the life you actually want. I encourage everyone I work with to dream a little, and then to start building toward that dream, one small, real step at a time.

Who I do my best work with: People who are ready to do something different. Especially people dealing with substance use who are tired of the way things have been and are willing to put in the work to change. When someone shows up ready, we can accomplish a lot together.

One more thing: I believe in joy. I believe in meaningful relationships, in self-care that actually nourishes you, and in finding the things that make your life feel worth living. That might be gardening. It might be cooking or making something with your hands. Whatever it is, we’ll find it together.