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 Blaire Moraski, a graduate student counselor at The Banyan Tree Center in Athens, Georgia. I work with children, teens, young adults, and adults navigating life transitions, anxiety, and the kinds of challenges that can feel hard to put into words. I see clients in person in Athens and via telehealth, supervised by Kristi Gilleland.

My path to this work is personal. Growing up, I saw firsthand how much it matters to have the right support at the right time, and what it costs when that support isn’t there. That experience never left me, and it’s a big part of why I do this work. I want to be the person I needed when I was young, and that is something I carry into every single session.

I have a particular passion for working with younger clients because I believe the earlier someone has access to a safe, nonjudgmental space, the more it can change the trajectory of their life. That said, I also work with young adults and adults who are navigating big transitions, whether that’s college, early adulthood, identity, relationships, or simply a season of life that feels unsteady. Whatever stage you’re in, you deserve support that meets you there.

My style is warm, patient, and playful when it fits. I meet clients where they are and I never rush the process. I believe every person deserves to feel truly seen and heard, and I work hard to make sure that happens from the very first session.

“I want to be the person I needed when I was young.”

Background and Credentials

• Graduate Student Counselor, The Banyan Tree Center, supervised by Kristi Gilleland
• Master’s in Social Work, University of Georgia School of Social Work (expected 2027)
• Training in play therapy approaches
• Reduced fee available

How I Work

• In person · The Banyan Tree Center, Athens GA
• Telehealth available
• Children, teens, young adults, and adults in transition

Approaches: Person-centered · Play therapy · CBT informed · Trauma-informed · Strengths-based · Collaborative

What I Specialize In

Child and Adolescent Therapy in Athens, GA

Who I work with: Children and teens often come in carrying things they don’t have words for yet. They may be acting out, shutting down, struggling in school, or just seeming off in ways that are hard to name. Parents often arrive knowing something is wrong but not sure what or how to help. They don’t need to have the right words or know exactly what they’re feeling. They just need a space that feels safe enough to start.

What we do together: I use play, creative expression, and conversation to help children and teens explore what’s going on at a pace that feels right for them. For younger children especially, play is how they naturally communicate, and I meet them there. For teens, I focus on building trust first and let the real work follow from that. I also stay in communication with parents throughout the process because the support at home matters as much as what happens in the session.

Anxiety in Athens, GA

Who I work with: Anxious clients, whether children or teens, often show up looking like something else entirely. It might look like stomach aches before school, big meltdowns over small things, refusal to try new situations, or a need for constant reassurance. Underneath all of it is usually a nervous system that is working too hard to keep someone safe. They aren’t trying to be difficult. They are overwhelmed.

What we do together: We slow down and start to understand what the anxiety is actually about and what it needs. We build coping tools that are real and practical, not just a list of strategies that don’t stick. For younger children, much of this happens through play, which helps them practice new ways of responding without it feeling scary. The goal is for clients to feel more confident in their ability to handle hard things.

Life Transitions in Athens, GA

Who I work with: Change is hard at any age, but for kids and teens it can feel especially destabilizing. A move, a divorce, a new school, a loss, a friendship falling apart, these kinds of transitions can shake a young person’s sense of who they are and where they belong. They may become withdrawn, irritable, or seem to regress in ways that worry the adults around them.

What we do together: We create space to process what has changed, grieve what was lost, and start building a sense of stability and identity on the other side of it. I help clients name what they’re feeling, make sense of the confusion, and find their footing again. Whether you’re a child adjusting to a family change, a college student figuring out who you are, or an adult navigating a major shift, having someone steady in your corner during a transition can make a real difference.

A Few Things I Want You to Know

Before your first session: You don’t have to have it all figured out before you walk in. Neither does your child. My job in that first session is simply to make you both feel welcome, safe, and like this is a place you can come back to. We go at whatever pace feels right.

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: You don’t have to wait until things are really bad to reach out. If something feels off for your child or teen, that’s enough of a reason. There is nothing weak about asking for help. It takes courage, and I respect it every time.

Who I do my best work with: Kids and teens who are going through something hard and just need a steady, caring presence in their corner. And parents who are willing to be part of the process. The young people I work with don’t need to be ready or willing right away. They just need to show up, and I’ll take it from there.