FAMILY COUNSELING SERVICE OF ATHENS, INC.

What FAMILY COUNSELING SERVICE OF ATHENS, INC. does

Family Counseling Service of Athens, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit mental health counseling organization founded in 1969 and headquartered at the Carson Center, 1435 Oglethorpe Avenue, Athens, Georgia. It delivers outpatient psychotherapy and psychoeducation to individuals, couples, and families across Athens-Clarke County and surrounding communities. The clinical portfolio includes individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, play therapy for children ages 4-12, group therapy, and specialized trauma treatments such as EMDR and Brainspotting, alongside one-time substance use and clinical evaluations frequently required by court order. Therapeutic modalities offered span CBT, ACT, IFS, EMDR, Brainspotting, Motivational Interviewing, narrative therapy, play therapy, EFT, and DBT.

The organization operates a hybrid revenue model combining fee-for-service counseling ($150 standard fee for insured clients; $50-$150 sliding scale for uninsured), grant-funded programs (Victim's Assistance, Musician's Assistance, DUI Court, Veterans Treatment Court, Phoenix Project), Employer Assistance Program contracts through Northeast Georgia EAP, low-cost intern-led sessions via the Bridging the Gap Program ($10 minimum), and charitable donations. Court-based services, EAP contracts, and community referrals constitute the primary distribution channels, with intake handled by phone (706-549-7755) and email. The staff of approximately 12 clinicians (LCSWs, LMSWs, LPCs, MSWs) is supplemented by second-year UGA Master of Social Work interns, providing both service capacity and a clinician recruitment pipeline.

The go-to-market motion is community-led and referral-driven rather than demand-generation-based. Long-tenured partnerships with Athens-Clarke County DUI Treatment & Accountability Court (one of four Academy Courts in the nation since 2008), the Western Judicial Circuit Veterans Treatment Court, The Cottage (victim services), Nuci's Space (musician mental health), UGA School of Social Work, and Northeast Georgia EAP form the core of the referral ecosystem. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors under Executive Director Tiffany George, LCSW, and operates without parent-company affiliation, venture funding, or PE ownership.

Name

FAMILY COUNSELING SERVICE OF ATHENS, INC.

Legal name

Family Counseling Services of Athens Inc.

Website

https://fcsathens.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Family Counseling Service of Athens is a 1969-founded nonprofit outpatient mental health provider in Athens, Georgia, offering individual, couples, family, and group therapy, trauma treatments, and court-ordered evaluations to community members via sliding-scale fees, insurance, EAP contracts, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Counseling Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAFACAA

Outpatient Mental Health Clinics & Counseling Centers

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Behavioral Health & Substance Use Treatment

SECONDARYBPAGAEAH

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGAEAC

Family & Parenting Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYEDAJAKAK

Family Advocacy, Parent Training & Support Services

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Special Education Services

Keywords

• Mental health counseling
• Family therapy services
• Substance use treatment
• Trauma therapy services
• Court-ordered evaluations

Headquarters

HQ city

Athens

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Outpatient Counseling Fees: Fee-for-service counseling sessions. Insured clients pay $150 standard fee with varying copays based on insurance coverage. Uninsured clients access sliding scale pricing ($50-$150) based on gross annual income. Sessions are 50 minutes for individual, couples, and family therapy.
2. Grant-Funded Programs: Free counseling services funded through grants including Victim's Compensation (state of Georgia), ACC DUI Court, ACC Veterans Treatment Court, and Phoenix Project. Services provided at no cost to qualifying clients.
3. Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Employers contracted with Northeast Georgia EAP provide up to 6 covered sessions for employees. Some clinicians also accept third-party EAP sessions.
4. Clinical and Substance Use Evaluations: One-time evaluations for $150 each. Clinical evaluations required by court order for DUI charges. Substance use evaluations determine presence/severity of substance use disorders.
5. Bridging the Gap Program: Low-cost counseling with MSW graduate school interns (minimum $10) under supervision of licensed therapists, creating access for those who cannot otherwise afford services.
6. Group Therapy Fees: Anger Management Program ($20-$40 per session) and Children & Divorce Seminars ($35) provide additional revenue streams.
7. Donations: Charitable donations accepted via PayPal and Amazon Wishlist to support reduced and sliding fee scale services for those most in need.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Family Counseling Service of Athens is a nonprofit mental health counseling organization delivering accessible outpatient therapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups through modalities including CBT, ACT, IFS, EMDR, Brainspotting, play therapy, DBT, EFT, Motivational Interviewing, and narrative therapy. Core services span individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, play therapy, group therapy, substance use and clinical evaluations, and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, with financial access supported by sliding scale fees, insurance billing, employer EAP contracts, and grant-funded programs serving crime victims, musicians, court-involved individuals, and employees.

Product overview

Family Counseling Services of Athens is a mental health counseling organization offering a comprehensive suite of therapeutic services delivered through individual, couples, family, and group modalities. The core service portfolio includes Individual Therapy, Couples Therapy, Family Therapy, Play Therapy, and Group Therapy, complemented by specialized trauma treatments (EMDR, Brainspotting), substance use and clinical evaluations, and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing. Financial accessibility is supported through sliding scale fees, insured/uninsured pricing tiers ($50-$150), and grant-funded programs including the Musician's Assistance Program, Victim's Assistance Program, and Employee Assistance Program. The organization also operates specialized court programs including the DUI Treatment & Accountability Court and Veterans Treatment Court, serving Athens-Clarke County since 1969 from the Carson Center facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Therapy 50-minute, one-on-one outpatient counseling sessions for individuals navigating issues including grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use, and more, utilizing modalities such as CBT, ACT, IFS, EMDR, Brainspotting, Motivational Interviewing, and narrative therapy.
• Couples Therapy 50-minute counseling sessions for couples seeking to improve communication, strengthen connection, navigate conflict, or separate amicably.
• Family Therapy 50-minute counseling sessions for the entire family to address conflict, separation, major life transitions, and behavioral issues within the family system.
• Play Therapy 50-minute one-on-one counseling sessions for children ages 4-12 using play as the child's natural language, employing a range of tailored play therapy approaches.
• Group Therapy 60-90 minute group therapy classes including Anger Management Program and Children & Divorce Seminars.
• Substance Use Evaluations One-time 55-minute structured evaluation to determine presence and severity of substance use disorder, frequently court-ordered but available for voluntary clients.
• Clinical Evaluations One-time 55-minute substance use evaluation for individuals charged with DUI, required by court order.
• Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Brief small group crisis intervention focused on relieving effects of trauma in immediate aftermath.
• Musician's Assistance Program 12 sessions of free or reduced-fee mental health counseling for Nuci's Space clients.
• Victim's Assistance Program 10 weeks of free counseling for children and adults who have experienced sexual or physical assault, or witnessed/experienced domestic violence; collaboration with The Cottage.
• Employee Assistance Program Up to 6 sessions (unless contracted otherwise) covered through employer Northeast Georgia EAP benefits; some clinicians also accept third-party EAP sessions.
• Athens-Clarke County DUI Treatment & Accountability Court Program 18-24 months substance use disorder treatment for high-risk, high-need DUI individuals; one of four Academy Courts in the nation since 2008; offered since 2001.
• Athens-Clarke County Veterans Treatment Court Program Mental health counseling and support groups for veterans with legal involvement.
• Athens Justice Coalition of Care: The Phoenix Project Education, employment, counseling, and social work services for those with legal involvement.
• Anger Management Program 8-week group psychoeducation on emotional regulation, communication, and more; mandated or voluntary; $20-$40 fee.
• Children & Divorce Seminars Psychoeducation seminars for divorcing parents in Monroe, Elberton, and Jefferson; $35 fee.
• Bridging the Gap Program Low-cost counseling with MSW graduate school interns (minimum $10) under supervision of licensed therapists, creating access for those who cannot otherwise afford services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of people served since 1969
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nuci's SpacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for the Musician's Assistance Program providing 12 sessions of free or reduced-fee mental health counseling for Nuci's Space clients. Addresses mental health needs of musicians who otherwise lack access to affordable services.
• The Cottage (North Georgia Cottage)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for the Victim's Assistance Program providing 10 weeks of free counseling for children and adults who have experienced sexual or physical assault, or witnessed or experienced domestic violence. The Cottage is Athens' local domestic violence shelter and awareness center.
• Northeast Georgia EAPcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployee Assistance Program partnership providing eligible employees of contracted employers with up to 6 covered therapy sessions. FCS is a provider within the EAP network.
• Athens-Clarke County DUI Treatment & Accountability CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Counseling has offered individual and group therapy to participants in the ACC DUI Court since its founding in 2001. The program consists of 18-24 months substance use disorder treatment. ACC DUI Court is one of four Academy Courts in the nation since 2008.
• Athens-Clarke County Veterans Treatment CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides mental health counseling and support groups for veterans with legal involvement. FCS serves as counselor for the Western Judicial Circuit Veterans Treatment Court.
• Athens Justice Coalition of Care: The Phoenix ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration providing education, employment, counseling, and social work services for those with legal involvement. Participating organizations include ACC Probation, Athens Technical College, UGA School of Social Work, Goodwill Industries, and Action Incorporated.
• University of Georgia School of Social WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCS provides training ground for second-year UGA Master's of Social Work interns, supervised by licensed therapists. Also provides part-time faculty (Lauren Osborne, LCSW teaches in MSW program).
• United WayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting FCS operations and mission to provide mental health services to the Athens community.
• Athens Community FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity foundation partner supporting FCS through funding and community development initiatives.
• Project SafeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAthens' local domestic violence shelter and awareness center. Staff member Abigail Ryan previously interned at Project Safe before joining FCS.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Talkspace: Online therapy and psychiatry platform serving individuals, couples, and teens via messaging, live video, and audio sessions. Comparable therapy categories including family/couples work, but delivered through a fully virtual model that competes for the same Athens-area clients.
• Thriveworks: National outpatient counseling chain offering individual, couples, and family therapy with licensed clinicians. Comparable service portfolio (individual/couples/family therapy, multiple modalities) and direct-to-consumer model, though for-profit and much larger.
• BetterHelp: Largest online therapy platform connecting individuals to licensed therapists for individual, couples, and family counseling. Comparable core service (talk therapy by licensed clinicians) with overlapping modalities (CBT, etc.), delivered virtually rather than in-person.

Emerging players

• Charlie Health: Virtual intensive outpatient program (IOP) focused on adolescents and young adults with mental health and substance use needs. Comparable trauma and mental health treatment modality, but specialized in higher-acuity virtual IOP rather than weekly outpatient.
• Open Path Collective: Nonprofit network of licensed therapists offering sessions at $30–$80 to reduce cost barriers. Closely comparable sliding-scale, access-focused model and therapist-network structure, but operates as a referral/membership nonprofit rather than a direct provider.
• Brightside Health: Telehealth provider combining therapy and medication management for anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Comparable trauma/anxiety/depression focus with measurement-based care, delivered virtually — a structural competitor for FCS's specialty trauma clientele.

Broad incumbents

• LifeStance Health: Large outpatient mental health platform operating clinics nationwide with in-person and virtual therapy plus psychiatry. Comparable outpatient mental health offering and payer mix, but operates at vastly greater scale as a publicly traded incumbent.

Others

• Nuci's Space: Athens, GA-based nonprofit addressing musicians' mental health — an FCS strategic partner for the Musician's Assistance Program. Comparable as a regional mental health nonprofit, ecosystem partner rather than a direct service competitor.
• The Cottage (Sexual Assault Center & Family Violence Center): Athens-based nonprofit providing services for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors. Comparable as a regional nonprofit partner that refers victims into FCS's Victim's Assistance Program — ecosystem collaborator rather than direct therapy competitor.

Regional players

• Advantage Behavioral Health Systems: Community-based behavioral health provider serving the Athens, GA region with outpatient mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services. Directly comparable as a neighboring nonprofit outpatient mental health provider in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/family-counseling-service-of-athens-inc-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about FAMILY COUNSELING SERVICE OF ATHENS, INC.