Owner/THerapist
Katuschka Rakovec, LCSW
I’ve always loved a good story. As a senior in high school, I watched the movie Blood Diamond and I was immediately set on becoming an investigative journalist. I dreamed of traveling the world interviewing remarkable humans of all walks of life, uncovering untold stories of human resilience, and telling stories that truly mattered. But once I began pursuing a degree in journalism, I quickly learned that I didn’t just want to tell stories, I wanted to be a part of helping people shape their stories.
Over a decade into my career as a therapist, I am as enthralled as ever with the honor it is to be invited into someone’s story. My dream of interviewing remarkable humans and uncovering stories of human resilience happens on the daily. It is a privilege beyond words to get to walk alongside someone in their pain, confusion, and loss and to celebrate alongside them in their moments of growth, joy, and gain. My two greatest strengths as a therapist are that I am excellent at untangling things and to my very core, I just truly, really like people.
As your therapist, I will never be the expert in the room; you will always be the expert on your own story. For that reason, my approach as a therapist is collaborative and entirely customized to you. The undercurrent of our therapeutic relationship will always be guided by curiosity and compassion with the goal of challenging you towards whatever goals you have for your life. In our work together, I will be your biggest cheerleader.
In terms of my story, I am the daughter of two immigrants from Brasil and Germany, and I deeply treasure being a blend of different cultures. I was born in Mobile, Alabama and loved growing up near the water. I am an animal lover through and through and delusionally believe every animal — domestic or otherwise — will sense my innate whimsy and immediately love me as much as I love it. This unfortunately has not proven anecdotally true but my delusion persists nonetheless. I love my friends as family. I’m an avid hobbyist — most recently I’ve gotten into stained glass, soap making, and am (arduously) learning the piano despite being all but tone deaf. I get a real thrill from unsubscribing from emails. I take recycling VERY seriously. And I never turn down a glass of orange juice so long as it isn’t made from concentrate.
Education
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
Masters of Social Work, 2012
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
Bachelors of Science, Psychology, 2010 Bachelors of Arts, Public Relations, 2010
Specialities
• Trauma
• Mood Disorders/Anxiety Disorders
• Relational/Marital/Family of Origin Issues
• Parenting
• Adoption
• Life Transitions
• ADHD/Executive Functioning
Main Modalities
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Trust Based Relational Interventions (TBRI)
• Internal Family Systems (IFS)
• Narrative Therapy
Therapist
Melanie Syas, LCSW, LISW-CP
Hello! I am so glad you are here! I would be honored to get to know you and be a part of your journey. My hope is to help you untangle or piece together any part of your story that feels fragmented, broken, or confusing. My approach is warm, authentic, and compassionate. Life can be overwhelming, and I strive to create a space where you always feel safe, heard, and supported.
With experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families in settings such as schools, hospitals, community mental health centers, and private practice, I bring a diverse skill set to our work together. I am independently licensed in clinical practice in both Georgia (LCSW) and South Carolina (LISW-CP). As someone who is trauma-informed and attachment focused, my greatest passions are helping individuals heal from trauma, and helping families strengthen their relationships through family therapy. Other areas of focus include anxiety, depression, ADHD, adoption, anger, relationship challenges, and life transitions.
I am trained in EMDR, TF-CBT, and MDFT and incorporate a variety of modalities including TheraPlay, CBT, IFS, and DBT in my work with clients. As an adoption-competent therapist, I am currently completing Training in Adoption Competency (TAC) and am always seeking to learn new ways of supporting the adoption constellation. I am happy to answer any questions you have about my training and experience!
I have lived and worked in a variety of places including Illinois, Tennessee, Romania, Wisconsin, and South Carolina before landing in Atlanta, GA this year. I enjoy spending time outdoors, whether hiking or backpacking, and I’m always up for an adventure. I am grounded by my Christian faith, though I’m always excited to learn about the diverse ways others view the world. I love trying new foods (it’s hard to find something I don’t like), and adore a good cup of coffee—whether it’s a fancy pour-over or a cheap cup from a QT gas station.
I can’t wait to sit down with you and learn more about your unique story! Let’s get started!
Education
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA Masters of Social Work, 2020
COVENANT COLLEGE
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, 2016
Specialities
• Trauma
• Mood Disorders/Anxiety Disorders
• ADHD and Executive Functioning
• Relational and Family Issues
• Adoption
• Anger Issues
• Life Transitions
Main Modalities
• Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
• Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT)
• Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Internal Family Systems (IFS)