Paola Padron, LMSW
Therapist for Children, Teens, Young Adults and Families
Fluent in Spanish
Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
Self Pay Rates:
- Intake Session: $185
- Individual Therapy: $160
- Family Therapy: $175
- Sliding Scale Offered
Insurances Accepted:
- Aetna
- Cigna
- Optum
- BCBS
- UHC/UMR
Who I Work With:
- Toddlers (1-4)
- Children (5-10)
- Pre-teens (11-14)
- Teens (15-18)
- Young Adults (19-25)
- Families
- Groups
Locations Served:
- In person in Hiram
- Online/Virtual therapy for residents of Georgia
Specialties:
- Racial Identity
- Trauma & PTSD
- LGBTQIA+ Youth & Adults
- Immigrant and First-Generation Families
- Chronic Illness or Pain
- Heart Warriors and Cancer Survivors
- Life Transitions
- Family Conflict
- Grief
- Behavioral Issues
- Anxiety
Integrative Modalities:
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Art Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Play Therapy
- Sandtray Therapy
- Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
- Somatic Approaches
My Story
My name is Paola, and I’m a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) dedicated to helping children, youth, and families navigate life’s heaviest challenges while breaking down the cultural stigmas around mental health.
My journey into this work began when I immigrated to the United States from Mexico at just 4 years old. That same year, I started kindergarten, and I still vividly remember the immense kindness of the people who stepped forward to help my family find our footing in a new world: my teachers, my school principal, and the social workers. Navigating new surroundings, a new language, and a new culture was far from easy. I went to an underprivileged elementary school, but despite that environment, the support systems within my school made the biggest impact on my life.
Their compassion deeply inspired me. Even from a young age, I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to a profession that protects and helps the most vulnerable. Today, I’m profoundly grateful to have become the very person I needed when I was that 4-year-old girl.
My Area of Expertise
As an immigrant myself, I understand firsthand the deep complexities of the first-generation experience, and I greatly enjoy working with immigrant and first-generation communities. I specialize in helping Latino, BIPOC, and first-generation children, teens, and young adults heal from complex and generational trauma, navigate identity shifts, and manage major life transitions. That includes supporting LGBTQIA+ youth as they explore and embrace who they are.
My clinical internship and first job were at a children’s hospital, which gave me deep clinical knowledge of complex, chronic, and terminal medical conditions. That experience taught me that a medical diagnosis affects the entire family, not just the patient, and I bring that understanding to every family I work with.
I strive to normalize therapy within our communities. Together, we’ll break down cultural stigmas and create a safe, culturally attuned space where your emotions are normalized, your identity is celebrated, and seeking help is seen as a strength.
For generations, our families have carried unhealed trauma. I truly believe that the greatest gift we can give ourselves, and the generations that follow, is the commitment to heal. Sessions are available in English and Spanish.
How I Approach Therapy
What's My Vibe
My clinical framework is holistic and deeply trauma-informed. I integrate evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT, and Play Therapy, alongside a strong family systems perspective.
I don’t just look at a symptom or a diagnosis in isolation. I look at how complex trauma, major life transitions, or chronic medical illness affect your entire ecosystem. Together, we’ll gently unpack inherited generational cycles, honor your roots, and build practical coping tools that help you thrive in the present.
My vibe as a therapist is a warm, deeply compassionate blend of nurturing, playful, and grounded. Because I work with young people ranging from toddlers to young adults, my energy is highly adaptive. I can match the high energy of a 5-year-old with a game, or bring a calm, steady presence to a 19-year-old sorting through heavy life transitions.
I’m a real human in the room with you. I listen with my whole heart, celebrate your wins with genuine joy, and sit with you gently in your heaviest moments. Whether we’re using art and toys to express big feelings or sharing a comforting laugh over the absurdities of navigating two cultures, my goal is for you to walk away from every session feeling lighter, deeply seen, and understood.
What I Am Like Outside Of The Office
Favorite quote
“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.” – Dr. Mae Jemison
If you weren't a mental health professional, what would you be doing?
Running a dog rescue with a coffee shop attached
If you could make a rule for a day and everyone had to follow it, what would it be?
Everyone must go to their local dog shelter and take out an animal in need of a home. Even if it’s just for the day, it still helps increase their odds of being adopted in the future.
Do you have any secret talents?
I’m very good with animals, even dogs with complex behavioral histories.
Do you collect anything?
I love vintage cameras.
Favorite show and the show I can watch over and over again
Reality TV. I know, I know, but it’s TOO good! Special recognition to Real Housewives of Atlanta and Love After Lockup. I’m not much of a movie person, but I’ve watched Desperate Housewives like 3-4 times now.
My Education and Credentials
My Credentials:
- Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in Georgia
Clinical Specializations and Certifications
- Trained in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
My Education:
- Masters of Social Work (Healthcare Specialization), University of Illinois
- Bachelors of Art in Psychology, University
Professional Service & Membership