ABOUT US

The Sutherland Center (TSC), a limited liability company (LLC), strives to improve the overall quality of living for the people we serve. We commit to staying on the leading edge of exploring and discovering human potential—your decision to seek counseling heralds a turning point in your life. People often seek professional guidance to remain on an even keel in our rapidly changing world. We utilize a solution-focused therapy approach. Including supporting families with identifying and strengthening their "Families Foundational Five."

 

Currently only evening and weekend appointments are available. You can choose a man or woman national board-certified/licensed professional counselor. Our husband-wife team is experienced in facilitating couples therapy. We understand that couples sometimes struggle to connect, and we are here to help. Our solution-building couples therapy approach focuses on building upon positive emotional connections and creating new emotional experiences. We provide an engaging environment of hope, empathy, and resilience where two people can connect, communicate more effectively, and create healthier relationships.  We support families by identifying and strengthening their "Families Foundational Five." In addition to our counseling services, we also provide clinical consultation and supervision. We are proud to facilitate a 6-hour virtual ethics continuing education workshop.

 

Beginning in the summer of 2025, TSC will offer a specialized premium private-pay service, Couples Intensive Connecting Counseling (CICC). More information is forthcoming.

 

Our Mission
We are improving the overall quality of living for the people we serve by inspiring them to make healthier choices for themselves and their families.
Our Vision
We empower the people we serve to see themselves better than they see themselves by learning skills for everyday living. 

Dr. Alvin Sutherland, Jr.

Meet Dr. Alvin Sutherland, Jr. (Dr. Al)
The Leader of The Sutherland Center, LLC (TSC), is a National Board Certified Counselor (NBCC), a National Board Certified School Counselor (NBCSC), a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and a Board Certified-TeleMental Health Provider (BC-TMH) a Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor (CPCS). An alumnus of West Georgia College, he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation Therapy and a Masters of Education Degree in Guidance and Counseling. The April 27th, 2009 issue of Newsweek Magazine featured Dr. Sutherland as among the best in the Atlanta metro area in Mental Health. Dr. Sutherland, Jr. was the featured therapist in April 2014 (RHOA) and the summer of 2015 (BET). VoyageATL Magazine. The Sutherland Center, LLC provided in-home counseling to 13 counties in the metro Atlanta area and TeleMental Health for Georgia residents; counseling and consulting services for organizations,  individuals, couples, and families since 2007.

The Sutherland Center LLC has counseled, consulted, served, and supported over 700 families and counting during this time. Read a few testimonials. Dr. Sutherland, Jr. became a Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, INC member through the Nu Phi Chapter at West Georgia College and is now a Xi Chi Sigma Chapter Atlanta member. He is married to a remarkable woman who is also a licensed professional counselor. Dr. Sutherland is a father of three and a papa of three. He enjoys reading, swimming, spending time with his family, going to the movies, playing tennis, and riding his motorcycle. His favorite sports teams are the Denver Broncos and the Syracuse Orange. He has played and later coached football while attending West Georgia College. He earned his Doctor of Education  in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University Sarasota. He served as an adjunct professor in the community counseling program for seven years at Argosy University Atlanta. He has conducted extensive research on the effects of father absence and leads groups on various difficulties in the father-child relationship. The Sutherland Center, LLC focuses on “Strengthening The Foundation For The Family.”

 

Dr. Sutherland, Jr. has experience in a variety of mental health settings within the metro Atlanta area, including (but not limited to) a community mental health center (working with adjudicated youth and their families), psychiatric hospital (counseling youth with sex offending behaviors and their families), and the public school system (providing counseling and consultation services for elementary and middle school-age youth) since 1998. "The Business of Fatherhood." Dr. Sutherland, Jr. is "Leading Courageously."Check out these Instagram videos. Black Fathers, Marriage, Stress, "Speaking To Your Family About Addiction." "Take Back Your Power and Control Today." "Take Time To Get To Know." "Parentship With A Relationship is Emotional Connection." "Mind Your Mind and Live Your Dream." Dr. Sutherland, Jr., provides clinical consultation, clinical supervision, and facilitates 6-hour ethics live virtual continuing education workshop. Dr. Sutherland, Jr. is a founding member of The Counseling Brothers of Atlanta.

Dr. Alvin Sutherland, Jr.

Meet Mrs. Octavia Sutherland

Mrs. Octavia Sutherland, a National Board Certified Counselor (NBCC), a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and a Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor (CPCS), is married to a remarkable man. She is a mother of three and a grandmother of three. Mrs. Sutherland enjoys reading, going to the movies, playing tennis, and painting. She has worked extensively with families that experienced trauma, including sexual abuse, substance abuse, and abandonment, since 2003. Mrs. Sutherland mentors young adults and specializes in assisting her families in obtaining insight (into their difficulties) and awareness (assisting them in selecting their best course of action). She earned her Master of Arts in Community Counseling from Argosy University Atlanta. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Certified School Counselor with over two decades of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families.

During her time counseling in behavioral/mental health hospitals and public schools, she has gained extensive experience working with adolescents and families. She has been highly sought after by young adults and families by working with a highly diverse population of people with a wide range of concerns. You will find her well-spoken, energetic, confident, and personable, the type of person to whom one can open up without feeling judged. She believes that behaviors have meaning and that those meanings reflect some unmet needs. The work in discovering the meaning helps her support the drive-in families she works with, heal and be complete, and fully actualize their potential. Although at times in life, everyone needs guidance to help access this drive, Mrs. Sutherland assists her families in integrating skills learned in therapy into their everyday life. Change is not easy, and accepting what is known is often more comfortable. Change occurs when the pain to remain the same is greater than the discomfort associated with the uncertainty of change. Here you will find a warm, welcoming, non-judgmental space to embrace the courage to change, heal and become the best you. The soon-to-be Dr. Octavia Sutherland is pursuing her educational doctorate (EdD) in Community Care & Counseling: Traumatology.

Working through the  difficulties of life with skilled and compassionate professionals offers many benefits, such as:

  • Improving belief in self and demonstrating self-control
  • Improving communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills
  • Feeling more successful (and more joyfully) connected with others
  • Reducing stress (which also promotes physical health)
  • Improving family connections and interactions
  • Learning new behaviors and responses to achieve your goals
  • A better understanding of thoughts, feelings, and responses
  • Reducing youth behavior difficulties, substance use, and association with antisocial peers
  • Making parental engagement in children’s behavior more effective
  • Have a safe and friendly ear; someone to use as a sounding board

We also conduct various workshops and training on numerous topics for professionals, adults, and adolescents: