Best mental health & anxiety counseling in West Columbia
This list covers the nine West Columbia practices where mental health and anxiety counseling is the main service, not an add-on to something else. Each one is scored using our methodology, which weighs rating, review volume, recency, and sentiment together.
Looking for a wider view that includes practices offering counseling alongside other services? See our best counselor overall list. This page sticks to specialists in mental health and anxiety counseling.
Picks are ranked by score and relevance to mental health & anxiety counseling, so a lower overall score can rank higher here.
At a glance
| # | Business | Score | Rating | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunset Primary Care | 90 | 4.9 (294) | — | Uninsured patients, integrated care |
| 2 | Hopkins Counseling and Consulting, LLC | 83 | 5 (23) | — | Anxiety, trauma & life transitions |
| 3 | Pellicer Counseling LLC | 80 | 4.7 (51) | — | Direct, insight-driven personal growth |
| 4 | Bright Side Counseling - West Columbia | 74 | 4.2 (55) | — | Family & clinician matching |
| 5 | Elizabeth Rummel Counseling LLC | 71 | 5 (5) | — | EMDR & DBT during transitions |
| 6 | Jefferson Wellness and Consulting LLC | 69 | 5 (5) | — | CBT & relational therapy |
| 7 | Macon Changes Professional Counseling Services | 61 | 3.7 (7) | — | Clients who click with Ashley |
| 8 | Renew Counseling Services LLC | 29 | — | — | Sliding-scale, multi-modality care |
| 9 | Matters of the Mind Consulting | 20 | — | — | Newer option, limited track record |
Ranked picks
Sunset Primary Care
Why it ranks first
This practice earns the top score in the group on the strength of 294 reviews at 4.9 stars. Patients say mental health gets treated with the same seriousness as physical complaints, appointments aren't rushed, and providers Scottie Shelley and Dr. Jannette Shelley are known by name. A flat $70 same-day fee makes it workable for people without insurance.
Pros
- Mental health addressed within regular primary care visits
- Affordable flat-fee pricing for uninsured patients
- Fast appointment turnaround with minimal wait
- Providers known personally by long-term patients
Watch out: One review alleges discriminatory treatment and disputes staff credibility, though it's an outlier among the reviews.
Services: mental health counseling
Hopkins Counseling and Consulting, LLC
Why it ranks second
Every one of its 23 reviews is five stars. Clients describe Karon Hopkins as patient and non-judgmental, offering practical tools for managing anxiety, trauma, and life transitions rather than just talk. Flexible evening and weekend hours help clients who can't easily get away during the workday.
Pros
- Perfect five-star review record
- Practical coping strategies and homework between sessions
- Flexible evening and weekend scheduling
- Over a decade of counseling experience
Services: mental health counseling, grief trauma counseling, substance abuse counseling, child adolescent counseling
Pellicer Counseling LLC
Why it ranks third
With 51 reviews averaging 4.7 stars, Patrick draws consistent praise for a direct, insightful style that clients say changed how they see themselves and their relationships. Several describe real, lasting personal growth from working with him.
Pros
- Direct, accountability-focused approach
- 92% of reviews are five stars
- Reviewers credit him with lasting personal growth
- Welcoming office environment
Watch out: A handful of reviewers report billing issues like stored cards and unexpected charges, and the style may not suit clients with complex PTSD.
Services: grief trauma counseling, mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, substance abuse counseling
Bright Side Counseling - West Columbia
Why it ranks fourth
This practice holds a solid, high-confidence score built on 55 reviews at 4.2 stars. Clients keep returning because the staff feel genuine and families get paired with a clinician who fits quickly in a calm office setting. In-house billing and broad insurance acceptance, including Medicaid and Medicare, smooth the process.
Pros
- Careful matching of clients to the right clinician
- Calm, welcoming office atmosphere
- Short wait for a first appointment
- Accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and multiple insurers
Watch out: A few reviewers mention surprise charges or slow responses to messages, so it's worth confirming your coverage before the first visit.
Services: grief trauma counseling, mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, substance abuse counseling
Elizabeth Rummel Counseling LLC
Why it ranks fifth
Only five reviews so far, but all five stars, with clients describing Elizabeth Rummel as emotionally attuned and skilled at meeting people where they are during difficult transitions. She's trained in EMDR and DBT and offers a free first consultation, though the small review count means this is still an emerging track record.
Pros
- Emotionally attuned, skilled clinician
- Trained in EMDR and DBT
Services: grief trauma counseling, mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, child adolescent counseling
Jefferson Wellness and Consulting LLC
Why it ranks sixth
Five reviews, all five stars, with clients praising Dr. Jefferson and her team for capable, kind care. The practice offers both in-person and telehealth sessions around Columbia and keeps a licensed supervisor on staff, though the review sample is still small enough to treat this as an emerging pick.
Pros
- Consistently praised therapist skill
- Licensed supervisor on staff
Services: mental health counseling
Macon Changes Professional Counseling Services
Why it ranks seventh
Reviews are mixed here (3.7 stars across 7 reviews), but the clients who connect with Ashley describe her as attentive, practical, and willing to adjust her schedule for them. The small sample splits sharply between loyal five-star reviewers and one-star frustration over cancellations.
Pros
- Empathetic, attentive one-on-one care from Ashley
- Flexible rescheduling when needed
Watch out: Several reviewers report cancellations without notice and being charged for missed appointments, so confirm the cancellation policy up front.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling
Renew Counseling Services LLC
Why it ranks eighth
No reviews are on record yet, but this is a Google-verified practice with a licensed therapist, Kendall Epting, MA, LPC, on staff. Their listed services cover anxiety, depression, trauma, and modalities like CBT and DBT, with sliding-scale self-pay pricing for people without insurance.
Pros
- Licensed therapist (MA, LPC) on staff
- Multiple therapy modalities listed, including CBT and DBT
- Sliding-scale self-pay pricing available
Watch out: No reviews are available yet, so there's little outside feedback to confirm the experience.
Services: mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling
Matters of the Mind Consulting
Why it ranks ninth
There isn't enough recent review activity yet to give a reliable read on this practice. It's included here as a specialist mental health and anxiety counseling provider in West Columbia, but it's worth treating as an unproven option for now.
Pros
- Listed as a specialist mental health and anxiety counseling provider
- Serves the West Columbia area
Watch out: No reviews are available yet, so there's no client feedback to confirm quality of care.
Services: mental health counseling