Best counselors in West Columbia
This list ranks the 15 highest-scoring counseling and mental health providers in West Columbia by their earned composite methodology score, covering practices and individual clinicians who handle a broad range of concerns rather than one narrow niche.
Providers with a sharper focus are broken out on their own pages: see the best mental health & anxiety counseling, child & adolescent counseling, substance abuse & addiction counseling, and career & life coaching. This page instead ranks the most well-rounded providers overall.
Picks are ranked by score and relevance to counselor, 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 (292) | — | Walk-in care, body and mind together |
| 2 | Oceanic Counseling Group LLC | 87 | 4.9 (61) | — | Long-term therapeutic relationships |
| 3 | LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Columbia | 86 | 4.9 (90) | — | Combined therapy and psychiatric medication |
| 4 | Columbia Therapy and Counseling | 85 | 5 (32) | — | Couples and root-cause work |
| 5 | Evans Counseling & Consulting, LLC | 85 | 4.7 (72) | — | Grief, relationships, and affirming care |
| 6 | LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Columbia | 85 | 4.7 (171) | — | Specialized psychiatric services |
| 7 | Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Columbia | 85 | 4.7 (281) | — | High-volume practice with telehealth |
| 8 | LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Columbia | 84 | 4.6 (411) | — | Convenient booking, provider-dependent fit |
| 9 | Brandi Burris, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner | 84 | 5 (27) | — | Psychiatric medication with education |
| 10 | William Walkup, Psychiatrist | 84 | 4.9 (76) | — | Experienced psychiatric care |
| 11 | Hopkins Counseling and Consulting, LLC | 83 | 5 (22) | — | Anxiety and trauma with flexible hours |
| 12 | Mary DuBose Counseling + Consulting | 83 | 4.9 (35) | — | Complex trauma and ketamine-assisted therapy |
| 13 | Ellen Marie Walker, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner | 82 | 5 (19) | — | Responsive medication management |
| 14 | Annie Old, Counselor | 82 | 5 (18) | — | Complex trauma with a warm approach |
| 15 | Charlotte Chrisp, Counselor | 82 | 5 (18) | — | Actionable guidance for grief and anxiety |
Ranked picks
Sunset Primary Care
Why it ranks first
Sunset Primary Care built its high score on patients who feel genuinely listened to by physicians like Dr. Scotty and Dr. Jannette Shelley, with mental health treated as part of routine visits rather than a separate referral. Same-day walk-ins and transparent $70 pricing without insurance make it one of the most accessible entries here.
Pros
- Mental health addressed alongside physical health
- Transparent pricing, no insurance needed
- Short waits and same-day availability
- Physicians praised for listening and explaining clearly
Watch out: One recent review alleges disrespectful treatment and discrimination, a serious outlier against an otherwise strongly positive record.
Services: mental health counseling
Oceanic Counseling Group LLC
Why it ranks second
Oceanic Counseling Group draws a loyal following for therapists like Rayniece, Merlyn, Megan, and Michelle, with families reporting real gains in children's emotional regulation and academic performance over months of work. No complaints surface in its review record, which is unusual at this volume.
Pros
- Named therapists with strong patient loyalty
- Evening and weekend appointments available
- Trauma-informed, judgment-free approach
- Measurable progress over time reported by families
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, substance abuse counseling, grief trauma counseling
LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Columbia
Why it ranks third
This LifeStance location pairs engaged talk therapy with medication management under Dr. Walkup, whose precise prescribing changes get repeated credit for turning patients' care around. Telehealth is available for first appointments, useful for anyone hesitant to start in person.
Pros
- Dr. Walkup's reputation for accurate medication matching
- Staff accommodate rescheduling and family involvement
- Telehealth option for first-time visits
- Fast script turnaround noted by patients
Watch out: One patient reported no improvement after two months of Spravato treatment and unanswered follow-up emails.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, career life coaching
Columbia Therapy and Counseling
Why it ranks fourth
Tim Bedford has clients who stay for years, crediting him with helping them recognize behavioral patterns and rebuild communication in their marriages. Virtual sessions hold up well according to reviewers, so location isn't a barrier here.
Pros
- Deep listening that uncovers root causes, not just symptoms
- Effective couples therapy improving communication
- Virtual sessions without a drop in quality
- Long client retention, some spanning years
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, career life coaching, grief trauma counseling
Evans Counseling & Consulting, LLC
Why it ranks fifth
Evans Counseling & Consulting earns its high marks from clients who credit Tyler and Richelle Bowman with helping them through loss, marriage strain, and personal growth, describing sessions that feel more like honest conversation than clinical routine. Front desk staff Penny and Kevin also get called out for warmth and responsiveness.
Pros
- Named therapists with strong track records
- Welcoming first-visit experience
- Blends professional insight with humor and warmth
- Affirming care noted for queer and Black clients
Services: mental health counseling, career life coaching, child adolescent counseling, grief trauma counseling
LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Columbia
Why it ranks sixth
This LifeStance office stands out for coordinated therapist-psychiatrist care and named clinicians like Tiffany Busby, Charlotte Chrisp, and Annie Old, plus access to specialized treatments like TMS, Spravato, and autism testing. It has the largest review base on this list, which adds weight to its high rating.
Pros
- Therapist and psychiatrist teamwork on treatment plans
- Easy booking with insurance coordination
- Specialized services: autism testing, TMS, Spravato
- Clinical staff named and trusted by patients
Watch out: Billing errors and slow administrative responses have frustrated some patients despite strong clinical care.
Services: mental health counseling
Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Columbia
Why it ranks seventh
Thriveworks carries the highest review count in this ranking, with most patients naming Celeste, Lee, Yvonne, or Susan as compassionate, collaborative clinicians. Its size means faster availability, though fit with a specific therapist matters more here than at smaller practices.
Pros
- Named clinicians with strong client loyalty
- Telehealth and in-person options
- High review volume suggests easy availability
- Good therapist-client matching reported by most
Watch out: One reviewer described a therapist who declined further treatment and charged for a short session while discouraging outside help.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, substance abuse counseling, career life coaching
LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Columbia
Why it ranks eighth
With over 400 reviews, this LifeStance location shows patients consistently praising providers like Dr. Overton and Ms. Sims for attentiveness, plus easy online and virtual booking. Experience here leans heavily on which clinician you're matched with.
Pros
- Easy online and in-person booking
- Named providers praised for compassion
- Flexible scheduling and appointment access
- Large review base for confidence in patterns
Watch out: A handful of reviewers reported dismissive or impatient providers, so clinician fit varies.
Services: mental health counseling, grief trauma counseling
Brandi Burris, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Why it ranks ninth
Brandi Burris earns consistent praise for taking time to explain diagnoses and treatment options clearly, making first visits feel comfortable rather than clinical. Her direct, judgment-free style covers both mental health and substance use medication management.
Pros
- Prescribing nurse practitioner with educational approach
- Smooth referral and intake process
- Thorough and professional manner
- High patient comfort noted consistently
Watch out: Review volume is modest, so patterns here are based on a smaller sample than the top entries.
Services: mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling
William Walkup, Psychiatrist
Why it ranks tenth
Board-certified since 1995, Dr. Walkup has built a practice on patients feeling genuinely understood, with thorough follow-up on medication management. Long tenure and consistent praise for his listening skills back up the score here.
Pros
- Board-certified psychiatrist since 1995
- Known for compassionate, judgment-free listening
- Thorough medication follow-up
- Professional, organized office staff
Watch out: Telehealth platform glitches have caused missed appointments for some remote patients.
Services: child adolescent counseling, mental health counseling
Hopkins Counseling and Consulting, LLC
Why it ranks #11
Karon Hopkins gets uniform praise for patience and practical strategies that help clients work through anxiety, trauma, and life transitions, with evening and weekend hours that suit working professionals. Every review in the record points to the same strengths.
Pros
- Licensed clinical social worker, 10+ years experience
- Evening and weekend availability
- Evidence-based methods (CBT, trauma-focused, solution-focused)
- Consistent praise for creating a safe, nonjudgmental space
Watch out: Review count is modest, so confidence sits at medium rather than high.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, career life coaching
Mary DuBose Counseling + Consulting
Why it ranks #12
Mary DuBose works with combat trauma and emotional overwhelm using both traditional therapy and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and clients describe progress in five months that they compare to years of prior treatment elsewhere. Her specialization sets her apart from general talk therapy practices on this list.
Pros
- Certified in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy
- Deep expertise in trauma and military-related PTSD
- Creates an emotionally safe therapeutic environment
- Offers intensive and specialized coaching programs
Watch out: One former client reported unanswered follow-up calls after ketamine treatment payment, raising continuity concerns.
Services: mental health counseling
Ellen Marie Walker, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Why it ranks #13
Every review of Ellen Marie Walker is five stars, with patients describing thoughtful medication management and quick replies through the patient portal. She's noted for listening to the whole health picture rather than just symptoms.
Pros
- Consistently five-star reviews
- Thorough, careful medication management
- Quick portal communication
- Nonjudgmental, whole-health approach
Watch out: Small review count (19) means this is a promising but less-tested track record than larger practices on this list.
Services: child adolescent counseling, mental health counseling
Annie Old, Counselor
Why it ranks #14
Annie Old's clients, including some with psychology backgrounds themselves, describe her as insightful and genuinely warm while handling complex trauma and difficult life challenges. Reviewers note she brings optimism into sessions rather than just clinical distance.
Pros
- Listens without judgment
- Brings perspective to complex trauma cases
- Personable and optimistic in sessions
- Willing to adapt approach to client needs
Watch out: Based on 18 reviews, so the sample is smaller than the top-ranked practices.
Services: child adolescent counseling, mental health counseling, career life coaching
Charlotte Chrisp, Counselor
Why it ranks #15
Charlotte Chrisp holds a perfect rating across her reviews, with clients consistently pointing to practical guidance and a rapport that puts them at ease from the first session. She covers trauma, grief, anxiety, and depression in one practice.
Pros
- All five-star reviews across 18 ratings
- Listens carefully and gives actionable advice
- Warm, easy rapport from the first session
- Handles trauma, grief, anxiety, and depression
Watch out: Review volume is on the lower end, so treat this as a strong but early track record.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, grief trauma counseling, career life coaching