Shrink Itwith CJ Horner, LPC, LPCC

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EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL START

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I'm CJ Horner. If you've known me professionally or personally for many years, you probably know me as Claire Horner. I hold 2 Master's degrees in psychotherapy, am nationally certified, and state licensed in Georgia as a professional counselor and California as a clinical counselor. 

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My pronouns are she/they. I am genderqueer and femme. The range of expression among humans is beautiful, fun, and welcome here.

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After growing up in Gwinnett County just northeast of Atlanta, GA, I graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. degree in Rehabilitation Services in 1998. For 2 years, I worked in Stockbridge for WORKTEC running the Mobile Assessment Unit. To this day, WORKTEC is an innovative program providing employment, community services, behavioral health, and workforce training. 

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I was getting in trouble spending too long writing my reports and turning the solo interviews into "therapy" sessions. I thought it was time to return to school.

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Assisting others in finding their strengths, talents, and passions led me to pursue a

masters in Professional Counseling at Georgia State University while also attending

Richmont University for a masters in masters in Christian Psychological Studies.

 

The theology degree was a tough, yet natural, decision. 

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I thought it was crystal clear that to best work alongside those abused by clergy or within the Church, it would be best to have a degree that brought psychology and theology together.

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This additional full-azz degree, plus my experience growing up in a fundamentalist religious atmosphere, provides a level of understanding that can assist those healing from doctrines that went too far, contributed to abuse within the home, or were isolating in ways that have made moving into adulthood… complicated. My religious deconstruction has been thorough and is ongoing. I do believe it is intrinsically tied to the deconstruction of the colonizational roots of my white heritage. I call it ancestral dialysis - this blood needs regular cleansing and infusions of love. 

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After completing both degrees by early 2004, I became licensed on Valentine’s Day, 2007!​​

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SPECIALIZATIONS

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Since that time, I've split my focus between being a Relationship Translator for couples at all stages of commitment and partnering in the deep dive healing work with those recovering from sexual trauma.

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Group therapy is a beautiful, but entirely different animal than the individual or couples space! Prior to the beginning of the pandemic, since I believe everyone could have benefitted from Relationship Class in school, I offered a long term multi-gender Process group. Among other groups throughout the years, the Advanced Sexual Trauma group ran from 2015 - 2021, as well as a bookclub/solo study style support group for sexual trauma. As of 2026, I'm extending a 2 year rest period from groups. But be ready!

 

In late 2022, I moved to San Diego, California and expanded group services for those healing from sexual trauma into the TEAL Trauma Groups that were available online through 2024. I also co-own the company "RESET trauma unstuck" with Dr. SaDohl Jones. We launched The F O F Podcast in 2023 connecting survivors to resources throughout the United States and internationally.

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My work in corrections at the start of my career fueled my passion for assisting all people to raise their awareness of how to better care for themselves, to reduce the stigma of mental illness, and to slow down generational traumas.

 

From 2012 to 2019, I enjoyed being the Atlanta office for Relationship Counseling Center based out of San Francisco. Sevin Philips had a vision for connecting people (coupled or not) to professionals trained to help them improve their relationships. He was featured often in the media on the West Coast, was the warmest human, and RCC therapists adored him. Unfortunately, he died suddenly by illness. We miss him to this day.

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*I am always glad to discuss questions or concerns about the theology degree. There has been so much hurt and abuse within the Church, that I thought it best to gain particular education in this area. I do not hold exclusionary conservative beliefs that would lead to judgment that is not conducive to effective therapeutic practice. I welcome those who are atheist, agnostic, spiritual, or religious. We can talk about what that looks like for you specifically in our consultation/1st session.

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I am presently a member of the Georgia chapter of the Licensed Professional Counselors Association, The California Association for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors, the Atlanta Group Psychotherapy Society, and the American Group Psychotherapy Association. 

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