About Dr. Z

I’m Dr. Z, Dr. Mark R. Zuccolo, licensed psychotherapist, counselor, behavioral coach and consultant in private practice at Bellagio Psychotherapeutics in Alpharetta, Georgia and online via telehealth.

In my clinical practice, I work from a cognitive behavioral approach (CBT), while integrating elements of psychoanalysis, narrative therapy, and family systems therapy.

The goal of my counseling and psycho-therapeutic work is to help individuals, couples and families identify and change any causes of dysfunctional thinking and behavior, help them make more balanced and realistic appraisals of themselves, their world and their future, enjoy more satisfying relationships, and improve their communication and problem-solving skills.

I lead therapy groups for veterans, law enforcement, and victims of serious trauma or injury diagnosed with severe PTSD.

I work well with people of all faiths, faith-skeptical or of no faith at all, and I am able to integrate spirituality and clinical practice, while respecting the individual wishes of each client.

I hope to welcome you soon to my office or see you online via telehealth. I look forward to working with you!

Sincerely,

Areas of Clinical Interest
I provide effective psychotherapy and counseling to individuals struggling with issues such as acute or chronic symptoms, bothersome levels of anxiety, persistent depression which may be due to difficult family situations, challenging career choices, stalled personal growth and development, and the need to balance family/work concerns. I also provide individual anger management skills training and counseling (either court-mandated or voluntary), as well as stress management education and counseling.

For couples, my areas of interest include pre-marital assessments, marriage enhancement, marriage repair, and discernment counseling.

Emotional Abuse and Trauma Therapy
In the area of emotional trauma counseling, I am a trained clinician in the application of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Progressive Exposure Therapy (PE), which are particularly effective in treating severe cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological consequences of adult or childhood trauma, accident, physical or emotional loss, and physical, emotional or sexual abuse. In less severe cases, my approach utilizes the techniques of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), which is also an approved protocol for the treatment of PTSD.

Behavioral Coaching
In addition to my clinical practice, I work as an experienced executive coach of a select number of senior leaders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and high-potential C-level executives. My coaching expertise focuses on psychological and behavioral issues of concern to executive on-boarding, on assisting emerging leaders with critical development issues, on helping senior leaders address issues that may be derailing their success, and on the acculturation of international leaders.

Behavioral Consulting & Advising
My behavioral consulting and advising practice focuses primarily on family-owned and/or Christian-owned businesses.

Prior Business Career
One unique aspect of my background is my 25-year experience as a business executive with multinational companies, in manufacturing and services, that broadened my outlook and permitted me to travel extensively to all five continents and to interact with people of many backgrounds and languages in a wide variety of settings and situations. I changed to the present career almost twenty years ago, when I began my re-training in the discipline of psychology at Pepperdine University.

Counseling and Therapy Experience
Prior to establishing my private practice in Alpharetta, I trained and practiced at the La Vie Christian Counseling Centers in Pasadena and Santa Monica, California; at the Pepperdine University Community Counseling Center in Encino, California; at the Assistance League of Southern California in Pasadena, California; and at the Summit Counseling Center in Johns Creek, Georgia.

Education
• Ph.D. in Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine (Northcentral University, Prescott, AZ)
• Certificate in Medical Neuroscience (Duke University, Durham, NC)
• M.A. in Clinical Psychology and Marriage & Family Therapy (Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA)
• B.B.A. in Management (Harding University, Searcy, AR).

Licenses, Certification and Professional Affiliations
• Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, State of Georgia
• Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, State of California
• Behavioral Consultant
• Certified Leadership Coach
• Board Advisor and Consultant, Family-owned and Christian-owned Small Businesses
• Principal Therapist and Owner, Bellagio Psychotherapeutics, Alpharetta, GA
• Board of Directors Member, La Vie Counseling Center, Pasadena, CA
• Clinical Member, The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress
• Past Executive Director, The Georgia Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
• Clinical Member, The Christian Association for Psychological Sciences