Olive Branch Therapy Services marks two years in Laurens with a clinical team of six

Olive Branch Therapy Services is marking two years on the historic square in Laurens, and in that time the practice has grown from a single counselor into a clinical team of six licensed therapists.

Founder Katie R. Sherfield-Tarver, MA, LPC, opened the office in July 2024 with the goal of making professional mental health care available in her hometown. A Laurens native, she attended Laurens Primary, Middle and High schools, earned a bachelor’s degree in visual art from Lander University and a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Liberty University. In the early fall of 2025 she completed the requirements for full licensure, moving from licensed professional counselor associate to licensed professional counselor.

Since opening, the practice has served more than 500 individuals and families.

“Two years ago, I started Olive Branch Therapy Services with a simple hope: to create a space in Laurens County where people could feel heard, supported, and reminded that they don’t have to navigate life alone,” Sherfield-Tarver said.

She said the growth has come from the community around the practice.

“Today, we are incredibly thankful for how far we’ve come. We are grateful for every client who has trusted us with their stories, every family who has welcomed us into their life, every referral partner who has believed in our work, and every person in our community who has supported our practice along the way. We have worked with over 500 families and individuals in our last two years of service, and we couldn’t have done that without all of the community support we have received,” she said.

The clinical team now includes Sherfield-Tarver, who serves as director, owner and therapist, along with therapists Tracie Scarborough, Jessica Wood, Tara Parker, Mary Whitman and Sophie Whitaker. Most of the therapists on staff work with children and teenagers in addition to adults.

Current services center on individual therapy, couples counseling and family therapy. Sessions are available in person at the Laurens office or online through a HIPAA-compliant client portal, which allows the practice to see residents anywhere in South Carolina.

The office is located at 121-C West Public Square in downtown Laurens, and the space was designed to feel less clinical than a traditional medical setting, with a comfortable waiting area and complimentary coffee or water for clients.

For families in Laurens County, the practice has cut down on drive time. One client wrote on the practice website that local families no longer have to travel 30 minutes or more to reach a skilled, caring therapist, and credited the team with bringing quality mental health care into the community.

Olive Branch is self-pay only and does not bill insurance directly, though the office can provide a superbill for possible reimbursement. A sliding scale fee application is available, and the office coordinator can walk prospective clients through the process and answer questions about session costs.

Sherfield-Tarver said the practice is not finished growing.

“What started as a small dream has grown into something far beyond what I imagined, and I know that these first two years are only the beginning,” she said. “As we celebrate two years, we’re looking forward with excitement and gratitude for what the future holds. We hope to continue growing, expanding our services, strengthening our community, and creating even more opportunities for people to access compassionate, local, and professional mental health care.”

Appointments can be requested by calling the office at 864-715-2420 or by filling out the contact form at olivebranchtherapyservices.co. The office coordinator responds to inquiries and sends intake paperwork before a first session is scheduled.