Family Therapy in Chattanooga, TN

With nearly 20 years of hospital experience as an RN, I seek to integrate my care and knowledge of the clinical setting within my counseling practice. I am an LPC-MHSP(temp), certified in Perinatal Mental Health (PSI), and completed Resolve Through Sharing bereavement training. I am also endorsed by AIMHiTN as an Infant/Early Childhood Family Associate. I enjoy working with adults facing a wide range of issues and employ a variety of therapy modalities tailored to the individual needs of clients. I seek to create a safe and honest space for individuals and couples in their journey toward healing.

Kelly is a Licensed Professional Counselor, is pursuing licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of Tennessee, and is a National Certified Counselor. She works with individuals, couples, and families pursuing growth and healing through supportive, therapeutic relationship. Kelly has experience working with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, career direction, affair recovery, spiritual direction, OCD, sexuality, and marital issues.

I believe that people make sense within their context. And so, I am mindful of context - cultural background, attachment style, family and relationship history, etc. I enjoy the process of listening and attending, especially to those whose voices may feel unheard, such as teens, women, and trauma survivors. My work is informed by an integrative and embodied approach, utilizing various family system theories and trauma-informed interventions. Through establishing a sound therapeutic relationship and safe environment, I am hopeful that your difficult emotions will "make sense," and a story of resilience and compassion will be heard.

"We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are." -Anais Nin per Talmudic origin. We must create things twice; once in our minds, and once articulated. When we think our thoughts, it lights up one part of the brain, and when we speak our thoughts, it lights up a different part of the brain. There is often something very different when we articulate our thoughts, and they change in some way. Talking out these experiences in a narrative way assists us in making sense of how we feel about those experiences.

Good therapy helps promote clarity and progress toward change. I believe that therapy can provide the safety needed for self-exploration and for support in times of stress. And I believe that this safety is created through a trusting therapeutic alliance, which I rely heavily on in my practice. As a clinical social worker, I provide psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and adults who have a broad range of reasons for seeking therapy - these may include anxiety, depression, family conflict, low self-esteem, relationship struggles, parenting concerns, trauma, and loss.

Our lives are made up of relationships or connections with ourselves and others. By examining our past we can provide new roads to the future to improve our lives by caring for ourselves which will improve our relationship with others.

Depression, Anxiety, family conflict and general reactivity are each common experiences in one's life. I work to provide an individualized treatment plan for each person walking through these common experiences. I believe that by fostering curiosity and compassion about ourselves and our own experiences, we learn to react to others in this same way. I work with a wide range of clients varying in age, demographics, beliefs, backgrounds and goals. I work to facilitate this curious and compassionate environment in which my clients can work toward decreasing reactivity through increasing self understanding.

"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness." -Desmond Tutu When we can hear our complete inner voice, we are able to begin tearing away from shame and move toward hope. Relationships & community are the most important parts of our life. This can include relationship with your spouse/partner, family, friends, spirituality, self, etc. Family and friends are a wonderful resource in order to better our relationships but sometimes we need a different place to talk about who we are, what we are struggling with, and how to make sense of our lives.

As a secular therapist committed to social justice, I specialize in working with the LGBTQ+ community, especially polyamorous or ethically non-monogamous relationships. I enjoy working with couples, families, and alternative relationship structures who might be struggling with a range of issues, from communication hangups to parenting to mismatched sexual desire or infidelity.

Austin is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist who is enthusiastic about helping clients find positive change. He has experience working with individuals, couples, and families from a multiplicity of backgrounds, and enjoys finding out what “clicks” with each person. Austin employs creative techniques to help clients feel comfortable and confident during sessions, and he believes that incorporating an individual’s interests, hobbies, and passions into the therapeutic process can bolster their involvement and improve outcomes.

Couples- Are you and your spouse struggling to communicate, adjust to life with a new baby or multiple children, experiencing a betrayal, or to having difficulty in your sex life? Are you recovering from an affair, arguing family, finances, or work? Are you wondering if the relationship can be improved or saved at all? Individuals- Is your personal or family life increasingly difficult to manage? Are you kept up at night by anxiety or weighed down by depression? Do you feel lost in life? If any of these apply to your life, I would love to join you on your journey as a board certified clinician with a decade of experience.

I approach counseling with the understanding that all individuals have a unique story that is deserving of a safe space to process and heal. I believe that the counseling room can be a place that encourages hope and helps individuals enter into a healthier, deeper, and richer understanding of both themselves and others. Although I have a degree in Christian counseling, my practice welcomes individuals of all worldviews to engage with their stories in a way that invites restoration and healing. In addition to my time at Gordon-Conwell, I have been trained in EMDR, DBT Skills Training, and am a Certified First Responder Associate.

My philosophy combines a non-judgmental, compassionate approach to therapy, with honest, direct feedback. I specialize in EMDR to help clients overcome past issues which are keeping them stuck. I welcome people of all perspectives. I will be an active participant in working with you as you seek to address personal and relationship issues.

I am a clinical individual, couple and family therapist. Issues typically addressed in my practice include trauma, depression, anxiety, adjustment problems, emotional regulation, and relationship issues. I am certified in the use of EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. I have extensive training in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (Completed Externship and all Core Skills trainings: Supervision and Certification in process). I am a Registered Play Therapist and work with children ages 3+.

I understand the exhaustion that can come from feeling like you’ve tried everything. Whether you are a young adult looking for services for yourself, or a parent seeking services for your child, I would love to join you in your journey to try and trust the therapeutic process.

Maybe you are struggling to reconcile your past with who you are today. An unaddressed traumatic event. A childhood you wish you could change. A parent whose actions you don't understand. Maybe you simply don't understand where all of your anxiety and sadness is coming from. Your mental health is struggling, and it is impacting your relationships and holding you back from living your life. You are deserving of the time it takes to heal. Your story is valuable, and peace is possible. As your therapist, I hope to help you hold in tension the reality of your past, while encouraging you to find hope for your future.

If you're here, chances are you and/or your loved one is in pain. You want solutions and someone who can help in a compassionate way no matter what your struggle is. I provide expert, professional therapy with in the context of understanding and acceptance, regardless of what behaviors you are struggling with. Using a variety of modalities, I seek to meet you where you are and help you achieve life-long change for yourself as well as in your relationships and family. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it!

There are several things in my life which drive me to be a counselor. My own past with it struggles, acceptances, failures, and successes drive me to do what I do. I am able to sit in dark places, empathize with struggle and loneliness, and challenge ways of thinking and behaving from a non-judgmental place. I love the unique position a counselor has to problem solve through the failures, walk the uphill road to recovery, and celebrate the success and growth that comes out of the journey.

I am a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist who has practiced therapy since 2008. I prefer to counsel from Christian perspective but will adjust to my client's needs. I have significant experience working with trauma, anxiety, and chronic mental illness. I enjoy working with married couples and helping individuals overcome past trauma especially. I am trained to work with individuals, families, or couples on a variety of issues.