Licensed to practice in Tennessee and accepts 18 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Depression, Self Esteem and 9 more.
(he/him)
I am a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist with 25 years of experience helping adults work through emotional, relational, and personal challenges. I work with people experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, major life transitions, low self-esteem, and patterns that leave them feeling stuck, discouraged, or disconnected from the life they want to live. My therapeutic approach combines Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, commonly known as ACT, with psychodynamic therapy. ACT can help you develop a healthier relationship with difficult thoughts and emotions rather than feeling controlled by them. Together, we can work on reducing the impact of self-critical thinking, worry, avoidance, and emotional patterns that may be keeping you from moving forward. Psychodynamic therapy helps us explore how earlier experiences, trauma, family relationships, and childhood messages may still influence how you see yourself and respond to others. Understanding these patterns can help you make more intentional choices instead of automatically repeating behaviors that no longer serve you. In our work together, I will provide a safe, respectful, and supportive space where you can speak openly about painful experiences without fear of judgment. We will identify what matters most to you, explore what is standing in your way, and develop practical ways to respond to life’s challenges. The goal of therapy is not to eliminate every uncomfortable thought or feeling. It is to help you become less controlled by them. Over time, you can develop greater self-respect, confidence, emotional steadiness, and compassion while building a life that reflects your values and the person you want to be.
Your first therapy session is an opportunity for us to begin getting to know each other and to talk about what brought you to therapy at this point in your life. My goal is to provide a welcoming, respectful, and emotionally safe space where you can speak openly without feeling judged, criticized, or pressured. You are in control of what you choose to share. Some people arrive ready to talk in detail, while others need more time to feel comfortable. Both approaches are completely understandable. You may share as much or as little as feels right during the first meeting. There is no expectation that you explain everything at once or discuss experiences you are not ready to explore. I will invite you to describe the concerns, challenges, patterns, or recent events that led you to seek support. This might include stress, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, grief, life changes, work concerns, family problems, problems with motivation, or a general feeling that something in your life needs attention. You may also have a clear goal for therapy, or you may simply know that you are struggling and want help understanding what is happening. We may talk about how these concerns have been affecting your emotions, thoughts, relationships, daily routines, sleep, work, physical health, or overall quality of life. I may ask questions to better understand your experiences, but the conversation will not be an interrogation. The purpose of these questions is to help me understand your situation and begin identifying how therapy may be helpful. We will also spend time learning about you as a person, not just the problems you are facing. You may wish to share information about your relationships, family background, work, interests, values, strengths, cultural background, important life experiences, and sources of support. Understanding these parts of your life can help us develop a more complete picture of your needs. If you have participated in therapy before, we may discuss what that experience was like for you. It can be helpful to know what worked, what did not work, and whether there were parts of therapy that made you feel supported or uncomfortable. This information can help us shape our work in a way that fits you more effectively. The first session is also your opportunity to ask questions. You may want to know more about my therapeutic approach, confidentiality, communication between sessions, scheduling, or what future sessions may look like. You are also welcome to discuss any concerns or expectations you have about therapy. Toward the end of the session, we may begin identifying your goals and discussing what you would like to be different in your life. These goals do not have to be fully developed during the first meeting. Therapy is a collaborative process, and we can continue adjusting your goals as we learn more about your needs. Most importantly, the first session is the beginning of a working relationship. You can expect to be treated with compassion, dignity, honesty, and respect as we begin exploring your concerns and working toward meaningful change together.
My goal as a therapist is to help you better understand what you are experiencing, identify what you want to change, and develop practical ways to move forward. Therapy should be more than talking about problems. It should provide you with greater clarity, useful tools, and a stronger sense of direction. Together, we will explore the challenges that brought you to therapy and clarify where you would like your life to be a month, six months, or a year from now. We will look at what may be keeping you stuck, including patterns in your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, relationships, and responses to stress. By slowing these patterns down and examining them without judgment, you can begin to respond more intentionally rather than reacting automatically. My therapeutic style balances patience, structure, and genuine human connection. I work to create an environment where you can think out loud, be honest about difficult experiences, and explore concerns without feeling criticized or pressured. Clients often describe our sessions as supportive, engaging, and focused. I listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions, and reflect what I hear so that we can develop a shared understanding of what you are facing. I view therapy as a collaborative process rather than one in which I simply tell you what to do. You know your life and circumstances better than anyone else. My role is to help you recognize options, consider different perspectives, and develop strategies that fit your personality, values, relationships, and daily responsibilities. You will often leave sessions with a clearer understanding of your concerns and an “actions I can take right now” approach. I frequently integrate evidence-based methods, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. This approach can help you develop greater psychological flexibility, make room for difficult thoughts and emotions, and choose actions based on your values rather than fear, avoidance, or self-criticism. Depending on your needs, our work may also include emotional regulation skills, mindfulness, problem-solving, communication strategies, and practical behavioral changes. There will always be room for your feedback about our work together. We can discuss what feels helpful, what may need to change, and how we can hold one another accountable to the goals we establish. Over time, therapy can help you experience greater emotional balance, increased self-awareness, healthier relationships, and renewed confidence in your ability to navigate life’s challenges.
I work best with adults who are thoughtful, motivated, and ready to examine patterns in their lives with honesty and curiosity. Many of my clients struggle with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, ADHD or a sense that they have lost direction or meaning. Some feel stuck in habits or emotional cycles that no longer serve them. Others want to strengthen communication, emotional regulation, and self-understanding. I help people slow down, clarify what matters to them, and build practical skills to move toward a more purposeful life. Clients who benefit most are those open to reflection, willing to practice new approaches, and interested in meaningful, lasting personal change.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, commonly known as ACT, is an evidence-based approach that helps you respond more effectively to difficult thoughts, emotions, and life circumstances. Rather than trying to eliminate every uncomfortable feeling or replace every negative thought, ACT teaches you how to relate to your internal experiences in a healthier and more flexible way. I have extensive experience integrating ACT into psychotherapy. In our work together, you will learn how to notice thoughts, emotions, memories, and physical sensations without becoming overwhelmed by them or allowing them to control your behavior. You may still experience anxiety, sadness, self-doubt, anger, or uncertainty, but you can develop the ability to make thoughtful choices even when those feelings are present. An important part of ACT is psychological flexibility. This means being able to stay connected to the present moment, remain open to your emotional experience, and choose actions that reflect what matters most to you. We may use mindfulness, grounding, values exercises, and practical behavioral strategies to help you become less entangled with unhelpful thoughts and more engaged in your life. ACT also focuses on clarifying your values. Values are the personal qualities and directions that give your life meaning, such as compassion, courage, honesty, connection, growth, or responsibility. Once your values become clearer, therapy can help you identify realistic, manageable steps that move you toward the life you want to build. ACT does not suggest that pain, loss, fear, or uncertainty can always be avoided. Instead, it helps you make room for difficult experiences while continuing to live with purpose. My goal is to support you in developing greater self-awareness, emotional flexibility, and confidence so that you can respond to challenges in ways that are consistent with your values and long-term well-being.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, often called CBT, is a practical and collaborative approach that helps you understand how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors influence one another. Many people experience distress because certain patterns of thinking become automatic over time. These patterns can shape how you interpret situations, respond emotionally, and make decisions, often without your full awareness. In CBT, we work together to identify the thoughts and beliefs that may be contributing to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, or other concerns. You learn to notice common thinking distortions, such as assuming the worst, viewing situations in all-or-nothing terms, taking too much responsibility, or treating feelings as proof that something is true. The goal is not to force positive thinking or dismiss difficult experiences. Instead, CBT helps you develop a more balanced, accurate, and useful way of understanding what is happening. Therapy may include structured exercises, thought records, behavioral experiments, problem-solving strategies, and skills you can practice between sessions. We may examine the evidence for and against a belief, consider alternative explanations, and observe how changes in thinking affect your emotions and actions. This process can help you respond with greater flexibility rather than feeling controlled by old habits or automatic reactions. My approach to CBT is supportive, respectful, and tailored to your needs. While Acceptance and Commitment Therapy emphasizes making room for difficult internal experiences and taking action based on personal values, CBT focuses more directly on examining and reshaping the beliefs and thought patterns that maintain distress. Over time, CBT can help you become more aware of your inner dialogue, build practical coping skills, and make choices that support emotional well-being and meaningful change. It is an active form of therapy designed to give you tools you can continue using independently long after your formal therapy sessions have ended.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a form of talk therapy that helps you understand how earlier experiences may continue to influence your emotions, relationships, self-image, and behavior. Many of the ways you respond to stress, conflict, closeness, rejection, or uncertainty developed over time. These patterns may have once helped you adapt to difficult circumstances, but they may now create emotional pain or interfere with the life and relationships you want. In our work together, we may explore important childhood experiences, family relationships, attachment patterns, and unresolved developmental conflicts. The purpose is not to blame parents or remain focused only on the past. Instead, we use the past to better understand the present. By recognizing where certain emotional reactions and relationship patterns began, you can develop more freedom in how you respond today. Psychodynamic therapy also pays attention to feelings, personal narratives, recurring themes, and experiences that may be difficult to put into words. At times, people repeat familiar patterns without fully understanding why. You may find yourself choosing similar relationships, becoming overwhelmed by the same emotions, avoiding conflict, seeking approval, or feeling responsible for other people’s needs. Therapy can help bring these less conscious patterns into awareness so they can be examined with curiosity and compassion. The therapeutic relationship itself can also provide useful information. Feelings, expectations, or fears that emerge in therapy may reflect patterns that appear in other relationships. Exploring these experiences in a safe and respectful setting can support greater emotional understanding, trust, and integration. Psychodynamic psychotherapy may be especially helpful if you struggle with long-standing relationship difficulties, low self-worth, unresolved childhood experiences, grief, shame, emotional disconnection, repeated self-defeating patterns, or uncertainty about why you react as strongly as you do. I often integrate psychodynamic principles with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. CBT can help you identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. ACT can help you relate differently to difficult thoughts and feelings while taking actions guided by your values. Psychodynamic work adds a deeper understanding of how your patterns developed and what emotional needs may be underneath them. Together, these approaches can help you build insight, emotional flexibility, practical coping skills, and a more compassionate relationship with yourself. The goal is not only to understand your past, but to help you make more intentional choices in the present.