Tamara Tarver

(she/her)

LMFT, 18 years of experience
No reviews yet

New to Grow

VirtualAvailable

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Tennessee and a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP, MFT) in Nebraska. I work with adults navigating trauma, grief, relationship challenges, and substance use, offering a compassionate, nonjudgmental space where you can feel supported in both your struggles and your growth. Many of my clients come to therapy feeling stuck in patterns they want to change, especially when substance use has become a way of coping with stress, loss, or emotional pain. I help clients better understand the underlying causes of these patterns, process difficult experiences, and develop healthier ways of coping and relating to others. My approach is trauma-informed and relational, integrating evidence-based practices such as EMDR and motivational interviewing to support meaningful, lasting change. I believe healing happens at your pace and within a strong, trusting therapeutic relationship. For clients who desire it, I also offer the option to incorporate faith and spiritual values into the counseling process as a source of strength, meaning, and direction. Whether you are working toward recovery, navigating grief, or seeking healthier relationships, therapy can be a place to reconnect with yourself and move forward with greater clarity and purpose. If you’re ready to take the next step, I invite you to reach out. I would be honored to support you.

Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

Starting therapy can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure what to expect. My goal in our first session is to help you feel comfortable, supported, and confident that you’re in the right place. In our first session, we’ll focus on understanding what’s bringing you in and what you’d like to be different in your life. You don’t need to have everything figured out or know exactly what to say. Just showing up is enough. I’ll guide the conversation with thoughtful questions so we can begin to make sense of what you’re experiencing. We may talk about areas such as stress, relationships, grief, or substance use, depending on what’s relevant for you. If substance use is part of your story, you can expect a nonjudgmental space where we explore it openly and honestly, without pressure or shame. You’ll also get a sense of how I work and what therapy with me will feel like. My approach is collaborative and practical, focused on helping you create real, meaningful change. We will not only talk about what is going on, but begin identifying ways to move forward. By the end of the session, many clients feel a sense of relief because they have been able to say things out loud and feel truly heard. We will also begin identifying next steps so you leave with more clarity and direction. If you’ve been thinking about starting therapy but feel unsure, that is completely normal. You don’t have to have it all figured out to begin. If you’re ready to take that first step, I invite you to reach out and schedule your first session. I would be honored to work with you.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to create a space where clients feel both deeply supported and gently challenged. My approach is grounded in a humanistic, person-centered foundation, where I prioritize empathy, authenticity, and a nonjudgmental presence. At the same time, I am direct and intentional in helping clients move toward meaningful change. Many clients come to me feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward, and I help them begin to make sense of their experiences in a way that feels both grounding and empowering. My work is trauma-informed and relational, meaning I look beyond surface-level symptoms to understand the deeper experiences that shape patterns in thoughts, emotions, relationships, and behaviors. I integrate evidence-based modalities such as EMDR and motivational interviewing, which allows me to support both emotional healing and behavior change. This is especially important for clients navigating substance use, grief, and relational pain, where both insight and action are necessary for lasting progress. I have a particular strength in working with individuals struggling with substance use and patterns of misuse. I approach this work without judgment, recognizing that these patterns often develop as a way to cope with deeper emotional pain, trauma, or loss. This work is not only professional for me, but also deeply personal. My own journey through profound grief following the loss of my young daughter, and the challenges of navigating addiction and recovery, has shaped my ability to sit with others in their darkest moments with empathy, honesty, and hope. I understand firsthand how complex healing can be, and I bring that awareness into my work in a way that remains focused on each client’s unique story. Grief work is another central part of my practice. I understand that grief is not linear and often intersects with identity, relationships, and life transitions. I create space for clients to process loss in a way that honors their experience while also helping them reconnect with meaning, stability, and hope. What makes my approach unique is the way I integrate clinical expertise with a deep respect for each client’s individual story, values, and pace of healing. I do not take a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, I meet clients where they are and tailor the work to what they need in that moment. For clients who desire it, I also offer the option to incorporate faith and spiritual values int

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

I am best positioned to support adults struggling with substance use, addiction, and patterns of misuse, especially when these are connected to deeper experiences of trauma, grief, and relational pain. Many of my clients feel stuck in cycles they want to change but aren’t sure how to break. Substance use often began as a way to cope—with loss, stress, or emotional overwhelm, but has started to create additional challenges in their lives and relationships. I work with individuals who may feel conflicted about change, whether they are just beginning to question their use or have tried to stop before and felt discouraged. My clients are often insightful and motivated but need a supportive space to build clarity, strengthen motivation, and develop healthier coping strategies. My approach is trauma-informed and relational, integrating EMDR and motivational interviewing to address both the root causes of substance use and the patterns that keep it going. I also incorporate grief work, recognizing that loss (whether from relationships or life transitions) is often a significant part of the healing process. Together, we focus on building emotional regulation, increasing self-awareness, and creating sustainable, meaningful change. For clients who desire it, I offer the option to incorporate faith and spiritual values into the counseling process in a respectful and supportive way. I also welcome individuals in ministry or caregiving roles who may be navigating burnout, isolation, or the emotional weight of caring for others, and who are seeking a space that honors both personal and spiritual dimensions of care. My ideal clients are those who are ready to explore change honestly and at their own pace, in a space that is compassionate, nonjudgmental, and growth oriented.

Specialties

Top specialties
Other specialties

Anxiety

Depression

I identify as

Christian

Serves ages

Licensed in

Nebraska

Accepts

Location

Virtual

My treatment methods

EMDR

I’ve been using EMDR in my practice to help clients work through trauma, grief, and painful life experiences. It’s helped many people reduce the emotional weight of the past and feel more present in their daily lives and relationships. We’ll use EMDR to safely process experiences that may still feel unresolved. Along the way, we’ll also build grounding and coping skills so you feel supported, steady, and able to move forward with greater clarity and resilience.

Christian Counseling

I offer counseling that can incorporate your faith and spiritual values as part of the healing process, if that is important to you. I’ve supported individuals working through grief, relationship challenges, and life transitions by integrating these beliefs alongside evidence-based approaches. We’ll explore how your values can serve as a source of strength, meaning, and direction. Together, we’ll use both practical tools and personal beliefs to support healing, clarity, and growth.

Grief Therapy

I’ve supported clients through grief and loss, whether from the death of a loved one, relationship loss, or major life transitions. Grief can feel overwhelming and unpredictable, and there is no “right” way to move through it. We’ll create space to process your emotions at your own pace while also finding ways to stay grounded in your daily life. Together, we’ll work toward honoring your loss while helping you reconnect with meaning, stability, and hope.

Humanistic

I use a humanistic approach that focuses on you as a whole person, not just your symptoms. I believe you have the capacity for growth, healing, and meaningful change. We’ll work together in a supportive, nonjudgmental space where you can explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences openly. Through this process, you can gain greater self-awareness, build confidence, and move toward a more authentic and fulfilling life.

Motivational Interviewing

I use motivational interviewing to support individuals working through substance use and other addictive patterns. If you’re feeling stuck or unsure about change, we’ll explore what matters most to you without pressure or judgment. This approach focuses on your strengths and internal motivation, helping you build confidence in your ability to make changes. Together, we’ll work toward greater clarity, healthier choices, and lasting progress.

New to Grow
This provider hasn’t received any written reviews yet. We started collecting written reviews January 1, 2025.