Dance Movement Therapy in Antioch, TN

Yo! I’m Payton, I’m an openly queer + nonbinary human and my pronoun are they/she! I think that humans are the coolest. My philosophy as an Identity Doula + Healing Practitioner takes into consideration that every human and every situation is different, thus unique tools and approaches are required for unique people and things. Sessions with me will go beyond standard talk therapy, as it is my personal and professional opinion that humans often heal with art, movement, visuals, embodiment, activities, and music better than they do with standard talk therapy alone. (Try to think of this as fun and exciting, not scary or awkward!)

Hello! If you or your loved one is navigating challenges with emotional eating, disordered eating or want to improve your relationship to food and your body, you are in the right place. I am a compassionate and dedicated therapist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders and trauma. With over 8 years of experience, I offer a safe, inclusive, and non-judgmental space for clients to explore, heal and begin a more peaceful relationship to food and a positive self-image. My approach is integrative, combining evidence-based practices with innovative body-based techniques to address the interplay between the mind and body.

Are you a woman looking to connect to yourself on a deeper level? Are you craving change, yet something seems to be holding you back? I am deeply passionate about empowering women to create the life they want for themselves! We ALL develop habits out of survival, and although once protective, those same habits can get in the way of our thriving. I believe life experiences play a large role in how we relate to ourselves, and that trauma shows up in our bodies both mentally and physically. I utilize evidence-based interventions to address the whole client using psychotherapy + wellness principles that support the mind-gut connection.

I invite all parts of your story into the room. I most often hear that what is wanted from therapy is hope and relief. Relief from anxiety, hope for your relationship. I believe you can achieve self-esteem, hope, and healing. I've seen it happen many times. Trusting this process is the first step. You don't have to do this alone. I can stand with you and guide you towards a safe and secure self within life's ups and downs. You can learn how to regain a sense of self, heal from the past, come home to your body, and create a life you find worth in living.

“A flower is not better when it blooms than when it is merely a bud; at each stage it is the same thing — a flower in the process of expressing its potential.” If you are struggling with unresolved trauma, changing life circumstances, or desiring a life that feels more real, I can help you step more fully into a life that you want. While we all come into this world open and innocent, we get hurt along the way, and we pick up patterns and beliefs that keep us stuck in painful cycles. With a holistic and somatic approach, I can be your companion and guide in helping you to unravel these cycles and (re)discover your innate wholeness.

We believe the only means to having long-lasting treatment outcomes is by providing holistic services which treat the whole person, Soul, Body and Spirit. We believe strong individuals produce strong families, strong families produce strong communities, strong communities produce strong cities, and strong cities produce a strong nation. We believe in order for treatment or services to be effective, clients/customers must be fully committed to the process and must take responsibility for bringing about positive change in their lives and/or communities.

It takes courage to reach out for help. I am passionate about partnering and walking alongside others in some of their most difficult moments to help them reach a sense of hope and healing. I believe we are designed to heal. My greatest priority is creating an atmosphere of safety where my clients can feel seen, heard, and understood. There may have been places in your story where you learned tools to help you survive and those tools are no longer helpful but actually keeping you from living from a place of wholeness.

I am a Holistic Therapist meaning I treat mental health through the lens of the whole person: emotional, relational, physical, and spiritual. I offer experiences treating depression, trauma, anxiety, eating disorders and other mental health issues aiming to bring clients into their bodies and out of the mode of traditional talk therapy. These include psychodrama, sand tray, art, and yoga therapy. Wounding happens through living, relational, body-felt experiences and require similar experiences to heal. I create a safe container and relationship for the natural process of healing to occur. Expect to move, breath, and feel... we will not just sit and talk.

We all seek safety, health and happiness in our lives, sometimes supported by, and other times challenged by, our life experiences, relationships and larger environment. Life often provides many resources for safety, health and happiness. When our connection with these resources is somehow block or reduced, we can use a supportive, caring relationship to find our way through worries, depression, dependencies, grief, low self-esteem, relationship disturbances, and spiritual struggles.

As your therapist, I hold with deep respect and appreciation the unique role I play in your life. I know it takes a great deal of courage to start therapy and how necessary it is to find the right fit. My aim is to create a welcoming environment where you feel safe, trusting and open to be yourself. My approach is warm, attentive, caring and nonjudgmental. I am licensed in PA and TN, however only offer in-person options for PA residents and telehealth only for TN residents.

Every individual is worthy of healing and peace, and my favorite part about working with clients is working with them as they find the courage to live out this belief. Journeys of healing are sometimes scary, so using a holistic and collaborative approach, I endeavor to create a space that is nonjudgmental, safe, and peaceful as I aid clients in their work. My approach to therapy includes a combination of evidence-based practices including Restoration therapy and Internal Family Systems therapy, as well as Gottman Method interventions, common factors, and the expressive arts.

Solutions Education Center, Inc. serves adults and youth ages 13-18. We provide early intervention for prevention of substance use disorders as well as assessments and outpatient interventions for individuals who have developed a substance use disorder or are at risk. Solutions provides gender specific treatment opportunities, having both men's groups as well as LGBTQIA friendly groups. We provide certified facilitators for Spanish speaking individuals. Solutions Education Center seeks to mitigate Adverse Childhood Experiences through interventions targeting family violence and parenting programs.