Therapists in Nashville, TN

Are you struggling against an internal voice that says you aren’t good enough or worthy of love and acceptance for who you are? You may have heard this voice from others in your home, school, or on TV growing up, which turned this voice into beliefs that leave parts of you feeling unseen, unheard, and unloved. This is a common story for many people, however, it doesn't reflect the authentic nature of who you are. You are powerful, you are lovable, and you are worthy. In our time together, I will help you reconnect with your true Self by providing a safe, accepting, and judgment-free environment.

Does it sometimes feel like you’re stuck in the darkness and it’s hard to see where to go next? Do you want to increase a sense of lightness and connectedness in your life and relationships? If so, therapy can be a safe harbor from which to slow down and cast a light in your internal life and experiences and, within yourself, find ways to live a more fulfilling life. I have helped individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, substance use, life transitions and relational issues live life more fully after difficult experiences. I believe in each person's capacity to find the way to a brighter and more meaningful life.

Life has taken you through many difficult paths, and you may be feeling discouraged, uncertain of where to turn. I help people who are feeling overwhelmed with life, with work or school, who recently have gone through a difficult break up, moved to a new city, had a baby, among other life transitions. Sometimes when life gets more difficult we turn to alcohol, substances or other unhealthy ways to “escape”. I work with adults who are struggling with anxiety, depression, addiction issues, relationship issues and life transitions.

Are you tired of constantly trying to heal? Does it feel like other people got a handbook on how to handle emotions, relationships, and work-life balance, but you were left off the list? At this point, you may even have a laundry list of diagnoses - Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, Autism, disordered eating - but you struggle to find success through traditional therapy. If this is you, we need to chat!

I am deeply passionate about helping you work toward autonomy over your life, relationships, health, and goals. This looks different for everyone (as it should), but, for many, a starting point is forming a connection with your body; embodiment is absolutely possible for every body size and experience. We cannot exist without our bodies! I understand how co-occurring issues with food, body image, media, shame, and perfectionism can create feelings of disconnection, dissociation, and lack of control. I also work heavily within the music industry to help creatives build identity while setting goals and boundaries along the way!

Hey there! My name is Sandra and my hope is that Claiming Ground Counseling will be a soft landing for you to slow down and return to yourself. I work with adult individuals dealing with burnout, grief, self-discovery and life transitions. Are you ready to feel like yourself again? Ready to better connect to yourself and your people? My work helps folks find more joy in everyday life.

I believe that we all deserve support and at the core of personal transformation is a duality of self-compassion and desire for change. As humans we are intrinsically wired for connection, resiliency and healing. However, sometimes there are things from the past or other life stressors that cause us to feel stuck and that healing is out of our reach. I am deeply interested in the mind-body connection and believe reconnecting to our bodies can be incredibly transformational. I work with folks in adolescence and adulthood who are desiring to address trauma, optimal performance, depression, anxiety and life transitions.

It is natural to experience a range of emotions; some flooding us thoroughly, and others frozen at our core. Sometimes we all feel challenged by life itself. This is why it can be helpful to seek out a therapist. My counseling practice is focused on helping adults and teens who struggle with trauma, depression, anxiety, and chronic stress. The foundation of my practice is layered. In order to effectively work together, I believe that it is important to understand your past, as it informs your present. Much of our resilience stems from our interactions with attachment figures—It is necessary to consider the context of our life.

I truly believe that each client is the absolute expert on themselves and strive always to create space for clients to feel, be, and show up as their authentic selves. My approach is relational, casual, sex positive, and gender affirming. I take a systems approach to appreciating all the different factors that make up you and your unique experiences in the world. I specialize in complex trauma, and love to work with folks within the LGBTQIA2S+ community, folks struggling to navigate overwhelming emotions, folks struggling with boundary setting, and folks looking to explore and truly find love and compassion for themselves.

Whether a client is someone brand new to therapy, someone with previous negative experiences in therapy, or someone who is ready to begin therapy again, my goal as a counselor is to meet them where they are. I have experience working with clients from a wide range of ages, gender, background, and areas of concern.

My goal as a therapist is to guide you in finding your innate capacity for healing so that you can work through the things getting in the way of being the fullest, most authentic version of yourself. Whether that’s trauma, a complicated relationship with food/body image, sexual challenges, creative blocks, navigating neurodivergence, relational challenges, navigating LGBTQ+ related issues, or navigating the stress of working in the creative/entertainment/music industries, I’m here to support you in building a life you can truly enjoy and thrive in, not just survive.

Most of the folks I work with have experienced relational trauma (abuse/neglect), dysfunctional family systems, and/or social marginalization. Our brains and nervous systems are incredibly resilient and creative in adapting to these challenges. Ironically, sometimes the very adaptations that once helped us survive keep us stuck in painful patterns. My clients often struggle with chronic anxiety, panic attacks, overwhelming emotions, or numbness and disconnection. They may feel intense self-doubt or internal criticism. They may long for close connections but also feel terrified of relationships.

I believe that all of us can benefit from additional support in different seasons of our lives. It takes bravery to reach out and meet with someone, and I’m passionate about building a relationship with my clients where they are able to engage with their own resilience and innate ability to heal. Many of us develop patterns that help us move through and cope with what we have experienced, and often, we realize these strategies are no longer serving us, and are keeping us from experiencing the full life we desire. I walk alongside my clients in helping them become reconnected to their true selves, and reach their goals.

Life stressors and trauma can impact our lives in unexpected ways and reaching out for support takes courage. I value collaborating with individuals to curate space for their healing journey. As a therapist, I am committed to establishing an environment where you can explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences without judgment. I practice from a trauma informed, relational, and anti-oppressive perspective and believe that each person's journey is unique and deserving of respect. My approach is rooted in an appreciation for the diverse backgrounds and identities that each person brings to the therapeutic relationship.

I am passionate about the heart and deeply committed to seeing you live more fully by engaging yours. Because your needs are as unique and valuable as your story, my therapy is grounded in Person-Centered Theory. I trust you to be the expert on your own life, and thus the expert in the room. My approach to therapy is integrative and trauma-informed. While drawing from Somatic and Attachment Focused EMDR and Play and Expressive Arts Therapy, my focus remains on the most powerful tool, the relationship. From my own healing journey, I have come to believe we're wounded in the context of relationship, and we heal in relationship, too.

Each one of us experiences psychological challenges in life that we try to meet using whatever strategies we know. However, sometimes the challenges become too great and our coping strategies stop working. This can be compounded by the fact that we often internalize messages from our society, however well-intentioned, that limit our abilities to understand ourselves and our world. It is in these moments that we can use support from therapists to turn down the noise of the world so that we may find our own inner wisdom about who we are, what we need, and ultimately how to heal.

I curate my sessions to help you navigate these difficulties, allowing you to live with a greater sense of safety, connection, and satisfaction. I am a Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in relationships and intimacy. With years of clinical experience, I help those struggling with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, feeling stuck, or relationship issues, including infidelity, complex trauma, and abuse. I have many years of clinical experience working with diverse individuals and couples. My clients love my authenticity and healing space to rejuvenate and grow in effective therapy that aligns with their goals and values.

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.

If you're an adult overwhelmed by racial issues, PTSD, anxiety, or depression, know you're not alone. I'm here to help you heal, reclaim your life, and thrive. I understand that navigating these challenges can be incredibly difficult and that they can leave deep emotional scars. I offer a safe and compassionate space where you can fully explore your experiences and emotions without judgment. As a therapist working with individuals facing these issues, I deeply understand how these challenges can manifest and uniquely impact your life, and I recognize the interconnectedness between them.