Therapists in Chattanooga, TN

My name is Wendy Bovell, LCSW and I have been a licensed clinical social worker in Chattanooga since 2002. In my career, I have found myself in the role of ally, advocate, guide, supporter and confidant. In my 20 years in private practice and 30 years in the mental health profession, I have found that building rapport and offering compassionate support can be the most effective way to establish and maintain the therapeutic alliance. My training is from the holistic systems perspective with overall health being the primary goal, with a special emphasis on the improvement of our mental health.

I have known since I was a teenager that I wanted to be a social worker. It was when I was 14 that an LCSW was able to connect with me and help me through a dark depression and the amplified anxiety that often goes along with it. It has been my passion since then to provide that same help to others. I have 15 years of experience working in the mental health field, 10 of those as an LCSW. I have experience with individual therapy and group therapy modalities, both on an outpatient and an inpatient basis.

Sometimes our growing sense of self becomes derailed by traumatic life events, depression, anxiety, abuse, career shifts, or other life-altering transitions. I am passionate about joining those who are seeking to discover or rebuild their sense of self in order to build a life they love. If you feel confused about who you are or what has happened to you, I would love to journey with you toward owning your own story through compassion and empowerment. It is my belief that you are resilient and possess resources to move toward healing and integration of mind and body.

Juliet brings a fun-loving and flexible approach to her work with clients, while also offering support, empathy and structure for families in crisis. She appreciates the person holistically and meets clients where they are.

Over the past 15 years, I have loved working with every angle of the family. If you looked at my schedule on any given day, you'd probably see a few married couples, some exhausted and burnt-out parents, a college student, a 4th-12th grader, someone having an affair, someone who has been crushed by a loss or a person who is wrestling through their attraction to the same gender. I often find that a person's willingness to come in and simply talk about things creates at least 50% of the change they are looking for.

What is getting in the way of you being happy? Of being the person you want to be? Feeling comfortable in your own body? Having healthy relationships? And not being ruled by emotions, anxiety, unwanted thoughts, and restless nights? How long have you tried to figure it out for yourself and how many things have you tried without much relief? I get it. It's overwhelming. If you are ready for things to be different, I'm ready to help you get there.

Sex, and the many complexities that come with it, can be difficult to talk about- that’s what I am here for! You don't have to continue living with your sexual pain, dissatisfaction, or dysfunction. Whether the sexual intimacy in your marriage has been hit hard by the stress of life, you want to understand your kinks and process sexual identity, or you are struggling with pain during intercourse, there is hope. I am passionate about helping individuals and couples to create the sexual life that they want without embarrassment or shame.

Life is hard. Maybe you're in a difficult season right now or maybe it feels more like it's been a difficult few years. Maybe you're carrying pain from an abusive childhood, traumatic experience, or gut-wrenching loss. Maybe your relationship status changed. Maybe life doesn't look like what you thought it would by now. Maybe you're not even sure what exactly you're hoping to find, but you don't think life is supposed to feel this way. For whatever reason you find yourself on my page today, it would be an honor to listen and hold a safe space for your hard things. Life will be hard, but seasons change. Hope and healing is possible.

Approaching therapy from a nonjudgmental, open, and accepting perspective with belief in the inherent worth of all people, I have 10+ years of experience working with parents, couples, the LGBTQ community and multicultural families. From helping parents solve discipline challenges to guiding couples in relationship enrichment, I helps people develop uniquely tailored plans to navigate the waters of their family’s own extraordinary journey.

In the words of Virginia Satir, sometimes we prefer the certainty of misery over the misery of uncertainty. As we wrestle with our shame & fears, we often adopt patterns of controlling, avoiding, and numbing instead of accepting and confronting our suffering as God-given catalysts of growth and even purpose. We sink deeper and continue to cling to what is familiar and comforting in the short run, forming harmful relational habits or cycles of impulsive acting out over time. Know that you aren’t meant to bear this burden alone. Counseling is for those brave enough to embrace their vulnerable state and learn from it.

Abby is a Licensed Professional Counselor in both Tennessee and Georgia and is a Nationally Certified Counselor. Abby graduated from Richmont Graduate University in 2012 with a Masters in Professional Counseling and a Specialization in Trauma Counseling. She has since continued her education in Trauma counseling with training in a variety of Trauma Processing methods, healing attachment following Trauma, and military culture. Abby specializes in seeing people of all ages with a history of trauma or abuse, including rape, childhood abuse, combat PTSD, and more, as well as assisting couples with relational and communication issues.

Life is hard and we all need a supportive safe space from time to time to process and heal. I walk with my clients through the trials of life with compassion and 30 years of experience bringing an accepting presence, clinical expertise and if desired, the wisdom of a Christian worldview.

You are worthy and you are enough. Those seven words can feel like an unreachable mindset, I know. Trauma, abuse, neglect, grief, and the weight of caring for others more than yourself can make that phrase feel hollow. Anxiety, depression, flashbacks, nightmares, and isolation are truly exhausting. If you are reading this, I want you to know you are not alone and you’ve already taken the only step you have to on your own: you’ve done the hard work of reaching out. If you are interested in purchasing my mindfulness workbook, click the following link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094LGBVRR

Sometimes extra help and support are needed to successfully navigate through the challenging and difficult situations that arise in life. By seeking therapy, you will receive our support while we work as a team to better understand your challenging life situations. If you make a commitment to change and work on improving yourself and your situation, therapy can give you the tools you need to face future life challenges. In a comfortable and supportive environment, we offer a highly personalized approach made to meet the needs of each individual client and/or family to help them achieve personal growth.

There are times in our lives where we feel overwhelmed and are experiencing emotional distress for a variety of reasons. Working with a therapist can help with addressing these difficulties and finding the right tools to assist and move forward in life. I specialize in working with individuals who have experienced trauma. Coping with traumatic experiences can lead to many difficult paths, including struggles with: anxiety, depression, panic attacks, nightmares, fear, poor self-worth, addictions, physical pain, difficult relationship dynamics, safety issues, and negative thoughts.

I enjoy working with adults and teenagers struggling with depression and anxiety. I love to encourage my clients as they walk through life and all of its challenges. I believe that each individual I work with has qualities that no one else can offer, it's a joy to be able to observe that during our time together. Each client brings a different experience, and I will cater my approach to work with your specific needs.

Maybe you are grieving; feel anxious, depressed, and stuck in your head. Does it seem like the person you want to be and the life you want to live is out of reach? Learning new skills to respond more effectively to those challenging thoughts and feelings may be all that you need to continue moving forward in the direction of your values. As a therapist, I hope to cultivate a relationship that facilitates change, wholeness, and health wherever you are in your journey.

Life is complex. There are issues from childhood experiences, major life transitions, mental and physical health, failures, and hopes and dreams that you may face. With these issues, it can be difficult to understand how to get where you're going, or even where you want to go. These issues can impact your life on every level. These levels can be personal, professional, social, emotional, physical, societal, spiritual, cultural or even undefined. Together, let's work to find balance, purpose, intention, clarity, healing, your voice... and even a "game plan" to help you cope with and live your best life.

Is life hard and your heart hurting ? Are you struggling ? Do you need relief? Has your family suffered from trauma, loss, change, or heartache? Are you a Veteran struggling? Is your marriage hard? Is your teenager struggling? Are you in professional ministry with no safe place to express the difficulties of ministry. Do you feel depressed after a major life event? I would love to help you or your family!