Career Counseling Therapists in Nashville, TN

Sometimes life doesn't go the way we thought or planned. Maybe it's your career, relationships, loss of a friend or loved one, parenting or all of the above. We have so many struggles and mountains to climb in life but you don't always have to go through those alone.

There are times life becomes difficult. Obstacles present themselves and you just need guidance on how to overcome or cope with them. Situations may cause you to feel as if there is a loss of control of your life. Generational challenges, including trauma, addictions, communication problems, and stress could cause a once balanced lifestyle become chaotic. Life happens and everyone needs an advocate. For those times I am there to help clients, move forward and maneuver life, family, career, and social interactions.

We specialize in sports performance, sports psychology and mental health for athletes. Regardless of the challenge you face, our role is to guide you toward a more fulfilling and satisfying life in and out of sport. We'll help you focus on what is most important to you and teach you how to overcome the barriers that get in your way (e.g. stress, anxiety, relationships, etc.). This will include helping you gain a deeper understanding of your concerns as well as teaching you specific skills and strategies you can use to manage the challenges you face, and ultimately move toward the goals you have in your life.

I believe that everyone should live their life without judgement, fear or distress. Developing trust with your therapist is the most important first step in a therapeutic relationship. Once trust and rapport has been established, I will work with you to develop the goals of therapy. If you are having difficulties with a past trauma, abuse, neglect, domestic violence, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and career or life transitions. I am here to help you build management and coping skills. A vast majority of my experience has been working with individuals that have an array of social and behavioral difficulties.

As a Board Certified Christian Counselor, I believe stress can get in the way and that the anxiety that results can lead to getting stuck in life. Often this requires identifying what issues are "getting in the way" of our happiness. Importantly, individuals yearn to construct a new path that has a sense of purpose. Similarly, life issues fragment marriages that require realignment. Our Hope-Focused counseling approach is designed to identify and resolve your distinctive issues, so that your life may be may be repurposed in both your personal and professional life, focusing on what truly matters.

**Now Accepting New Clients** I see adults and adolescents who typically present with anxiety and/or depression. If I had to name just one specialty, it would be anxiety. Most people suffer some form of it at some point in their lives. When left untreated, it can lead to more severe symptoms and a whole host of diagnoses. I practice primarily Cognitive Behavioral techniques. I will talk to you about your beliefs, expectations, and how you experience the world. I'll teach you to be more accepting of yourself, so you can stop judging and reacting from created stories. I will also help you improve foundational behaviors.

Tangible support for measurable results in your life- this is my passion and calling. You'll get forward motion now, and momentum, goals and strategies that are sustainable for you. Based on *you* we custom-fit life to your unique strengths and limitations. You'll flourish and be more satisfied, armed with new skills (like decision-making) crisp new perspective and trajectory that are right for you. For a *free* 15-minute phone consult, email me.

Are you overwhelmed and burnt out? Do you feel pressure to make other people happy and find that you have no time for yourself? Do you constantly feel like you're not meeting your own expectations? People might think that you have it all together, but on the inside, you feel constant stress and pressure. This makes it difficult for you to find time to relax because you always feel like there is something you need to be doing. I commonly see people who feel like imposters, worry about upsetting others, and struggle with being confident.

We all at times feel inadequate, have a loss of direction, identity, and/or authenticity which transitions into a loss of real relationship. Our feelings, anxiety, depression, life losses, medical conditions, and other mental health challenges can knock us off balance. I am here to walk alongside others in finding a healthy path and learning to deal with reality in a positive way. My goal is to equip clients with healthy tools to live their best lives- a life that is true to themselves, that is whole, authentic, and empowering, providing contentment & fulfillment.

At times we all experience difficulty adjusting to life changes, feeling trapped in negative relationships (self, family, peers, partner), challenged with low self confidence, lack of boundaries, low mood, and overwhelming anxiety. Or perhaps reenacting past traumas or learned patterns of dysfunction. If you are stuck and not moving forward, then I encourage you to pursue this next step. It is time for self care. With me you will experience a warm, welcoming, and safe environment. It is important that you feel comfortable and empowered throughout this growing process.

Today, you've taken the most difficult step toward feeling better by considering professional help. Are you ready to address unhealthy behaviors that keep you from living the life you desire? Do you want to progress toward your goals? Whether you're struggling with relationships, life transitions, anxiety, or trauma I will help you uncover the root issues holding you back and support you with a plan that promotes real change in your day to day life. During this process you will begin to see that you're not alone and feelings of emptiness & isolation will diminish over time.

My work as a therapist is based on a conviction that our choices and relationship patterns are fueled by our need to experience wholeness and heal the brokenness of our past. This concept lies at the core of attachment theory and is a powerful tool for helping us understand why we struggle with others and with our own internal critic. In my therapeutic work, I leverage aspects of Imago, Solution-focused, and Internal Family theories to help clients progress towards deeper and more meaningful connections with themselves and others.

***NOW ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS*** At Ascend Counseling, PLLC we believe that all people deserve a place to come as they are. As seasoned therapists, we provide a safe, collaborative experience for our clients combining empathy with professional excellence to guide the therapeutic process. Many therapeutic practices simply help you manage your symptoms and/or survive the next crisis. But at Ascend Counseling, PLLC, we believe that therapists should offer more. We will work with you to identify and address the root issues that perpetuate interpersonal problems. With us, you'll get to the bottom of things so that you can move forward!

Fabolous once stated "I am a movement by myself, but I am a force when we're together". I am looking to assist individuals ready to become a force. Willing to become the pioneers of their lives and take full control of their destiny. I am a true believer that when equipped with the right knowledge and resources individuals can overcome any obstacle faced. I will aid as a support providing therapeutic tools and evidence-based practices. Most of the people I have assisted come from vulnerable populations impacted by poverty, incarceration, substance use, and all other forms of abuse.

**I am currently accepting new clients for in-person or virtual therapy, as well as Saturday appointments to accommodate your schedule. Please call to discuss your goals for therapy. I enjoy working with individuals and couples to improve their relationship challenges. If you are struggling with your marriage, blending a step-family, infidelity, a divorce or any other family issue, I can help. Let's work together to develop a plan that will improve all areas of your life and your relationships. I look forward to working with you to achieve your goals.

Many times life throws us unexpected curve balls, and if we can catch them, we find that with a little help we come out much stronger, wiser, and ready to embrace life for a better future. I want to help you do that very thing. I have been a therapist for 30 years and I enjoy helping people find new dreams out what they believe to be lost possibilities. I have also raised four wonderful children and am personally familiar with life's seeming messiness that can evolve in ways we could not have predicted.

Through an integrative, person-centered, and holistic counseling approach, Cory equips and empowers his clients to confidently move toward their own goals. His endless curiosity and desire to learn from and connect with others drives him to take clients from all walks of life: children, teenagers, individuals, and couples. From relationship issues, family dysfunction, difficult transitions and symptoms of anxiety or depression; to emotional literacy, relational tune-ups, spirituality, and exploring the problems you can’t quite put your finger on, Cory genuinely desires to walk alongside you in your healing journey.

I work with individuals and couples and families who seek to improve their communication, intimacy and overall health in their own lives and relationships. I offer respectful, non-shaming, honest and insightful help for interacting with others in romantic, social and work environments. I have compassion, wisdom and insights for those that have experienced trauma, addiction, blurred boundaries and all levels (too much, or lack) of emotions in their upbringing, and current life situations and relationships. Life can be stressful, I offer tools and insights to help you navigate challenges.

One of the most difficult questions to answer is often the simplest one: What do you want? We often fixate on the needs and desires of others, losing touch with our own. I believe your desires are powerful beyond belief. They make you unique and hold the key that unlock freedom and opportunity. As we discover them, we can heal blocks, often past trauma, that hold us back, in order to create something new. I'd love to partner with you and explore where you've been and want to go. Together, we will co-create a beautiful path forward and write a compelling next chapter where you play the Hero.