Counseling in Cleveland TN

Everyone needs a little extra support sometimes, especially when feeling stuck, anxious, disconnected, or overwhelmed. Talking with a professional in a private setting can make it easier to share things you might not feel comfortable talking about elsewhere. Having someone outside your usual circle of support can help you see things in new ways, find helpful resources, and practice steps that lead to positive change.

I offer both, and both are good options. Many people prefer to be in person where it feels like they’re getting away from their regular life, but others prefer to meet online for convenience or to apply what they’re learning to their environment in real-time. I like both, depending on what we’re working on. I provide secure, HIPAA-compliant video conferencing to residents of TN and GA, and my office in Cleveland, TN is easy to reach for people in Bradley County, the Chattanooga area, and the north-GA region. Many of my clients have found that a mixture of both types of visits can work well. We can discuss what would be best for your situation and preferences.

Clients have said that my voice and presence is soothing and they are able to relax, which makes healing easier. Besides providing a peaceful environment of support, I like to listen to what’s on your mind and heart. Then I love to share new information to help you understand the internal and interpersonal dynamics of your struggles, which then leads to my connecting you to resources to support your growth. In session, my goal is to help you develop the courage to experiment with new patterns of living and relating to others, to make life more meaningful and fulfilling. I do this through handouts that you can keep to consult later, experiential activities to practice how you want to feel, links to online resources, books, articles, and courses, as well as referrals to appropriate connections and safe, therapeutic groups to practice your skills in as you start to apply them in your regular life. In subsequent sessions, we will debrief how this is going and fine-tune our focus.

I find that my clients see the most benefit when we meet weekly, especially in the beginning. As you you start to see improvement, continuing to meet weekly is more likely to help you maintain momentum toward meeting your goals, but we can discuss what is preferable in your situation. The frequency of sessions often reduces over time in order to continue the support as positive change is solidified.

We will work together to identify therapeutic goals and monitor progress toward them. This can be adjusted at any time and I welcome feedback about the process in order to help you meet your goals as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

Depending on their goals, some of my clients have seen positive change quickly and finished therapy after a few weeks. Others have stayed with me for years, finding value in the process, or returning when a new need arises. I have dual goals: (1) to work myself out of a job by training you to be your own counselor and connecting you to your natural support system; and (2) to be a supportive resource for you over time. I look at counseling as a long-term relationship because that kind of support has been helpful for me to be able to return to, off and on through the years. Therapy is individualized and moves at your pace.

I can bring my best to you by not working with insurance companies. I’ve found that the process of billing insurance can limit the time, focus, and depth we’re able to bring into your therapy. When we work privately, our sessions stay fully confidential — your information and diagnosis do not need to be shared with anyone or stored in an insurance record. You and I decide what care looks like, not an insurance company.

If you’d like to use your benefits, I can provide a superbill for you to submit directly to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Every plan is different, so it’s a good idea to call your insurance provider to ask what they cover for out-of-network mental health services.

Working this way allows me to give you my full attention and flexibility, without the paperwork and restrictions that can interfere with your care.

This information varies by state and can change over time, or with extra training, but in general, in Cleveland, TN:

A Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), which I am, has a 2-year (or more) Master’s degree in a counseling or psychology-related field, plus 3 years of experience under supervision to become licensed. This is similar to Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) and Licensed Clinical Social workers (LCSW). (Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSW) work under supervision or focus on case management rather than therapy.)

A Psychologist has a Doctorate degree (PhD, PsyD, or EdD) in psychology, plus 1 year of working under supervision. In addition to therapy, they can provide psychological testing and teach in a university setting more easily.

A Psychiatrist is a Medical Doctor (MD) with extra training to specialize in psychology, so they can prescribe mental health medication. A Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (NP) can also prescribe medication.

Any licensed professional in this field can also be called a “therapist” or “psychotherapist.”