How is Marriage and Family Therapy different from other mental health services?

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who is specifically licensed in the state of Tennessee through the Health Department. All MFT’s are mental health professionals who can assess, diagnose, and treat mental health issues. MFT’s are uniquely trained in providing psychotherapy through the lens of systems--or that all humans understand themselves, others, and the world around them through the context of their relationships across the lifespan. MFT’s have extensive training in working with couples, families, and children. I have personally worked with siblings, parent/child, engaged couples, married couples, and estranged family members.

MFT’s are recognized in Tennessee as foundational mental health resources for the community, along with social work, psychiatric care, psychologists and psychiatric nursing. MFT’s are not able to prescribe medication or offer medical advice, unless they have additional certifications to provide psychopharmacology.

For more information about the MFT field, you can visit the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy website.

Do you offer online/phone services?

I am currently seeing clients in person at my offices in Franklin, Tennessee (Cool Springs) and in Pleasant View, Tennessee (15 miles South of Clarksville on I24), or via Telehealth or Phone sessions for any Tennessee resident.

Do you offer discounts?

I am passionate about mental health for the masses. I offer near-pro-bono ($25/session) to 2-3 clients a week. These scholarships are available upon request, and yes, there is typically a waiting list. I’m happy to answer any questions and make alternate financial arrangements if at all possible. I am also happy to help anybody in Middle Tennessee, client or not, come up with of referral source that provide high-quality and affordable mental health services to meet your needs.

Do you take insurance?

I do not file insurance claims or work directly with insurance companies, but I can give you a receipt at the end of your session, or an automated monthly report. You may then use this receipt to file your own insurance claim, but you will still be expected to pay the full fee at each session.

I want to start therapy, but I want to keep it private from my friends and family. Is that possible?

Confidentiality is your right by federal law. Professional ethics and Tennessee law indicate that the client controls confidential information. This means that, as a general rule, information shared in session with a therapist will be held in confidence, only shared with others with written permission from the client. There are a few exceptions that I cover in depth in our first session together, but in general exceptions include issues of mandated reporting including the client’s risk of hurting themselves or someone else, if there is suspected child or elder abuse, or if the court issues a subpoena.

I have a family member that I want to start therapy, how do I go about that?

There are several appropriate reason’s to seek care for someone else, including exploring care options for a minor, someone with a disability, the mentally ill, or an individual seeking care for them and their partner. I am happy to have a consult call to talk about treatment options for a third party, however it is my experience that therapy is not best used as an ultimatum or threat, but rather something that all parties agree to at a philosophical level. There are situations where that is not always possible. If you are a caregiver and would like to discuss this more, please use the contact form to reach out and we will set up a 15-20 minute call to discuss your specific situation.