Addiction Therapists in Nashville

We all have a desire for a fulfilling and joyful life. Oftentimes obstacles come in the way of achieving that, whether that be loss, relationship issues, anxiety, trauma, addiction, depression, struggles with purpose and identity, life transitions, difficulty processing emotion etc. My goal is to provide a safe and nonjudgemental space where people can explore these significant experiences. I am passionate about helping others pursue growth and healing that can lead to wholeness - mentally, emotionally and in relationships. I look forward to supporting and encouraging you on your journey to a truly fulfilled life.

I’m Robert, a Marriage and Family Therapist based in Middle Tennessee. I believe therapy works best when it feels human—warm, honest, and grounded in real life. My work is shaped by years of sitting with individuals, couples, teens, and families as they navigate anxiety, disconnection, faith questions, transitions, and the quiet pressures that build over time. I don’t see people as problems to be fixed, but as stories that deserve understanding, dignity, and care.

A Nashville native, aka unicorn, I identify as she-who-seeks-to-shine-light, as a holder-of-space, a gentle ear/shoulder and a supportive hand. I am also a mother to 4 movers and shakers, spouse to a man I believe to be equally yoked, and I enjoy nature, travel (not vacations!), reading, hiking and thrifting.

I'm a psychotherapist with over 30 years of clinical experience. My interest in this work began early, shaped by growing up in a codependent and emotionally complex family system. From a young age, I was drawn to understanding human behavior, emotional regulation, and the way people adapt to survive. Later, my professional path was deepen by my own lived experience of addiction and long-term recovery. With 38 years in recovery, I bring a grounded, compassionate, and non-patholigizing lens to the therapy process. This experience informed my deep respect for the nervous system, attachment patterns, and the intelligence of adaptive responses. My approach is relational, somatic, and experiential. I integrate nervous system based and parts – informed modalities to support healing that unfolds through safety, pacing, and attuned presence. I am particularly interested in helping people move beyond insight, alone toward embodied, change, integration, and renewed agency. I believe therapy works best when it honors both resilience and vulnerability, and when healing is approached as a collaborative process rather than something imposed.

I believe good therapy starts with a genuine human connection. Clients often tell me they appreciate that I’m both compassionate and straightforward, and that I’m willing to ask meaningful questions while staying steady when conversations become difficult. My clinical work is shaped by a strong foundation in both research and practice. I hold a BA in Psychology, a master’s degree in Counseling, and a PhD in Clinical Counseling. I am trained in EMDR, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples. These approaches guide my work, but therapy with me is never rigid or one-size-fits-all. I tailor the process to each person or couple, focusing on what will be most helpful for your specific goals. I’m especially interested in how early experiences, trauma, and relational patterns influence the ways we cope, connect, and protect ourselves. Much of my work involves helping people develop greater emotional awareness, work through shame and self-criticism, and create more secure and meaningful relationships. Outside the therapy room, I’m a family-oriented person who values time with the people closest to me. I enjoy traveling, exploring new places, and recharging that way. I’m also a lifelong Chicago sports fan, particularly the Bears and the Cubs, which means I’m familiar with patience, hope, and sticking with something through ups and downs!

Life can feel overwhelming, and sometimes old patterns keep us stuck in places we don’t want to be. I help individuals, couples, and families untangle those patterns and create healthier ways of living and relating. My style is empathetic, intuitive, and a little playful. I’ll listen deeply, but I’ll also challenge you and bring creativity into the process. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, relationship struggles, parenting challenges, or family conflict, therapy with me is a safe place to plant new seeds of change, mend what’s been broken, and begin to bloom. Taking the first step toward therapy can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you’re feeling stuck or weighed down, I’d be honored to walk alongside you. Together, we can plant seeds of healing and growth so you can move toward the life and relationships you long for.

With almost twenty years as a therapist, and having completed training in attachment science, addiction and trauma, I offer clients a safe and judgment free space to work on their concerns. My undergraduate degree is in Social Work and Psychology. My graduate degree is a Master of Marriage and Family Therapy. I also value my life experiences as a human, woman, wife, mother and grandmother, in no particular order.

Hello! I’m Gwen Pontikes, the dedicated therapist behind Therapy with Gwen, specializing in trauma and addiction. With experience in supporting clients facing mental health challenges and substance use disorders in residential settings, I bring a wealth of life experience to my therapy practice. My own journey through a childhood marked by addiction and codependence has shaped my approach to therapy. Having navigated my struggles with anxiety and depression, I’ve gained valuable insights into managing childhood dysfunction and overcoming unhealthy coping mechanisms. I also understand the complexities of supporting a loved one through addiction recovery, which inspired me to transition into a second career in counseling. Throughout my life, I have cared for my parents during their declining health and end-of-life issues, striving to balance my responsibilities to them, my spouse, my children, and myself in a healthy manner. The grief I faced from losing my parents has deepened my understanding of life’s emotional challenges, allowing me to offer compassionate support to my clients. I prioritize my own wellbeing as a therapist by seeking supervision and consultation, and I invest in my personal growth through therapy. This commitment helps me be the best therapist I can for my clients.

I believe my purpose is to help you find yours. After getting sober from addiction in my early 20's, I realized there was so much information that I was unaware even existed. My most important goal at that point was to learn as much as possible to help others avoid the pain and suffering that comes with not knowing, while maximizing their full potential.

I strive to become the best I can be in and out of the therapy room. I enjoy reading, singing, listening to music, working out at the gym, and exploring new ideas. Water sports, running/walking, and hiking are my outdoor activities of choice. Playing a board or strategy game with my friends and family are ways I stay connected and are what I look forward to after some time with myself. I am grateful to worship at St. Elizabeth Orthodox Christian Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. On our journey, I want to help you gain more self-knowledge and channel your thoughts, emotions, and desires in a way that helps bring you to a place of greater wholeness and connection.

Kate Moyer is not a traditional therapist but practices under her Yoga Therapy licensure as a Somatic Practitioner. She has been in the mind-body world for over 15 years, teaching groups and individuals in-person and online. Inviting others to live mindfully and showing them how to is Kate’s great passion and calling. Witnessing the profound effects of Mindful Living in her own life, Kate has found that there is a way not to be plagued by stress and for the body and mind to heal. Combining trauma-informed yoga, mindfulness, and somatic practices with the simplicity of slowing down and supporting the nervous system, Kate helps others experience how to be in the present moment, where true healing happens. In individual sessions, whether you are coming for mental, physical, or emotional support, Kate will suggest and perform the practices she feels would be most beneficial for your mind/body.

I believe that each individual is special and unique. Therefore my therapeutic technique is tailored to best serve my client's personal needs. I utilize a holistic approach to therapy, which considers the entire human being and collective life experiences. This method includes physical and spiritual contexts as well as mental well being. I am licensed in the states of TN and IL, and offer both in person and virtual therapy sessions. I’ve been practicing since 2011 and my areas of specialty are grief, trauma and loss, depression and anxiety, substance abuse, women’s issues, and helping those in a transitional phase of life. I would be honored to walk alongside you on your personal journey.