Relationship Issues Therapists in Nashville

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 have been working in the mental health field for over ten years in multiple settings. I obtain licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor with Mental Health Service Provider designation in the state of Tennessee, along with being an out-of-state Telehealth Licensed Mental Health Counselor for the state of Florida. I also hold a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialty in play therapy and expressive arts, along with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. I have completed numerous specialized trainings, including EMDR, Brainspotting, Trauma Professional training, Anxiety-Informed Professional training, and Perinatal Mental Health training through Postpartum Support International. My journey of work through the mental health field has guided me to various opportunities throughout the years. I founded and direct a non-profit that works with children with different abilities and their families that utilizes equine, art, theatre, and music therapies and activities. I have experience as a Behavior Therapist for children on the spectrum, have worked at a psychiatric rehabilitation home for adults recovering from severe mental illness, and have volunteered my skills in numerous healthcare settings, on top of providing individual therapy for a variety of ages in the Nashville area. I also have a heart for and heightened experience working within the entertainment business and with those that are involved in the entertainment business.

Melissa Rabell, MS, LMHC, CCTP is a licensed mental health counselor, trauma therapist, and founder of Reinventing Hope Counseling. She works with individuals navigating anxiety, depression, self-worth struggles, grief, relationship challenges, and the lasting impact of childhood and complex trauma. Melissa’s work is rooted in an integrative, trauma-informed, mind-body approach that emphasizes nervous system regulation, somatic awareness, and compassionate self-understanding. She believes healing begins when people feel safe enough to slow down, listen inward, and honor the patterns that once helped them survive while gently learning new ways to live, connect, and choose themselves. With experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings, Melissa brings both clinical expertise and deep attunement into her work. Clients often describe her presence as grounding, warm, and steady. She creates space for people to feel seen without being rushed, fixed, or judged, and supports them in building trust with themselves and their bodies. Melissa is also the host of the Reinventing Hope podcast, where she offers accessible mental health education, trauma-informed insight, and honest conversations about healing and growth. She serves clients in Florida and Tennessee and leads Reinventing Hope Counseling with the belief that healing is not about changing who you are, but about returning to yourself and learning what you need to live a more fulfilling, connected life.

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.

Originally from central Indiana, but I’ve made Nashville my home over the past 10 years. Prior to my work as a therapist, I spent several years working in a non-profit setting with kids and young families. Additionally, I have experience working with families who have experienced foster care, adoption, separation, divorce, and blended families. With a desire to be equipped to do more in-depth and meaningful work with families, I went on to pursue my Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy at Lipscomb University. In my free time I enjoy long runs, playing pickle ball, spending time with family and friends, and finding any reason to get outside.

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.

April Riddick is dedicated to empowering her clients by emphasizing their inherent strengths and abilities through a strengths-based approach. April helps individuals across Alaska, Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia navigate challenges related to anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief, offering a path to spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional wellness. Her clinical approach helps clients achieve balance and well-being, tailored to the unique needs of each person. April is particularly passionate about addressing women’s issues, including postpartum depression and anxiety, which she approaches with empathy and a deep understanding of the emotional complexities involved. Her extensive experience enables her to guide her clients through a variety of life’s hurdles, always with a deep commitment to their personal growth and well-being. Her direct communication style and shared decision-making approach with her clients is important to the therapeutic process.

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.

If a part of you is feeling intimidated by therapy and another part is trying to talk yourself out of needing it, you’re in good company. Before becoming a therapist, I sat in the client’s chair—both in individual and couples therapy. I’ve experienced firsthand the courage it takes to find the right therapist, to risk vulnerability with a stranger, and to start an unfamiliar process. But the reality is, when you have the right clinician, therapy should be the place where you finally feel safe enough to meet yourself.

I'm Adam, a trauma-informed therapist, and I help people who suffer from worries, nagging thoughts, religious fears, or the lingering effects of past traumas. I specialize in helping individuals who are struggling with OCD, anxiety, and trauma. I also help couples work through challenges and rediscover connection in their relationships.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Tennessee and also registered to provide telehealth services in the State of Florida. I am from Ohio originally and earned my Bachelors of Social Work at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Then I went on to earn my Masters of Social Work at the University of Michigan. I have worked in diverse fields from schools, community mental health, an inpatient psychiatric hospital and outpatient therapy. I am a parent of adult children and can relate to raising children and balancing aging and ill parents.

Drea Cook is a relational trauma therapist based in Tennessee who specializes in complex PTSD, attachment wounds, and identity development. She works with adults and couples who are ready to do deeper healing work, shift long-held self-beliefs, and cultivate more connected and authentic relationships. Drea has over a decade of clinical experience across college counseling, recovery-focused care, and private practice.

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.

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.

My goal is to walk alongside you as you explore your story, heal from past wounds, and create new patterns for the future. I take a holistic approach to care, supporting the mind, body, and spirit, while working collaboratively with you at your pace. Whether you’re navigating a life transition, processing trauma, or seeking healthier relationships, I strive to provide a safe and supportive space where you can begin writing the next chapter of your life. I graduated from LeTourneau University in East Texas with a dual Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Counseling. After graduation, my husband and I moved to Middle Tennessee to start our new chapter. I desire to stand in the gap between hard places and life with my clients who may be struggling with trauma, anxiety, postpartum transition, or other mental health issues. I believe that our life experiences are not wasted and can be used for the good of ourselves and others.

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.

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.

My name is Andrea Clemens, LMFT, and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Clinical Director specializing in maternal mental health. I work with women, couples, and families navigating pregnancy, postpartum adjustment, infertility, birth trauma, and pregnancy and infant loss. As Clinical Director, I am deeply committed to maintaining high standards of ethical, evidence-based care while fostering a practice culture grounded in compassion and clinical excellence. I provide supervision and guidance to clinicians that are passionate about supporting therapists who serve families.

I received my Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy from Lipscomb University. I have a passion for helping those facing challenges on their parenting journey, and I’m interested in working with clients struggling with stress management, identity issues, relationship conflict, and processing life events. I have completed Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1 and am a certified Prepare/Enrich Facilitator. I also have experience leading our New Moms Group, and I have loved getting to hear moms’ stories through the experience. I am devoted to creating a space where her clients feel heard and understood by her, as she and her clients work together to implement practical steps toward their therapeutic goals. I understand that parents are often an overlooked population in the mental health world. I am committed to sitting with my clients through the difficult trials life may bring, and empowering them to make the changes they want to see.

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 facilitate insight, positive change, and growth for young adults and adults. In my work, I consider collaboration and the therapeutic relationship to be the foundation of change and healing. I help individuals overcome difficulties such as eating disorders, adjustment to college, grief & loss, and relationship concerns. I am currently offering in-person and online therapy (or teletherapy) to help make therapy accessible to as many people as possible. Online counseling is easy to access and just as effective as in-person therapy. Additionally, I am an approved supervisor for those in the state of Tennessee pursuing LPC/MHSP licensure.

Hi, I’m Jessica LeAnn Smith, MS, LPC-MHSP, AS, a licensed therapist and owner of Smith Behavioral Health & Wellness, LLC. I help clients who are experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, stress, burnout, and life transitions. My approach is compassionate, trauma focused, culturally responsive, and rooted in the belief that healing happens when you feel safe, supported, and understood. I integrate evidence-based practices like CBT and mindfulness, along with Brainspotting and holistic wellness tools to support both emotional and nervous system healing. In our work together, you can expect a nonjudgmental space, practical tools you can use outside of sessions, and a therapist who will gently challenge you while honoring your pace. My goal is to help you feel more grounded, more connected to yourself, and more confident in how you move through life.

With over two decades of experience in the field of social work, I've had the opportunity to work with a wide range of people in many different settings - from medical and school environments to community-based and crisis-focused work. These experiences have given me a deep understanding of the emotional weight people carry, especially when they're in caregiving roles or navigating major life challenges. ​Over the years, I've developed a strong foundation in working with trauma, grief, and loss - and I've learned how to hold space for people when life feels overwhelming or uncertain. My approach is compassionate and shaped by real-life experience. I aim to create a space where you don't have to have all the answers - just a willingness to show up as you are.

Welcome! I’m Susan Martin, a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified neuropsychotherapist with advanced training in trauma-informed, brain-based therapy. I work with adults who appear “high-functioning” on the outside yet feel chronically overwhelmed, emotionally disconnected, anxious, or exhausted on the inside. Many of my clients are professionals, caregivers, or helpers who have spent years pushing through stress, performing well, and taking care of others—often at the expense of themselves. My background includes extensive experience treating trauma, chronic stress, anxiety, nervous system dysregulation, and relational wounds. I specialize in working with clients who understand their struggles intellectually but feel stuck when it comes to emotional relief or lasting change. Therapy with me is collaborative, compassionate, and paced uniquely to your nervous system. Clients often describe my style as grounding, attuned, and practical. I value creating a space where you don’t have to perform, explain yourself perfectly, or “have it all together.” Together, we focus on helping your body and brain feel safer so healing can happen naturally and sustainably.

My professional background includes community health, rural health, pediatrics, private practice, and now independent practice; after completing the Vanderbilt PMHNP program in 2012. I am a Behaviorist at heart, learning techniques through years of equestrian competition and as a BCBA assistant for 1-on-1 behavioral therapy with nonverbal to inconsistently verbal autistic children in-home, in the schools, and at day-camps. Communication and authenticity are foundational inspirations. My life is currently blossoming with playing in the garden, socializing with treasured friends, centering in yoga, international and domestic mountain and beach travel, learning to ride a motorcycle, taking aerial arts classes, Latin dancing, and bringing found object art back into my life. Creating a lovely life for myself and my baby boy is my primary motivator.

I treat clients who seek to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and how they relate to the world around them. Learn skills to help you build a life that aligns with your core values. Master relationships, and begin to flourish toward your personal and professional goals. I use a client-centered, strengths-based approach, to help clients realize their full potential, and to learn how to overcome stress and anxiety. I work with clients to promote positive change by establishing a therapeutic relationship built on trust, to encourage openness and honesty. Gain a better understanding of yourself, and work to improve relationships with your family, friends, and community. Reach out by phone or email to set up an appointment today. Begin your journey toward self-discovery and mastery by building skills that you can take with you for the rest of your life.

I’m a therapist, mother, and amateur baker. I became a therapist for people who are feeling anxious and disconnected from themselves because I know how unfulfilling it can be to live your life in that way. Sometimes, it can feel as if you’re on autopilot. Or you feel persistently on edge and tense. Maybe you’re constantly doing things for other people and you’re noticing just how burnt out you are. You’ve lost sight of who you really are and what you really need. But, you feel stuck and you’re not sure where to start. I’m here to help. I’m compassionate, nonjudgmental, and real. We’ll talk honestly about what you’re going through and work together to build strategies that help.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health Service Provider (LPC-MHSP) in the state of Tennessee. I received my bachelor degree in Psychology from Tennessee Technological University in 2017 and went on to complete my Masters program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Lipscomb University in 2019. I have experience working in the clinical setting with adult individuals and couples. I began working as a crisis counselor in 2019 but worked in the crisis field as a resident counselor, facilitating group therapy before this. I transitioned to clinical counseling, seeing individuals and couples, in 2022 and have loved it since. My work has been with those who are struggling with any form of trauma, anxiety and mood disorders, attachment issues, emotional wounds, addiction, self-worth issues, and adult children of dysfunctional family systems.

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Nashville, TN. I see Couples, Families, and Individuals remotely and in person at my private practice located in Maryland Farms, Brentwood. I am a Nashville native who received my bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and my Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Trevecca Nazarene University. I work with Couples and Families using my advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). I also work as a trauma therapist trained in Level II EMDR. Having been a licensed, practicing attorney in Nashville for over 25 years, I bring a unique perspective to the counseling work. I do with clients.

My love for humans led me here—first as a seeker, then as a storyteller, and now as a therapist. Before earning my master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from Lipscomb University and opening the doors of Power Haven Therapy, I spent over a decade as a nationally recognized mental health and relationships journalist. I wrote for leading platforms including Oprah Daily, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, and Apple News, translating cutting-edge research and soulful insights into powerful, real-world solutions. I collaborated with some of the most influential voices in mental health and personal growth: spiritual thought leaders like Deepak Chopra, Gabby Bernstein, and Julia Cameron, neuroscientists like Dr. Caroline Leaf, and psychologists like Dr. Shefali Tsabary, best known for her trailblazing work on conscious parenting. Together, we helped bring attachment science, emotional intelligence, and inner child work into the mainstream. These experiences sparked a passion in me for understanding the power of attachment and the brilliance of the human brain and nervous system, and pointed me toward the virtues of post-traumatic growth. Eventually, I felt called to midwife healing and transformation—not just describe it Today, with science, humility, and heart, I approach my work as a therapist with devout seriousness, joy, and care, and will never stop being a student of the human experience.

Specializing in career related issues, such as stress, motivation, career path discovery. Also provide individual in couples therapy for issues such as anxiety and relationship dynamics.

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 am a licensed clinical psychologist dedicated to helping individuals reach their potential via offering evidenced based psychotherapy techniques as well as comprehensive psychological testing for diagnostic certainty. I use client-centered approaches based on each individual's needs and offer a supportive and non-judgmental space for you to express yourself and grow.

Ashley Shelley, lpc-mhsp, founder of Melanin and Mindfulness, LLC., a private psychotherapy practice in Nashville, Tn. I work to consistently provide quality and effective therapeutic services that encourage mindful living, meaningful, and sustainably progressive outcomes. Promoting engagement in mental health practices within minority communities is one of her primary professional objectives. I am also a certified yoga instructor and provides services to support spiritual connectedness. Individual/group yoga sessions and guided meditation are additional therapeutic services offered. Along with being a therapist, I enjoy community involvement, blogging, social engagements, and traveling. Connect with her via IG @meandmi_wellness LinkedIn Ashley Shelley

Aspen received a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy from Lipscomb University and brings a wealth of experience and training to her practice. She has completed Gottman Level One Method Couples Therapy training and Prepare and Enrich Facilitator Training, equipping her with valuable tools to support couples. Aspen has also completed specialized training in Postpartum Depression and Related Disorders. Aspen has also facilitated the New Moms' groups and Mommy mixers, offering compassionate support to the group attendees as they navigate their transition into motherhood. Aspen is strongly interested in helping individuals and couples process their trauma and reclaim their narratives. ​ “It is such an honor and joy to see clients and help them make meaning from all the different pieces of their stories. I love facilitating individuals, couples, and families in exploring new roles and experiences in their lives to create a deeper sense of purpose and happiness.”

Hi! My name is Andrea and I specialize in helping those with self esteem issues, anxiety, relationship issues and trauma. I am a firm believer that anyone can benefit from counseling. Whether you're in crisis or needing a place to vent and process, I'm happy to hold space for whatever comes up. You are worthy and valuable, no matter what you've been through and deserve a safe space to talk through it. Even therapists need therapy and that is why I too have been in therapy throughout my life. I am a firm believer that it works if we put in the work. Outside of being a therapist, I enjoy listening to Taylor Swift, being outside, spending time with my dogs and pet bunny, and taking road trips with my husband. If you want to learn more about how I can help, shoot me a message.

I have worked as a counselor in the Nashville area for 20 years with individuals struggling with the effects of trauma, couples in crisis, and families struggling to connect. One of my favorite things about working with clients is the gift of watching the tragedies of life become resilience, character, and hope. I consider it an honor and a privilege to help you find your way out of that dark place and journey to a place of hope.

Before becoming a therapist, I spent many years in music publishing —working closely with songwriters eager to share their stories with the world. That chapter of my life taught me how deeply people want to be seen and heard, and how easy it is to lose yourself while meeting expectations, chasing success, or caring for others. My path into therapy grew from that realization. Today, I bring both my clinical training and real-world experience into the therapy room. I work with individuals navigating anxiety, relationship challenges, major life transitions, and grief/loss. My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and practical. I believe therapy works best when it’s a space where you don’t have to perform—where you can slow down, get curious, and reconnect with your own internal rhythm. Together, we explore patterns, build emotional insight, and develop tools that support meaningful, sustainable change.