Graduate Interns
We firmly believe in the power of collaboration and teaming up with a counselor you trust to work through life's challenges.
At Matters of the Heart, we are also a teaching site. We offer an opportunity for carefully selected graduate students to apply the rigorous course work and education to the test real time with client's who are ready for change! By working with our graduate interns, we offer you a discounted rate that is compatible with most "co-payments" so that you can begin your journey into greater mental, emotional, and relational health.
All graduate interns are directly supervised by Joanna Dixon, their school advisor, and have completed their masters level course work. This allows you to benefit from the experience of seasoned therapists as we guide our students through the work they do.
Please, do not let finances be a barrier to beginning your journey. If you have any concerns, questions, or would like to be considered for a scholarship opportunity, please email us.
Julianne Peace
Masters Level Intern
"There's no "should" or "should not" when it comes to having feelings. They're part of who we are and their origins are beyond our control. When we can believe that, we may find it easier to make constructive choices about what to do with those feelings."
-Fred Rogers
Julianne is a Nashville native that grew up listening to vocabulary CDs in the car with her well-dressed mother. Thus, a love of storytelling and pencil skirts was born. As time passed, her love of storytelling morphed into an understanding and appreciation for individuals’ stories. Through her personal and professional counseling work, Julianne has formed a passion for assisting people to process their stories and create more hopeful future chapters.
As a counselor, she hopes to assist clients in understanding their emotions and develop a fuller sense of their whole self. She also believes while an individual sense of self is important, understanding how that self connects with those around it is vital to mental and emotional health. Ultimately, she is motivated by working with her clients to empower their individual goals and make positive changes in their lives, families, and circumstances, made possible with a whole lot of empathy, compassion, and grace. She constantly hopes to provide a safe space for people's hurts and hang-ups. Outside of the counseling room, she enjoys a good Chai latte and the magic of East Tennessee.
Areas of Focus
Grief & Loss
Depression/Anxiety
Women's Issues
Shame & Discontentment
Codependency
Adolescents & Emerging Adults
Media Trauma
Long-term & Chronic Illness Issues
Family of Origin Issues
Engagement/Marriage Counseling
Family Counseling
Parenting Support
Education
Current Student of Clinical Mental Health
Trevecca University
Bachelor’s Degree
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Rebekah Bragan
Masters Level Intern
“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
-Epictetus
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” -Thomas Edison
Everybody is dealing with hurts, habits, and hangups. When it keeps you from living your best life and being your best self, taking the first step to get unstuck is sometimes the hardest. Life experience, personal crises, and various roles have given Rebekah a vast base from which to pull to help maximize your God-given potential, overcome challenges, and celebrate the joys of life. Using a blended approach that is as unique as each individual’s story, she utilizes several therapy models and techniques to help one achieve their goals. Offering compassion, lots of grace, and a listening ear, she strives to provide a safe place where change and growth can happen.
Rebekah and her husband, both from Durham, NC (Go DUKE!), have been married for over 33 years and have four children. Together they have ministered for over 26 years in several southeastern states and WY, settling near family in TN, along with their Bearded Dragon, Beans. Her favorite things are being Mimi, outside walks, a good book, and coffee talks; she is an accomplished pianist and piano instructor, and two-time cancer survivor. Her greatest challenge and joy is balancing her current roles of ministry wife, mom, Mimi, graduate student, piano teacher, and parent-caregiver. Her passion is to come alongside those who are hurting, and help them navigate life, and find healing and emotional health.
Areas of Focus
Pre-Marriage & Marriage Counseling
Family Counseling
Women's Issues
Parenting Support
Ministry Families
Depression & Anxiety
Grief & Loss
Crisis & Trauma
Life Transitions & Adjustment
Chronic Health Issues
Certified SYMBIS Facilitator
Education
Current Student of Marriage and Family Therapy Master’s program
Liberty University
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Christian Counseling
Liberty University
Lillian Eastham
Masters Level Intern
Lillian grew up in Kentucky before moving to Nashville for graduate school. She received her undergraduate degree in journalism at Western Kentucky University. She has worked in several different places, from Spain to Disney World, and worked in a variety of fields The one thing that remained steady throughout all of them was her love of connecting with people.
Like many people, when the pandemic hit, Lillian began to reevaluate her path in life and decided to leave marketing to pursue a career in counseling. She is passionate about helping others walk through different transitions and phases in life, all while having compassion for themselves and understanding the impact of the systems around them.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading books and listening to podcasts.
Areas of Focus
Depression/Anxiety
Women’s Issues
Adolescents and Emerging Adults
Family of Origin Issues
Engagement/Marriage Counseling
Relationship Issues
Life Skills/Issues
Self Esteem
Identity Crisis
Sexual Issues/Trauma
Body Image/Disordered Eating
Education
Current Student of Marriage and Family Therapy
Trevecca University
Bachelor’s Degree
Western Kentucky University
Lauren Blaha
Masters Level Intern
If you’re feeling weighed down, Lauren has a passion for helping lift others up and supporting clients through this thing called life. She recently moved to Tennessee and loves everything this beautiful place has to offer. Lauren is earning her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) at Northcentral University, and has her bachelor’s degree from California State University, San Marcos in Human Development with a focus on Children’s Services.
Lauren's curious and compassionate nature relate well to working alongside couples, parents, children and families. Through her own family and marriage work, she is able to lend personal and professional experience to couples and families in need of a few extra tools for success. Using Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Lauren focuses on what is already working, while setting short- and long-term attainable goals. She will help you focus on personal and systemic strengths while providing you with tools and resources for growth and resolution. Lauren believes in building a rapport and trust with her clients to provide understanding in an approachable and positive environment.
When Lauren isn’t working with clients, you can find her with her family exploring Tennessee, at the barn horseback riding, or crafting at home.
Areas of Focus
Couples Counseling
Parenting
Children & Adolescents
Family Counseling
Marriage Counseling
Education
Current Student of Marriage and Family Therapy Master’s program
Northcentral University
Morgan Johnson
Masters Level Intern
Morgan is a Hendersonville native who grew up with a family that values time with people and finding comfort in nature. She’s carried those deep-rooted values into adulthood and prioritizes her community and finding peace and courage in nature. She has a passion for guiding people to discover their most authentic selves and resting in self-acceptance.
From an early age, she knew she desired to be in a helping profession for her career. After changing her major three times during her freshman year, she fell in love with therapy through an introductory Psychology class. Upon changing her major to Psychology, the dream of becoming a Marriage and Family Therapist was influenced by one of her beloved professors.
Morgan’s goal is to create a welcoming environment for her clients to have a sense of peace whenever they step into her office and to feel comfortable to process whatever they are walking through. Morgan’s dad has been a firefighter since she was a child, and she has developed a passion for working with first responder families through this experience.
Apart from spending time in nature, Morgan enjoys a great cup of coffee, spending time with family and friends, and working out.
Areas of Focus
Individual Counseling
Depression and anxiety
Self-esteem
First Responder Families
Life transitions and adjustments
Relationship issues
Women’s Issues
Codependency
Attachment Wounds
Stress Management
Education
Current Student of Marriage and Family Therapy
Trevecca University
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
Trevecca University
“May you always be the one who notices the little things that make the light pour through, and may they always remind you: There is more to life and there is more to you.”
― Morgan Harper Nichols
Jana Simonis
Masters Level Intern
“Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle.”
- Charles Glassman
Focus on the step in front of you, not the whole staircase.” – Anonymous
Our life is like a book with many chapters being written but you are the one holding the pen. Sometimes those chapters are long, they seem never ending, and some chapters close only to be reopened and reread time and time again. What if your story mattered? What if your narrative could change? What if you could close a chapter that was not finished? What if you could pick up the pen and shift your narrative to write a new chapter or a whole new book?
Jana would love to walk along beside you as she listens to your story, giving you a space where your story matters, a space that is full of compassion, empathy, acceptance, and unconditional positive regard. A place where “your story matters.” Life experience, personal trauma, and Jana’s personal story has given her a foundation to help walk along beside you no matter what challenges you may be facing on your journey.
Jana was born and raised in TN and loves to spend time with her husband and two children as well as baking, reading, and shopping. Her greatest joy is being able to be involved with children and youth by building relationships and creating a safe community space for them to come and enjoy. Jana is truly passionate about working with children and adolescents through expressive arts therapy. Her greatest desire is to see those that are struggling find healing and to know that there is always someone who will listen and that truly care where they are in their own journey of life.
Areas of Focus
Children & Adolescents
Family Counseling
Parenting
Depression/Anxiety
Grief & Loss
End of life Care
Individual Counseling
Education
Current Student of Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
Austin Peay State University
Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Psychology
Regent University