"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life."  -Prince

 

I think life is our greatest teacher! I've been in the counseling profession since 2005 and I am honored to share in the lives of those who sit on my couch and invite me into the most vulnerable parts of themselves. I approach my clients and the journeys they are facing through the lenses of all the the different roles in my life:  Wife, Mom, Child, Believer, Teacher, Entrepreneur, etc. 

 

When working with a couple, individual, family, or business partners, I find that our connection as counselor and client is imperative to the success you have in your therapy journey. I invest a lot of my initial energy in getting to know you on a personal level. I believe that each individual, even the "person in the wrong" must feel seen and heard in a space that is safe and free of judgement or condemnation. I strive to provide this environment for my clients. A space where you can sit back, carefully unpack the stressors you are facing, and gain some objectivity on things that you just cannot see because it is too close to you.

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“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” - C.S. Lewis

 

One thing is for certain, the journey we will go on together will be far from boring! I have found that by jumping in and working alongside my clients we are able to see some quick successes in the therapeutic process. Those successes serve to empower my clients to see that they truly are the experts on their lives and the greatest change agent to move in the direction of emotional health. Ultimately, my hope for clients is: greater emotional health, self-awareness, growth, and to be equipped with effective tools and skills to handle the stress that life brings without needing my support any longer.

 

My therapeutic approach, much like most therapists, is a blend of several models that have proven highly effective in my work, as they naturally follow and work with my personality. I have carefully curated a way of working with my clients- by incorporating attachment theory (EFT), into an experiential process with movement, coaching exchanges, and real life practice- that has proven effective in meeting my client's treatment goals, and GETTING OUT OF THERAPY!! In our journey together, you will learn more about who you were created to be at your core, why you “tick the way you tick” and develop healthier responses to life’s stressors, so that YOU can better control your system and your system doesn't control YOU!  Heck, we may even have some fun along the way! 

 

Overall my belief and work reflects the principle that...

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” -Aristotle

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Joanna is a member of the American Associate of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), is an approved AAMFT Clinical Supervisor, Supervising Mentor, and Clinical Fellow.  She is also a member of the Tennessee Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (TAMFT), the American Counseling Association (ACA), the Tennessee Licensed Professional Counseling Association (TLPCA), and is a fully trained EFT Clinician and member of the International Centre of Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT).