Lauren is a licensed clinical social worker and obtained a Masters of Science in Social Work from the University of Tennessee.  She has been practicing in the field of mental health and addiction since 2006.  She has experience working in inpatient alcohol and drug units, geriatric services, outpatient addiction, primary care, and outpatient mental health.  She was raised in rural west TN and has practiced in that setting for the majority of her career until recently moving to the middle TN area with her husband and children in the summer of 2021.  Because resources are very limited in rural settings, she wasn’t able to “specialize” in a specific area of mental health.  She had to learn to treat an array of issues from addiction, anxiety, depression, to bipolar, personality disorders, LGBTQ issues, and marriage and family therapy to name a few.  She developed a great understanding and appreciation of a team approach and learned to work closely with PCPs, NPs, psychiatrists, and case managers due to the limited resources.  Being able to practice in an urban setting has been a dream come true for Lauren.  She is now able to utilize the resources that Nashville and surrounding areas have to offer, and can assist her clients with connecting to them when the need arises.  

Her approach to treatment utilizes a holistic framework. She understands the “mind / body / spirit” connection, and how when any or all of these systems are out of balance, mental illness can be present.  She uses a client centered approach to treatment when addressing the needs of her clients. She works to meet the client where they are emotionally, physically, and spiritually. She often uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to assist her clients with identifying the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and maladaptive behaviors.  She loves to interweave her sessions with talk, art, music, and other experiential modalities.  She seeks to assist her clients with gaining a deeper level of understanding and acceptance of themselves.  It is only until we know and accept who we are in life, that we are able to truly live.

Jessica believes that creativity is an innate human drive and exploring one’s creativity through visual art and play is an effective way to heal and express ourselves. Jessica received her Masters in Creative arts therapy from Hofstra University in 2008. Since then,She has had many roles including Art Therapist, Teacher, Artist, and mother.Jessia is passionate about creating a safe space for her clients to encounter their emotions, explore their personal narrative, improve relationships, and express themselves fully. She works with children, adolescents, adults, and families who are seeking support and looking to find their most authentic selves. She follows a Person-Centered approach to therapy and feels deeply that all people contain a capacity for growth and creativity. Utilizing art in a therapeutic setting gives us a “second language” to enhance traditional talk therapy sessions. Jessia is trained in the use of multiple forms of art media and enjoys helping clients to find their artistic voice.

David Johnson has worked in helping professions for nearly fifty years and for the last twenty-five years has worked as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He has served as a Clinical Director and a Program Director and Designer. His strengths are in helping people with a history of trauma, treating people diagnosed with a personality disorder, and assisting people in overcoming chemical dependence. He’s accomplished at meeting people where they are and making a connection with them.

Johnson has been married for forty-nine years, has two daughter, six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. In his spare time, he and his wife love to go camping and hiking, exploring the wonders of nature. He is also an accomplished author, having published fourteen fiction novels that feature flawed people faced with difficult circumstances where they demonstrate the power of overcoming obstacles.