Find a therapist in Chattanooga, TN — covered by insurance

It is my joy in life to help my clients re-discover their true self. We do this together by challenging old paradigms that get us stuck. As we uncover the true self, I will also help you develop new skills for coping as you move from surviving to thriving. I am a Master's level Professional Counselor, comprehensively trained in DBT, IFS, and NARM.

Hi, I'm Dr. Deborah DeFrieze, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 15 years of experience helping people work through anxiety, stress, trauma, grief, depression, and life's hardest transitions. If anxiety or overwhelm has been running the show lately, I'm here to help you take the reins back — with a warm, honest, and practical approach.

My path to this work has been a rich one. Alongside my social work career, I spent 33 years in public education — as a teacher in both regular and special education, an assistant principal, a principal, and an assistant professor — and I served as a missionary in Africa for 18 months. Those experiences taught me to meet people where they are, across every walk of life and stage of change. I hold a Master of Social Work from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a doctorate in education from the University of Georgia, and I'm also a Licensed Massage Therapist, which deepens my appreciation for the mind-body connection in healing.

I draw on evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, tailoring our work to what will help you most.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist in the State of Tennessee. I have over 17 years of experience in the mental health field. I have worked in community, residential, and juvenile justice settings. I am passionate about working with those struggling with mood and anxiety issues, trauma, and anyone trying to move toward a healthier life. I specialize in Trauma, OCD, and Play Therapy.

I believe that your lived experiences are valid and essential for our work together. I specialize in eating disorders, disordered eating, body image issues, and also treat depression and anxiety. Foundational to my work are the principles of bodily autonomy, Health At Every Size (HAES®), harm reduction, social justice, and compassion.

I tend to work well with people whose lives or mental health do not fit neatly into one box. Many of the people I work with are dealing with anxiety, trauma, ADHD, emotional dysregulation, substance use, relationship stress, or family conflict, and they often understand the pattern but still feel stuck in it. If you feel overwhelmed, reactive, burned out, or frustrated that insight alone has not created change, I want therapy to be a place where you can slow down, feel understood, and start making sense of what is happening beneath the surface.

I help adults who are overwhelmed by grief, stress, or major life changes find direction and relief again.

Therapy with me is about taking pressure off your shoulders and replacing it with calm, clarity, and the support you deserve.

I began my counseling career as a school counselor. I have been an LPC/MHSP since 2010. I am an empty nester with three successful adult sons that I raised on my own. I am highly neurodivergent and gifted at the use of multiple modalities in treating complex trauma. This is NOT talk therapy. This a working collaboration. I meet my client where they are and challenge them to reach their goals.

I’m a person-centered therapist with more than ten years of experience helping people navigate grief, anxiety, depression, addiction, relationship struggles, family conflict, heartbreak, abuse, and trauma. I work with a broad range of clients and bring specialized training in EMDR and trauma-focused care to my practice. I know what it is to struggle, and I believe healing begins when you no longer have to face that struggle alone. My role is to meet you where you are, help you imagine where you want to be, and walk alongside you as you find the courage to get there.

Hi! I'm a dual-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner, with 6 years working as an APRN with adults and children. My focus is ADHD, burnout, stress, anxiety, and depression, you know, the stuff that shows up in daily life and makes everything feel harder than it should. I handle psychiatric evaluations and medication management, and I actually enjoy the process of figuring out what works for you, not just what works in general.

This is a no Judgement Zone!! There are no silly, stupid, dumb, crazy, or ignorant questions. We talk about anything you want and nothing you do not wish to.

I’m a licensed psychologist with advanced training in trauma-informed and culturally responsive care. I earned my doctorate in Counseling Psychology and have worked across clinical, wellness, and consulting settings supporting individuals navigating burnout, identity stress, trauma, mood disorders and major life transitions.

I specialize in working with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), particularly Black women and professionals who are tired of carrying it all and ready to live with more clarity, boundaries, and ease. My work is deeply relational—I believe healing happens in connection, not isolation—and I bring both professional expertise and lived experience into the room.

Outside of therapy, I love vacationing and traveling (rest is not a reward, it’s a right), hosting gatherings at my home, spending time with loved ones, and creating soulful experiences through writing, speaking, and wellness work. Clients often describe me as grounded, warm, and direct—the kind of therapist who will validate you and help you move forward.

Areas of focus include: Burnout and stress management Life transitions and identity exploration Trauma and stuck patterns Boundary-setting and people-pleasing High-achieving professionals navigating overwhelm Clients from marginalized and intersectional identities