Find a therapist in Cookeville, TN — covered by insurance

My name is Mark and I have come to this introduction today with the benefit of a professional background which includes: 2 Masters degrees in Counseling and Divinity; TN licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor, Mental Health Service Provider; United Methodist and Multi-Faith Chaplain; Certifications in Dialectical Behavior and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy modalities; Grief and Bereavement Certifications; 5 yrs of Private Practice in Counseling; 3 yrs in Community MH clinic as a Licensed Professional Counselor

I believe meaningful change is possible with the right support. My counseling approach is collaborative and focused on setting goals, building skills, gaining insight into your thoughts and beliefs, and working through challenges together. With more than 19 years of experience in the mental health field, I specialize in helping individuals navigate anxiety, depression, relationship conflict, life transitions, and grief. I’m passionate about helping people learn to love and accept themselves as they are while growing into who they’re becoming.

Do you feel taken advantage of and like no matter what you do, you can't win? Are you a victim of emotional, verbal or physical abuse? Do you love someone who is caught up in the pain of addiction or mental illness? Have you tried everything you can think of but have no idea how to help or what else to do? Are you afraid your partner, spouse, adult child or other loved one will end up in jail, or worse? I get it. Maybe you're just mad. Maybe you're tired of having to handle everything yourself. I get that too.

I have more than 25 years of experience assessing and treating adolescents, adults, and families. While I appreciate numerous approaches, my patients have stated that I provide a melding of both direct and indirect styles. In other words, my standard of care is challenging and supportive. More often than not, you won’t leave a session wondering what’s next.

I believe reaching out for support is a meaningful first step toward creating positive change. As a warm, compassionate, and welcoming counselor, I strive to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can be your authentic self and feel empowered throughout the counseling process. My goal is to create a space where you feel heard, understood, and empowered to move forward.

Loving someone who struggles with addiction can quietly take over your whole life. You worry constantly, you smooth things over, you set a boundary and then talk yourself right out of it, and somewhere along the way you lose track of your own needs. If that's you, I understand it in a way that goes beyond training. Alongside my years as a counselor, I've spent more than two decades in the Al-Anon community, and I work with adults who are worn down from caring for, worrying about, or trying to fix someone they love. You don't have to keep carrying it alone.

If you're a parent watching your child struggle, a teen who feels like no one gets it, or an adult carrying more than you know how to name, you're in the right place. I work with clients across every stage of life, from toddlers to seniors, and I understand that anxiety, depression, and trauma don't look the same at every age. Over the years I've sat with people through some of their hardest moments, and I've learned that healing starts with having one person who won't flinch at what you bring into the room.