Grief counselors and therapists in Cookeville, TN

You can START therapy THIS week! You don't have to get on anybody's waiting list. My first priority is to relate to each person or couple as unique. Everyone has strengths that can be drawn on to help make therapy a positive, enriching, and productive experience. Let's work together so you can live your best life. No matter where you've been, what you've been through there's ALWAYS hope!

As a fully licensed therapist, I work collaboratively with you to better understand your experiences, identify patterns that may be impacting your well-being, and develop practical tools to help you move forward. My approach is compassionate, strengths-based, and focused on meeting you where you are.

I recognize that every person’s story is different, and I do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy. Together, we can explore what is most important to you, build on your strengths, and create meaningful goals that fit your life.

Maybe you’re the person who holds everything together, but inside you feel anxious, overwhelmed, stuck in your head, or exhausted from trying so hard to get things right. Or maybe parenting is bringing up emotions and patterns you never expected. I work with adults navigating anxiety, trauma, ADHD, perfectionism, relationships, and parenting. I’m an EMDR-trained therapist, and I’ll help you understand what’s happening underneath—not just manage what shows up on the surface.

Taking the first step toward better health is an act of courage, and I am here to support you every step of the way. As a board-certified physiatrist with 29 years of experience, I am committed to providing compassionate, personalized care that honors your unique story, background, and lived experiences. I take the time to truly understand who you are — your strengths, your challenges, and your goals — so that together we can build a care plan that is both meaningful and effective for your life.

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.

Are you feeling stuck in patterns that are hard to break—whether it’s addiction, codependency, or depression? You may feel overwhelmed, drained, or constantly putting others first while losing yourself in the process. I work with teens and adults across Tennessee who are navigating addiction, relationship patterns, and depression. Together, we create a supportive space where you can understand what’s driving these patterns and begin building a healthier, more balanced life.

You might look like you have everything together on the outside, but inside you feel overwhelmed, anxious, or mentally exhausted from carrying so much for so long. When you’re used to being the strong one, it can be hard to slow down or ask for help. You don’t have to do this alone. I provide a supportive space where you can understand your emotions, reduce stress, and begin moving toward feeling more balanced, confident, and in control.

Are you tired of carrying things that are just too heavy for you to carry alone anymore? As a licensed professional counselor, I can help you carry that load. In my 12 years as a counselor, I've worked with families, children, adolescents, and adults of all ages in homes, outpatient offices, and online. I have a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision, and have taught in graduate counseling programs, but my first love is working directly with individuals who are dealing with the effects of trauma, grief, burnout, or anxiety. I am a Christian and would be happy to incorporate your spiritual beliefs, whether Christian or not, into our work together, if desired.

Hi, I’m Dr. Olamide Alabi, a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with a passion for helping people navigate mental health challenges. I have over a decade of experience in mental health and substance abuse treatment, working in hospitals, community mental health centers, and recovery programs.

I earned my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Samford University and hold multiple degrees in nursing, law, and agricultural economics. My diverse background, having studied in Nigeria, and the U.S., helps me provide culturally competent and inclusive care.

I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders. My goal is to create a safe, supportive space where clients feel heard and empowered on their journey to wellness.

I’m a therapist based in Memphis who works with high-achieving women navigating anxiety, burnout, identity transitions, and complex relationship dynamics. Many of my clients are successful on the outside and exhausted on the inside. They are often the responsible one, the strong one, the reliable one — and quietly overwhelmed.

My work is grounded in Internal Family Systems (IFS), an evidence-based model that helps clients understand and heal the different “parts” of themselves — the driven part, the critical part, the anxious part, the part that feels unseen. I am Level 1 trained in IFS and integrate attachment-informed and trauma-responsive care into my practice.

Great to meet you. Reaching out for support can feel overwhelming, especially when you're carrying emotional pain, relationship challenges, or life circumstances that have left you feeling stuck or disconnected. I work with adults and adolescents experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, relationship issues, family conflict, trauma, grief and loss, identity concerns, and major life transitions. I understand that every person's story is different, and I believe healing begins by creating a space where you feel heard, understood, and supported. Whether you're struggling with overwhelming emotions, navigating changes within your family, coping with loss, or trying to better understand yourself, therapy can provide an opportunity to gain insight, build healthier coping skills, and reconnect with what matters most to you. My goal is to help you move toward greater balance, emotional wellness, and a more fulfilling life.

I get it—feeling stuck in the same old patterns, craving deeper connections, and wondering how to even begin to break free can be exhausting. If you’re anything like the people I work with (and honestly, like I once was myself), you’ve probably spent a lot of time thinking, “Something has to change... but what?” That’s where I come in.