LGBT therapists in Johnson City, TN

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 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.

If you’re carrying trauma, anxiety, or depression, you’ve found a warm and steady place to start. I’m a seasoned Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and mindfulness has been a deeply important part of my own life and my work for nearly 30 years. Over the years, I’ve completed intensive meditation training in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the United States, experiences that have profoundly shaped how I understand healing, presence, and the connection between mind and body. I’d be honored to bring all of that to you.

Sometimes your mind understands what’s happened, but your body still holds the impact. I’m trained in EMDR and Brainspotting, approaches that help gently process those deeper layers. My work integrates mindfulness and somatic awareness to support nervous system regulation, so change doesn’t just feel intellectual, it feels real, grounded, and lasting.

I am a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who provides compassionate, trauma-informed mental health care to adolescents and adults. Value building a trusting therapeutic relationship and meeting clients where they are. I use both medication and supportive therapy to help clients manage anxiety, depression, mood disorders, stress, and life transitions. Believing that healing happens when people feel heard, understood, and empowered to take steps toward change at their own pace.

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.

I work with people who feel stuck and are ready for change. Whether you’re facing stress, relationship issues, past hurts, or life transitions, I’m here to help you navigate what feels overwhelming. I’ve provided counseling to adults, youth, and couples in both community mental health and private practice. I’m licensed in Georgia and Florida and bring over 20 years of experience to our work together.

I'm a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) and Board Certified Hypnotherapist based in Madison, TN, with 16 years in practice. I hold a Master's in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and am a certified hypnotherapist through the National Guild of Hypnotists. I'm also an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, so I train and supervise other clinicians in addition to seeing clients myself.

I work with adults and families around addiction, trauma and PTSD, and impulse control disorders, along with anxiety, low self-esteem, mood disorders, OCD, relationship issues, and compulsive or disruptive patterns. Hypnotherapy and Internal Family Sytems are my favorite modalities.

I offer both in-person sessions (at Watershed Wellness Cooperative in Madison) and telehealth, with daytime, evening, and weekend availability.

I’m Amanda, and I became a therapist because I believe everyone deserves a place where they can show up exactly as they are. I bring warmth, authenticity, and even a bit of humor into the room when it feels right. I want you to feel genuinely seen—not judged—and supported in whatever you’re working through.

I’ve been in the counseling field for over 15 years and hold a PhD in Counselor Education from the University of Tennessee. My experience ranges from private practice and telehealth to correctional mental health, hospitals, and leadership roles in community programs. A. Simms Resume copy

I work with adults experiencing mood challenges, anxiety, identity concerns, life transitions, and LGBTQIA+ experiences, as well as individuals who are justice-involved or adjusting to major life changes. My approach integrates CBT, ACT, and Reality Therapy, giving us room to explore both deeper patterns and practical skills.

Clients describe me as encouraging, steady, and real—someone who helps them feel grounded and capable while taking meaningful steps toward a more balanced and authentic life.