Prenatal and postpartum therapists & psychiatrists in Knoxville, 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.

My name is Bonnie Spicer and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health Service Provider (LPC-MHSP). I have 9 years of experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, depression, addiction, just to name a few. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support and empower you in that journey. I admire your courage and determination for personal growth. I am sorry to hear that you are struggling right now. I can help you with your goals, discuss your concerns, and help you move forward. I am looking forward to working with you and helping you on your journey.

Howdy, and welcome! My name is Alicia, and I'm a licensed professional counselor in Tennessee. I work with folks who might be dealing with the effects of trauma, anxiety, or depression.

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.

Growing up and transitioning into adulthood, I always felt that I needed a "person". Someone who could be there to support me through the hardships and uncertainties of life. Someone who was unbiased and was there to just listen or to be that shoulder to cry on when I felt like no one in the world would be able to understand me. Being that person that I once needed, is what fueled the desire within to become a therapist.

I am a licensed therapist specializing in anxiety, trauma, addiction and relationship challenges. I work with children, adolescents and adults to create a supportive space where healing and growth feel possible.

Specific modalities are Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Nurturing Parenting, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), Psychotherapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Family Therapy, Solution-Focused, Mindfulness and Muscle relaxation.

Let’s get UNSTUCK. Therapy doesn’t have to feel overwhelming, and healing and growth don’t have to come through more pain.

You may understand exactly what's causing a certain feeling or response and yet it still happens. You know you're safe but your mind/body responds as though you are not. You know you are capable but something keeps getting in the way.

I work with adults, teens, and children navigating trauma, anxiety, fears and phobias, guilt, shame, fear of judgement, grief, life transitions, perinatal experiences, and performance-related stressors. I also work with people who recognize something is getting in the way of how they'd like to be and are interested in accessing and perhaps expanding their potential.

Many of the people I work with have already put a lot of thought and effort into feeling better and gaining insight. You don’t have to have it figured out before you get here. My clients tend to be curious, motivated, and open to coloring a little outside of the lines. They often appreciate an active therapeutic process focused on creating clarity and change.

Sometimes the goal is deep relief from something painful. Sometimes it’s greater confidence, freedom, or the ability to show up more fully as yourself.

I’m a Rapid Resolution Therapy Certified Specialist and a National Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, with additional training in Brainspotting and other experiential and strength-based approaches.

Hi! I'm Ariel, a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 8 years of experience. My professional career has centered around supporting individuals with a variety of issues bringing them to therapy. Many of the challenges that bring people to therapy show up most clearly in their relationships. Whether you’re dating, building new friendships, navigating a long-term partnership, healing after a breakup, or adjusting to life as a new mom, relational stress can deeply impact your mental health. You might find yourself overthinking texts, fearing rejection, pulling away when things get close, choosing emotionally unavailable partners, or struggling to maintain meaningful friendships. As a new mom, you might notice shifts in your identity, changes in intimacy, resentment around the mental load, or feeling unseen and unsupported. These patterns can feel frustrating, confusing, and lonely.

I am a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) who provides medication management across the lifespan, including children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. I have experience treating depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, other mood disorders, trauma-related symptoms, irritability, impulse control concerns, behavioral issues, emotional dysregulation, psychotic disorders, and substance use disorders, as well as supporting individuals who are in recovery.

My background includes inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings and crisis intervention, allowing me to support individuals with both acute and ongoing mental health needs. I strive to create a supportive, respectful space where clients feel heard and understood. I also work with families and caregivers when appropriate to support continuity of care.