Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Chattanooga, TN

My specialty is adult love and creating bonding experiences in couples and families. I’m a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and an Addiction Specialist (LCAS). Helping people repair and reconnect after times of distress is my passion. I help people heal by increasing security, closeness and emotional connection in relationships. I help couples better understand their partners’ emotional responses, as well as their own. I also enjoy helping couples overcome addiction in relationships.

I’m a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with six years of experience helping adults navigate ADHD, mood disorders, anxiety, substance use concerns, and personality disorders. I trained at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and have a background in neuroscience research, which shapes my practical, brain-based approach to care.

I believe people do best when they’re treated as whole humans—not just a diagnosis. I enjoy breaking down complex mental health concepts into clear, bite-sized explanations so patients understand why they feel the way they do and how treatment helps. My style is collaborative, direct, and supportive.

I’m comfortable working with complex or long-standing symptoms and don’t shy away from difficult cases. I also enjoy working with creatives in the Nashville community and understand the unique pressures that can come with creative work. My goal is to help patients feel empowered, informed, and supported as they move toward meaningful, sustainable change.

As a licensed marriage and family therapist with 18 years of diverse experience, I proudly welcome people of all backgrounds. I provide therapy for individuals, couples and families and work with the following modalities:

• Somatic Therapy – Releasing trauma and stress stored physically in the body.

• EMDR – Processing distressing memories to reduce emotional triggers.

• Gottman Method – Strengthening communication and intimacy for couples.

• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) – Healing relational bonds in couples and families.

• DBT-Informed – Managing intense emotions and building mindfulness skills.

• CBT – Reshaping negative thought patterns to change behaviors.

• Person-Centered – Providing a compassionate, non- judgmental space centered on you.

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.

Hi, I’m Ashton, a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

I provide compassionate, evidence-based mental health care for those seeking clarity, relief, and a sense of steadiness in their lives.

If you're feeling stuck — wrestling with anxiety that won't quiet down, a mood that swings without warning, anger that surfaces faster than you'd like, or the weight of past trauma — you don't have to sort through it alone. I work with adults who are juggling demanding lives while quietly carrying ADHD, depression, grief, chronic pain, or relationship strain that's hard to put into words.

I came to this work after 20 years as a broadcast operations engineer. When an injury changed my path, I earned my Master of Science in Social Work at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and I've been a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) since 2019. I've practiced in integrated medical clinics with clients of every age, in intensive outpatient care, and in residential settings, and today I work primarily with adults over telehealth across Tennessee.

I see my role as helping you understand where your struggles come from, get clear on what you want therapy to change, and build a concrete, step-by-step plan to get there

Dr. Deborah DeFrieze

Dr. in Education

Master's degree in social work

Social Work and Licensed Massage Therapist for 15 years

Missionary in Africa for 18 months

Public Education for 33 years

Regular and Special Education Teacher

Assistant Principal

Principal

Assistant Professor

Robert Golan helps clients working through anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship challenges, including marriage counseling. He offers a practical, supportive, and structured approach focused on real-life change. Sessions are collaborative and goal-oriented, helping clients better understand patterns, develop effective coping tools, and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.