LGBT therapists in Clarksville, 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.

I am passionate about helping clients find their voice to put words to their unique experiences. I approach each session with compassionate curiosity to provide you with a safe space to show up as your most authentic self. I hope that you feel seen, heard, understood, and accepted. I am enthusiastic about seeing my clients move towards health and healing. I consider it an honor and a privilege to support you throughout our work together.

I believe that your lived experiences are valid and essential for our work together. I specialize in eating disorders, disordered eating, body image issues, and also treat depression and anxiety. Foundational to my work are the principles of bodily autonomy, Health At Every Size (HAES®), harm reduction, social justice, and compassion.

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

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 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 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.

Hi and welcome! I am a licensed clinical psychologist in Tennessee, New York, and PSYPact states. I have extensive experience working with a variety of presenting issues, but am passionate about working with individuals on how they show up in relationships, particularly when that feels difficult, confusing, or overwhelming. This might look like noticing unhelpful patterns in your relationships but struggling to change it. Perhaps you have a hard time speaking up or setting boundaries, or become easily irritated with others and later feeling upset with yourself. If this is you, we would likely be a strong fit!

I specialize in working with parents, law enforcement and military professionals, and trans/GNC populations.

I am currently providing virtual sessions only.

Please note I am no longer accepting couples therapy clients.