Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Murfreesboro, TN covered by Aetna

You may feel overwhelmed by anxiety, stress, past experiences, or relationship conflict that still affect how you show up in daily life and relationships. Many people reach out for therapy when trauma, depression, grief, or substance use begins to feel too heavy to manage alone. You may feel stuck in patterns of anger, conflict, or emotional pain and want a safe place to talk honestly about what’s going on. Therapy can be a space to slow down, make sense of what you’re carrying, and begin finding healthier ways to cope and move forward. I believe therapy works best when clients feel safe, understood, and respected.

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

Hello! I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP) based in Tennessee. I am also licensed in the states of UT and NE. I have been in practice for 15 years. I love working with clients who are genuinely seeking therapy for their own growth and awareness. I enjoy helping clients who want to take a deeper look at behaviors and relationships in their lives that could be modified and or improved. I started my career in community mental health working with individuals who were suffering from addiction, childhood trauma, family conflict, and faith crisis. I feel like I have learned the true impact addiction, poverty, trauma, and abuse can have on an individual and family system. This has helped me create space for clients to feel safe, heard, valued, and respected in our sessions. I look forward to meeting you!

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.

I love working with people and helping them "grow" through the things of life that they "go" through. A quote that I love to share with clients and live by personally is to remember not to focus on your purpose but to live your life purposely. As a military social worker my background is specific to first responders, but most importantly individuals that are learning their new "normal" after traumatic life events that have unexpectedly shaped them.

I consider it a great privilege to be entrusted to journey alongside others and offer support as they navigate and make sense of their life’s journey. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in both Tennessee and Georgia, I am passionate about working with teens and adults who are combating issues related to anxiety, depression, trauma history, low self worth, and other stressors. I have been working in the field of social work for 4 years and practicing clinically for 2 years.

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.

Hello and thank you for taking the time to reach out! Do you ever have those days when things are especially difficult?? When "Life is Lifing" as we say?? Many of the people that I meet and work with are looking for support with mental health, substance abuse, and/or management of traumatic events. I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker as well as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. I'm also a Mom of three and a dog Mom of two who likes to practice what I preach in my own life. As a strong believer in the mental/physical health connection, a lot of my focus is incorporating integrated health into our treatment approach. I also support an intimate hospice team in my area so I am comfortable having uncomfortable conversations about life. If you are interesting in giving therapy a shot, or just learning a bit more about my approach, feel free to reach out and we'll see where it takes us.

I believe that good mental health is the cornerstone of a healthy and happy life. I have over 10 years of experience in behavioral health and have helped thousands of patients. I treat adults of all ages. Special areas of interest include mood and anxiety disorders, personality disorders, sleep disorders and dementia. I love what I do! My goal is to improve the quality of my patients' lives. I stay current on research and new developments in the field to ensure that my patients get the highest quality, evidence-based care. I am credentialed to provide services in KY and TN.