Graduate Therapist Intern | Marriage and Family Therapy Student, National University

Supervised by Keiara Marsh-Cartwright, LMFT

In-person in Gallatin, TN • Online throughout Tennessee • Bilingual: English & Spanish

Hi, I’m Criselda! I am a Marriage and Family Therapy intern completing my graduate training at National University, providing counseling services under the supervision of Keiara Marsh-Cartwright, LMFT, at Tennessee Mental Wellness in Gallatin, TN. I work with children (ages 5+), teens, adults, couples, and families from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences. I am bilingual in Spanish and bring a strong commitment to culturally responsive, trauma-informed care to every session. With over a decade of experience in mental health and social services, I approach therapy with both clinical insight and real-world understanding of the complex systems and life challenges my clients navigate.

Who I Work With

I work with children (5+), teens, adults, couples, and families navigating a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, ADHD and autism spectrum concerns in children, parent-child relational challenges, family conflict, life transitions, adjustment stress, foster care, and diverse family systems. My background includes extensive work with trauma survivors, individuals impacted by crisis, and families navigating complex systems, which means I understand that healing rarely happens in a straight line.

I welcome clients of all backgrounds, identities, and belief systems. I am especially mindful of the impact of culture, family roles, and systemic stressors on mental health, and I am honored to offer services in both English and Spanish to better serve our Gallatin community and beyond.

What I Specialize In

Trauma & Crisis

Trauma can quietly shape the way we see ourselves, our relationships, and our sense of safety in the world. My background in crisis response and long-term trauma work means I understand how to create the kind of steady, grounded space where real healing can begin, at a pace that feels right for you.

Children, Parenting & Family Systems

I have a deep passion for working with children and families, including those navigating ADHD, autism spectrum concerns, parent-child relational challenges, foster care, and diverse family structures. I understand that when a child struggles, the whole family feels it. My work looks at the full family system to support meaningful, lasting change for everyone involved.

Anxiety, Depression & Life Transitions

Whether you are facing a major life change, feeling stuck in patterns that are hard to shift, or carrying the weight of anxiety or depression, I work collaboratively with clients to build awareness, develop practical tools, and move toward a life that feels more grounded and connected.

Couples & Relational Therapy

Relationships are often where our deepest growth and our deepest pain meet. I help couples and families explore communication patterns, emotional responses, and relational dynamics to build healthier, more secure connections with the people who matter most.

How I Work

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

TF-CBT is an evidence-based approach specifically designed to help children, teens, and families heal from trauma. It combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with trauma-sensitive principles to reduce distress, build coping skills, and strengthen the parent-child relationship as part of the healing process.

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

EFT is a well-researched approach for individuals and couples that focuses on understanding and reshaping emotional responses and attachment patterns. It helps clients identify the deeper emotions driving relational struggles and build more secure, responsive connections.

Family Systems & Narrative Therapy

I draw from family systems theory and narrative therapy to help clients understand how their family of origin, relational patterns, and personal stories shape their present experiences. Together we explore what no longer serves you and begin building a new narrative that better reflects who you are and who you want to become.

My Style

My approach is client-centered, trauma-informed, and strengths-based. I strive to create a warm, nonjudgmental space where clients feel genuinely safe to be seen, heard, and supported. I believe healing happens within the context of relationships, and I work hard to build a therapeutic relationship grounded in trust, collaboration, and respect for each client’s unique journey and lived experience.

Background & Training

I hold a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders. I am currently completing my Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy at National University, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2027. Before pursuing MFT, I spent over a decade working in mental health and social services, supporting individuals, families, and systems impacted by trauma, crisis, and complex life transitions.

I provide therapy under the clinical supervision of Keiara Marsh-Cartwright, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor at Tennessee Mental Wellness in Gallatin, TN.

Specialized training includes:

• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

A Little About Me

I’m a native Texan at heart, but Sumner County has been home for the past 13 years and I genuinely love being part of this community. I’m a proud mother of three amazing adult daughters and grandmother to five wonderful grandchildren who keep life full of joy and perspective. I’m married to a wonderful husband, and together we cherish time with family above just about everything else. Outside of the therapy room, I enjoy getting lost in a good book, creating organic beauty products, and cooking meals that bring everyone together around the table. I also appreciate the quiet moments that allow me to recharge so I can show up fully for the people I serve.

Why I Became a Therapist

Growing up as a Latina, I witnessed many family members experience marginalization and real barriers to receiving support. Those experiences shaped my desire to advocate for others and create spaces where people feel seen, heard, and respected, no matter where they come from. Later, while working with children and families who had experienced significant trauma, I saw firsthand how powerful compassionate, consistent support can be during life’s most difficult moments. That is what brought me to therapy. Today, I feel honored to walk alongside individuals, couples, and families as they heal, grow, and discover their own resilience.

What I Believe About Therapy

A few things I hold onto in this work:

• Therapy should be a safe, nonjudgmental space where every person feels heard, understood, and validated.
• Healing happens through connection, collaboration, and a trusting therapeutic relationship.
• Every person has strengths, resilience, and the ability to create meaningful change, even during life’s most difficult seasons.
• My role is to be both a collaborator and a cheerleader, offering support, encouragement, and practical tools while honoring each client’s unique journey.

Ready to get started?

Getting started is simple. You can call Tennessee Mental Wellness at 615-510-4551, email us at admin@tnmentalwellness.com, or schedule online at your convenience. Sliding scale options are available. We’d love to help you find the right fit.

Available in-person in Gallatin, TN and online throughout Tennessee. Services available in English and Spanish.

Graduate Therapist Intern | Mental Health Counseling Student, Belmont University

Supervised by Keiara Marsh-Cartwright, LMFT

In-person in Gallatin, TN

Hi, I’m Lanie! I’m a graduate student in Mental Health Counseling at Belmont University, with an emphasis in marriage, couples, and family counseling. I provide counseling services under the supervision of Keiara Marsh-Cartwright, LMFT, at Tennessee Mental Wellness in Gallatin, TN. My focus is relational work, which means I care deeply about how you connect with the people in your life and what those connections say about your story.

Who I Work With

I work with individuals, couples, and families who are navigating relationship challenges, life transitions, family conflict, or personal growth. My clients are often people who sense that their patterns in relationships aren’t quite working anymore, but aren’t sure why or how to change them. If you’re ready to better understand how you connect with others and move toward healthier, more secure relationships, I’d love to work with you.

I am committed to being an inclusive and affirming therapist. Clients of all identities, backgrounds, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities, relationship structures, and belief systems are welcomed, respected, and safe here. Therapy should honor the full complexity of who you are, and I bring humility, curiosity, and genuine respect for your lived experience into every session.

What I Focus On

Relational Patterns & Family Dynamics

Our closest relationships both shape us and stretch us. They are often where we experience our greatest joy, but also our deepest wounds. I help clients understand the relational patterns they carry, many of which were formed long before they were aware of them, and support them in building new ways of relating that actually feel good.

Couples & Pre-Marital Counseling

Whether you’re trying to reconnect, navigate conflict, or build a strong foundation before marriage, I offer a safe and collaborative space for couples to work through what’s getting in the way and strengthen what’s already there.

Life Transitions & Personal Growth

Change is hard, even when it’s good. If you’re in a season of transition and trying to figure out who you are and what you want, therapy can be a grounding place to process, reflect, and move forward with more clarity.

How I Work

Bowen Family Systems Theory

This approach looks at how the family you grew up in shapes how you think, feel, and relate as an adult. We explore intergenerational patterns and family-of-origin dynamics to understand why you show up the way you do in your current relationships.

Attachment Theory

Attachment Theory helps us understand how your earliest experiences of closeness and safety have shaped your expectations of others. Understanding your attachment style can be a powerful key to making sense of patterns that have felt confusing or stuck.

Narrative Therapy

Narrative therapy invites you to examine the stories you’ve internalized about yourself and your relationships. Together, we explore what those stories are, where they came from, and how you can begin to author a new one that aligns with who you want to become.

Structural Family Therapy

This approach looks at the structure and organization of family relationships, including roles, boundaries, and communication patterns, to help families function in healthier, more connected ways.

My Style

I am client-centered, which means I will always meet you exactly where you are, without judgment, and at a pace that feels safe. Therapy works best when it feels like a true partnership, and that’s what I’m here to build with you. I bring warmth, curiosity, and a genuine commitment to walking alongside you in this process.

Background & Training

I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I am currently completing my Master’s in Mental Health Counseling at Belmont University, with an emphasis in marriage, couples, and family counseling. My passion for mental health and relational healing took root when I was a teenager and has only grown stronger as my education has deepened.

I provide therapy under the clinical supervision of Keiara Marsh-Cartwright, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor.

A Little About Me

Although I’m a Bama girl through and through, I have found Nashville to be my home away from home, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the Gallatin area since joining Tennessee Mental Wellness. I love the beautiful landscapes, the lively music scene, and the way this city mixes city life with the Southern hospitality I grew up with. Music has always meant a lot to me, and you can usually find Taylor Swift at the top of my Spotify Wrapped every year. Outside of sessions, I enjoy going on walks in my neighborhood, baking, getting lost in a great book, and spending intentional time with the people I love. My orange tabby, Archie, is almost always nearby. A fun fact: as a kid I was fascinated by sharks, dinosaurs, and ancient civilizations, so curiosity has always kind of been my thing.

Why I Became a Therapist

I’ve always known I wanted a career where I could help people. I started college thinking nursing might be that path, but after one semester I wasn’t so sure. (I’ll be honest, I hate getting my blood drawn anyway.) Then I took a psychology class with an excellent professor and everything clicked. That class solidified it for me, and I haven’t looked back since.

What I Believe About Therapy

A few things I hold onto in this work:

• Your healing journey doesn’t have to look a certain way or fit a mold.
• Therapy works best when the client and therapist work as a true collaborative partnership.
• Your past does not define you. You get to choose who you are.

Ready to get started?

Getting started is simple. You can call the Tennessee Mental Wellness, Gallatin office at 615-510-4551, email us at admin@tnmentalwellness.com, or schedule online at your convenience. We’d love to help you find the right fit.

Available in-person in Gallatin, TN