Graduate Student Interns

I am a Marriage and Family Therapy intern currently completing my graduate training at National University, where I am pursuing my Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. I have a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders. I have over a decade of experience in mental health and social services, working with individuals, families, and systems impacted by trauma, crisis, and complex life transitions. I am committed to providing ethical, compassionate, and culturally responsive care.

My therapeutic approach is grounded in a client-centered, trauma-informed, and strengths-based framework. I believe that healing happens within the context of relationships and that each person brings resilience, insight, and capacity for growth into the therapy space. I work collaboratively with clients to understand how relational patterns, life experiences, and systemic influences shape current challenges, while supporting meaningful and sustainable change.

My background includes over a decade of extensive work with trauma survivors, children and families, individuals impacted by trauma, and clients navigating grief, anxiety, depression, and life stressors such as parenting, romantic relationships, and employment. This experience allows me to approach therapy with both clinical insight and real-world understanding of complex systems, crisis response, and long-term healing.

I draw from a range of therapeutic models, including family systems, cognitive-behavioral approaches, narrative therapy, emotion-focused therapy, solution-focused therapy, and attachment-based perspectives. Which means, I take into account the family system you come from, the family you have formed, and the environment that influences you. In sessions, we may explore communication patterns, emotional responses, belief systems, and relational dynamics to help clients gain clarity, build emotional regulation, and strengthen connection with self and others. I strive to create a warm, nonjudgmental environment where clients feel safe to be seen, heard, and supported.

I welcome clients from all backgrounds, and I am especially mindful of the impact of culture, family roles, and systemic stressors on mental health. I would be honored to walk alongside you in your journey, offering support and collaboration as you navigate your unique path. I fully recognize the courage it takes to initiate therapy, and I respect the vulnerability and strength you bring to this process. I aim to provide a safe, respectful, and empathetic environment as we work together toward growth and healing.

I’m a native Texan at heart, but Tennessee has been home since I moved to Sumner County 13 years ago. I’m a loving mother to three adult children and a proud grandmother of five, all of whom bring so much joy to my life. I’m married to a wonderful husband, and together we cherish time spent with family. In my spare time, I enjoy getting lost in a good book and cooking meals that bring everyone together around the table.

I am a Mental Health Counseling graduate student at Belmont University, with an emphasis in marriage, couples, and family counseling. I currently provide counseling services under the supervision of Keiara Marsh-Cartwright, LMFT. I am deeply committed to creating space for clients as a relationally grounded, culturally responsive, and clinically attuned therapist.

My passion lies in relational work, which means I have a great focus on how you connect to the people within your life. Whether that be with individuals, couples, or families. I believe our closest relationships both shape us and stretch us. They are often the places where we experience our greatest joy, but also our deepest wounds. My goal is to help clients better understand relational patterns so they can move toward healthier, more secure, and more fulfilling connections.

I am committed to being an inclusive and affirming therapist. I strive to create a space where clients of all identities, backgrounds, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities, relationship structures, and belief systems feel welcomed, respected, and safe. I believe therapy should honor the full complexity of who you are. My approach is rooted in humility, curiosity, and a deep respect for each client’s lived experience.

In exploring my graduate-level work, I feel particularly connected to Bowen Family Systems Theory, Attachment Theory, Narrative Therapy, and Structural Family Therapy. These frameworks allow me to thoughtfully explore how intergenerational experiences, family-of-origin dynamics, and attachment patterns influence the way we show up in our present relationships. I am especially interested in helping clients identify patterns that may no longer serve them and supporting them as they build new ways of relating.

Through a systems lens, I believe no one exists in isolation. Each individual carries stories, beliefs, and relational templates shaped by their history. In our work together, we may gently explore questions such as:

● How did your family navigate conflict, closeness, or emotional expression?

● What attachment experiences have shaped your expectations of others?

● What stories have you internalized about yourself and your relationships?

● How can you begin to author a new narrative that aligns with who you want to become?

At the heart of my work is a client-centered approach. I deeply value creating a space where clients feel seen, heard, and understood. I strive to meet each person exactly where they are, without judgment, and walk alongside them at a pace that feels safe and collaborative. I believe therapy works best when it feels like a partnership built on trust, compassion, and authenticity.

Outside of the therapy room, I believe strongly in practicing what we encourage our clients to do - caring for ourselves in meaningful ways. My self-care and winding down often center around getting lost in a great book, listening to music that speaks to my heart, and spending intentional time with the people I love most. These moments of restoration remind me of the importance of connection, reflection, and balance—the values I also bring into my clinical work. My love for mental health and relational healing began as a teenager, but has only grown as I continue my education. I was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, where I got my bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Although I’m a Bama girl through and through, I have found Nashville to be my home away from home. I enjoy the beautiful landscapes, lively music scene, and city life mixed with the Southern hospitality I grew up with.

Whether you are navigating relationship challenges, life transitions, family conflict, or personal growth, I am honored to sit with you in the process. I hope that our work together fosters clarity, healing, and stronger, more secure relationships both with others and within yourself.

Benefits of Working With A Student Therapist

Working with a student therapist like me offers several unique advantages: 

• High Support & Oversight: I receive ongoing, weekly supervision from an experienced licensed clinician, meaning your care is supported by multiple professional perspectives.
• Lower-Cost Services: Student therapists are able to provide high-quality therapy at a reduced rate, increasing accessibility without compromising care. 
• Up-to-Date Training: Practicum students are immersed in current research, theory, and evidence-based practices, bringing fresh, modern approaches to therapy. 
• Collaborative & Client-Centered Care: Student therapists often have additional time and energy to devote to case planning, preparation, and individualized attention. 

I approach each client with humility, curiosity, and dedication—making therapy welcoming and deeply collaborative.